Eastern Beach takes its directional name from its location along the northern shore trail network of Frenchboro's Long Island, the easternmost unbridged year-round island community in the United States. This remote beach forms part of the 1,159-acre preserve managed by Maine Coast Heritage Trust, featuring 8.2 miles of dramatic rocky shoreline eight miles south of Bass Harbor.
The beach provides access to challenging hiking trails leading through hundreds of acres of spruce forests to rocky bluffs overlooking Mount Desert Island, with opportunities to observe nesting bald eagles, migratory songbirds, resident mink, and rare plants including mare's tail and beachhead iris. The preserve's extensive wetlands and forested headlands attract beaver and deer introduced in the 1900s, while harbor porpoises and seals frequent the surrounding waters.
Frenchboro's year-round population of 27 residents maintains limited dining facilities, with most visitors bringing provisions or relying on the community's small seasonal establishments. The island's isolation and conservation focus preserve its character as a working fishing community surrounded by pristine natural habitat.
