Visit Us
There are numerous visitor opportunities at Craig Brook, all free to the public, including:
- Boat launch and picnic area on Alamoosook Lake
- Boat launch and picnic area on Craig Pond
- Nature trail with interpretive signs
- Indoor Visitor Center with watershed, stewardship and historical themed displays (Open 9 AM - 2 PM daily, closed on Federal Holidays)
- Library and Archives (Access by request only)
- Public restrooms
- Atlantic Salmon Flyfishing Museum, operated by the Friends of Craig Brook
- Conference room and meeting facilities
Craig Brook NFH is just one of the many field stations of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service whose mission is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.
Trails
Craig Brook NFH trails are all fairly level and smooth, winding through forested areas and along Craig Brook with very minimal elevation change. All trails are open year round and can be accessed by parking at any of the designated parking areas at the hatchery. There is a total of about 2.5 miles of trails on hatchery property.
- Nature Trail Loop
- Mossy Rock Trail
- Brook Trail
- Alamoosook Beach Trail
- Tall Pines Trail
- Craig Pond Trail
Trails lead to both Alamoosook Lake and Craig Pond, and offer visitors an opportunity to picnic, swim, or launch boats.
Other Facilities in the Complex
From the rocky shores and salt marshes along the Atlantic Ocean to the sweet freshwater shorelines of our lakes and rivers, across open uplands and peat lands to dense boreal forests, the Maine Fish and Wildlife Complex is devoted to restoring migratory fish and birds, restoring rivers and coastal beaches, improving fish passage fish passage
Fish passage is the ability of fish or other aquatic species to move freely throughout their life to find food, reproduce, and complete their natural migration cycles. Millions of barriers to fish passage across the country are fragmenting habitat and leading to species declines. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Fish Passage Program is working to reconnect watersheds to benefit both wildlife and people.
Learn more about fish passage , and recovering endangered species.
The Maine Fish and Wildlife Service Complex is comprised of 5 offices, including three national fish hatcheries. Collectively, we conserve Maine’s unique fish and wildlife such as wood ducks and eagles, plovers and songbirds, cougar and lynx, brook trout, salmon and alewife.
Our mission is to work with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.
Locations
Coming from Ellsworth on US-1: Turn right off of US-1 between Ellsworth and Bucksport onto Hatchery Road. The Hatchery is 1.4 miles down this road and on the left. Visitors can park here or continue on down the road to cross the bridge of Craig Brook and keep left to go down to the boat ramp and Alamoosook Beach parking area. Alternatively, bear right onto Craig Pond Access Road about 500 feet before the hatchery and follow the road until reaching a parking area on the left or continue up the road to reach the Craig Pond boat launch.