The Settlement Quarry Loop at Settlement Quarry Preserve in Stonington, Maine is an easy 2-mile loop hike that features views of Webb Cove and passes through an old granite quarry .
Trail names: Glacial Erratic Trail, Quarry Road, Overlook Trail, Grout Pile Trail.
Location: Settlement Quarry Preserve, Oceanville Road, Stonington Maine.
Permitted uses: Foot traffic only, Nature Study, Bird watching, Letterboxing, Geocaching. Hunting is permitted from October through December and all visitors are encouraged to wear blaze orange during this period.
Prohibited uses: No Camping, No Fires, No Firearms, No bikes, No motorized vehicles. Please respect private property and stay on the designated trails. Do not remove any rocks, granite, plants or archeological materials.
Hours: Trails are day use only.
Fees and Parking: Parking is off street and limited to roughly 7 or 8 vehicles. There is no fee to park or use the trails.
Pets: Dogs are permitted on the trails and must be kept on a leash. Please remove all pet waste from the trails and take all bagged trash, including pet waste with you when you leave the Preserve.
Accessibility: This trail named Quarry Road is accessible for motorized wheelchairs, but all other trails are not wheelchair accessible.
Hiker amenities: There is an information Kiosk at the trailhead where visitors will find a posted trail map and some information about the site. There are no restrooms, drinking water or trash bins.
Length and Trail information: This hike is an easy hike that is approximately 2 miles long and was done as a loop. The trails are well marked by either orange or blue blazes and there are several engraved wooden signs and maps at nearly every junction along with occasional stone cairns to assist hikers to stay on the trail.
This Preserve is the site of a once active Granite Quarry where Deer Isle Granite was harvested for use as building materials from the beginning of the 20th century to the 1920’s, then again in the 1960’s and briefly in the 1980’s.
There is a lovely long wooden boardwalk at the start of the Glacial Erratic Trail but after the boardwalk ends hikers will need to use caution as the trails are narrow and often very rooted. There is a letterbox and a geocache at this Preserve for those who enjoy those activities. There were multiple excellent information placards placed along the trails to encourage visitors to learn about the geology of this area. Take the time to read them and you will come away with an increased knowledge of this quarry’s history and how it once operated. Once hikers reach the large viewing platform, they need to continue to use caution as they explore the area, especially if they are visiting with small children. There are fissures and crevices in the rock, sharp drop offs, unstable grout piles and the surface can become slippery when wet.
At the large viewing platform visitors will enjoy a gorgeous view of Web Cove below. There is a very nice painting installed that identifies the different mountains and points of interest that can be seen in the distance. There is a sunken area with a long wooden bench which is an ideal spot to stop for lunch while you take in the views. This was a lovely easy hike that was interesting and educational.
This Preserve is managed by the Island Heritage Trust (IHT) and information about the Preserve can be found by visiting their website at: www.islandheritagetrust.org.
