Riding the Bold Coast: ATV Trails Near Machias & What to Do After

There’s a stretch of coastal Maine that most people never find. No traffic, no crowds — just 96 miles of wild trail running through blueberry barrens, spruce forest, and salt marsh with the Atlantic glinting through the trees. This is the Bold Coast. And the best way to see it is from the seat of a Polaris RZR.

The Down East Sunrise Trail runs 96 miles from Ellsworth to Ayers Junction near Pembroke, cutting right through the heart of Washington County along a former railroad corridor. It passes through Machias — right where we operate — making it one of the most accessible and rewarding ATV trail systems in the entire state. Whether you’re a seasoned rider or it’s your first time in a side-by-side, this trail delivers.

Here’s everything you need to know: what to expect on the trail, the stretches worth slowing down for, and where to go when you’re done riding.

The Down East Sunrise Trail: What Riders Need to Know

The Sunrise Trail is the longest off-road trail on the East Coast Greenway and one of Maine’s premier multi-use corridors. It follows a crushed gravel and dirt rail bed, which means gentle grades, manageable terrain, and stunning scenery at every turn. For RZR riders, it’s a dream: wide enough to move comfortably, challenging enough to keep you engaged, and remote enough to feel genuinely wild.

The most popular section for RZR riders based out of Machias is the Eastern Segment — roughly 28 miles from Machias through East Machias, past Rocky Lake, and out toward Dennysville and Ayers Junction. This is where the Bold Coast earns its name.

Eastern Segment at a Glance:

• Machias → East Machias: 4 miles — easy warm-up, great for first-timers

• East Machias → Rocky Lake Crossing: 7 miles — forests open into fields and coastal views

• Rocky Lake Crossing → Dennysville: 10 miles — ponds, streams, and remote hardwood forest

• Dennysville → Ayers Junction: final 7 miles — remote, rugged, worth every minute

What You’ll See

The trail passes through some of the most ecologically rich land in New England. Bald eagles are a common sighting — not an occasional treat, a regular one. You’ll cross 28 bridges spanning clear salmon rivers, ride through working blueberry barrens that turn crimson in late summer, and roll past freshwater ponds with barely another soul in sight.

Keep your eyes open near the coast. The tidal influence of Cobscook Bay creates salt marsh ecosystems that are genuinely rare anywhere on the Eastern Seaboard. Osprey nest along the water. Moose frequent the bog edges at dawn and dusk. This isn’t a theme park trail — it’s the real Maine.

“One of the first trails to experience sunrise in the United States — and once you’ve ridden it, you’ll understand exactly how it got its name.”

Trail Conditions & Timing

The trail is open Memorial Day weekend through late October. June and September are the sweet spots — summer crowds haven’t yet peaked or have already thinned, temperatures are comfortable in a side-by-side, and the morning light is something photographers chase for years. July and August are busier but still nothing like the trails out west.

Spring runoff can leave sections soft through early May. Always check current conditions at sunrisetrail.org before you head out — sections occasionally require detours after storm damage.

Tips From the Locals

Dress in layers even in summer — the trail runs close enough to the water that fog and sea breeze can drop the temperature fast once you’re moving. Bring water and a snack; services are limited once you’re out past East Machias. And give yourself more time than you think you need. The Sunrise Trail rewards riders who slow down and stop.After the Ride: The Best of Machias & the Bold Coast

Machias is small — that’s the point. There’s no resort strip, no chain restaurants, no tourist bubble. What there is: genuinely good food, one of the most underrated stretches of coastline in America, and the kind of unhurried afternoon you didn’t know you were looking for.

1. Get a Lobster Roll

This is non-negotiable. Washington County lobstermen are hauling traps in some of the cleanest cold water in the Gulf of Maine. The lobster rolls you’ll find in Machias aren’t dressed up — they’re the real thing, served on a split-top bun, still warm from the shell. Ask a local where to go; the best spots don’t always have the biggest signs.

2. Drive Out to Roque Bluffs

About 8 miles from downtown Machias, Roque Bluffs State Park sits on a sweep of sand and stone where a freshwater pond and the open Atlantic are separated by a narrow beach. It’s one of the most unusual and beautiful spots on the Maine coast. After a few hours on the trail, it’s a perfect way to decompress.

3. Walk the Machias River

The Machias River runs right through town. Even a slow stroll along its banks in the late afternoon is worth it — the light on the water in the early evening is something you’ll actually remember.

4. Make the Drive to Cutler

Drive Route 191 south from East Machias to Cutler. The Cutler Coast Public Lands offer some of the most dramatic coastal hiking in all of New England — sheer cliffs over the open Atlantic, ancient spruce forest, and complete solitude. About 30 minutes from Machias. Take it.

5. Stay the Night

The Bold Coast rewards lingering. The Machias River Inn offers rooms directly on the river, perfect for an early start the next morning. The Inn at Schoppee Farm — an 1800s farmhouse a few miles south — offers something quieter and more private. Either way, you’re close to the trail and far from everything else.