Is Calais Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

Calais sits in the far northeastern part of Maine, surrounded by Canada on three sides.

This small city of 3,000 people ushers thousands of international travelers back and forth between New Brunswick and Maine at one of the largest crossings in the state.

The St. Croix River splits the two countries, with some of the most historical parts on the American side.

The tides strongly influence the river, and as a result, this is one of the most volatile tide areas in the country, rising and falling as much as 50 feet a day from the Bay of Fundy.

No matter which side of the river you are on, this is a fairly remote region, with St. John being the largest nearby Canadian city, about an hour away, and Bangor, Maine, on the American side, about two hours away.

Two-lane, somewhat torn-up highways lead the way to Bangor or the Maine coastline, so winter travel can be treacherous.

Calais (“callous” – rhymes with Dallas) is still a city with quintessential New England charm.

Nearby Moosehorn National Wildlife Area provides plenty of outdoor adventures for all seasons.

The wonders of Bar Harbor and Arcadia National Park are just two hours away.

This region is home to the first French settlers, who eventually abandoned the settlement after a year due to a harsh and deadly winter.

It would be another 150 years before it was permanently settled and turned into a shipyard town.

Calais was also one end of the first international telephone exchange with a call to St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada.

Warnings & Dangers in Calais

OVERALL RISK: LOW

Calais hasn't seen more than six violent crimes in a year since 2014, and you're more likely to see a moose than be a crime victim. This is a great feat, considering how many people cross this border each year.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

You'll need a vehicle here as taxis, rideshares, buses, and trains are scarce in this region. Calais itself isn't big enough to have public transportation, and getting anywhere outside the city would cost an arm and a leg in taxi fares anyway. Use caution on the winding, narrow roads and watch out for potholes and torn-up sections of roadway.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW

One purse snatching was reported in 2021, but there's still a low risk if you use the basic safety precautions. If you're crossing the border for the day, limit what you bring and review the rules for items that are not allowed across the border.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

Winters can be intense, with more than six feet of snow a year on average, and flooding is always a concern, especially with the volatile tides. Hurricanes can happen but aren't as common as in southern parts of Maine or the eastern seaboard. Bitter cold is another risk, as wind chills can drop to dangerous levels.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

Calais has seen one robbery since 2015, so there's another low risk for you. Robbery rates are fairly low across the entire state of Maine.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

While border crossings could always be considered a terrorism entrance point, the real risk here is illegal drugs crossing the border as America faces an opioid and fentanyl crisis. In fact, some of the most recent crimes in this area are related to drugs. There's a low risk for tourists, but don't ever carry something across the border for someone else, no matter what the sob story is.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

There aren't any tourist advisories about scam warnings, but don't try to sneak anything across the border. U.S. and Canadian Border Patrol are very thorough and don't give warnings.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

This is a safe region for women, but in winter, they should be aware of the ongoing cold for months at a time and dress accordingly. Wilderness survival skills are important, and you should have a working knowledge of how to interact with wildlife (for example, don't. Moose can easily stomp you to death).

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

The 2021 Water Quality Report shows full compliance and no violations. In 2022, residents were warned about a water quality violation resulting from excessive levels of trihalomethanes. Extended exposure to this byproduct can lead to liver cancer. As of June 2022, Calais was once again meeting all water quality standards.

Safest Places to Visit in Calais

VisitMaine.com has a section on Calais with things to do, the best restaurants, hotels, and campgrounds.

For information about visiting New Brunswick, Canada, visit tourismnewbrunswick.ca.

The “.ca” signifies it’s a Canadian website address.

The section of the St. Croix River from Milltown to Calais is full of rapids and whitewater adventures during the warmer months.

This two-mile stretch has rafting good for beginners and moderate rafters.

Waves up to three feet make the trip exciting but not too dangerous.

The Maine Visitor Information Center is located in Calais with one of the most robust selections of brochures and tourism ideas.

From there, the Calais Waterfront fans out in each direction, hugging the curve of the city on the American side of the border.

The St. Croix Island Visitor’s Center is a beautiful and historical spot where you can learn about the indigenous people of this land and European settlement attempts.

While the surrounding park is open yard-round, the statues along the trail are covered, and the visitor’s center is closed during winter.

The island itself is not open to the public.

Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge holds 30,000 acres of various ecosystems to explore and stunning wildlife interactions.

You can also experience the intense rise and fall of the tides here or explore a marsh or lake.

The refuge is open throughout the year, but winter temperatures can be dangerously low, so dress in warm layers and don’t overexert yourself.

For a smaller outdoor experience, Devil’s Head park is just over 300 acres of woods and marsh, tracking the river until it joins Passamaquoddy Bay.

You’ll see across the river into Canada while enjoying rocky cliffs and wildlife.

Debating if you should cross the border into Canada where St. Stephens sits?

Here’s a sweet reason why you should – it’s Canada’s Chocolate Town.

Since 1873, the Ganong family has flourished with candy and chocolate concoctions.

A chocolate museum is attached to the shop, and if you time your trip right, you can visit during Chocolate Fest.

Places to Avoid in Calais

Regarding crime, you don’t need to worry about areas that are too dangerous or sketchy to visit.

You should stay off the private property along the water.

I’m sure the homeowners are tired of hearing, “But this is my first time in Maine!” or other reasons for trespassing.

There are plenty of public waterfront places.

Whitlock’s Mill Lighthouse is the last lighthouse built in Maine while being the northernmost lighthouse in the country.

Sounds like a great place to visit, right?

Well, you can’t.

It’s on private property, and the owner goes to great lengths to keep trespassers away.

You can get a great view of it from the nearby rest area if the trees have shed their leaves.

Powerful tides and cold water make swimming or scuba diving dangerous.

The current is swift enough to carry away a novice boater or swimmer.

You just haven’t experienced current and tide volatility like this before.

This is about as remote a region in Maine as you can find.

One of the few reasons people come this far north is to cross the border or get as far away from big cities as possible.

You’ll need to be rugged, tough, and outdoorsy to have any hope of enjoying your time here.

When you’re searching for information about this small town, be sure to add “Maine” to the search, as there’s a Calais in Vermont and France.

Safety Tips for Traveling to Calais

So... How Safe Is Calais Really?

Calais is really a safe city by crime standards and comes with the extra safety bonus of Customs and Border Patrol having a strong presence here.

The people are friendly, and you’ll meet many international travelers.

Just don’t overshare personal information with new friends.

You can never be too careful.

The rapid-rising tides and swift water pose the biggest risks to people who don’t use common sense or basic water safety tactics.

No matter how experienced you are on tidal waters, this is a unique spot in the world where tides rise and fall so drastically.

The wilderness here is truly the great outdoors with few very amenities or ways to call for help.

Mobile phone service is spotty, and if you can’t navigate out without your GPS, you’re in trouble.

Driving on roads and highways come with the risk of moose or deer running out in front of the car, and you’ll be sharing the road with semi-trucks heading to and from the border, so always allow plenty of space.

Don’t take northern Maine winters lightly.

You’ll need insulated layers of clothing with waterproofing and accessories to cover all exposed areas of your skin.

Even the warmer summer days rarely get above 80°(F).

Bring outdoor and indoor shoes, so you don’t track mud or snow into local businesses.

How Does Calais Compare?

Useful Information

Visas

You'll need a Visa with a passport to get into the United States, and the U.S. State Department issues those. The process can take several months, so start planning early. You should call the Canadian Border Patrol to find out the specific travel rules for your home country if you're visiting America and then Canada and returning. You might need an elevated level of security or have to bring a birth certificate. Don't leave it up to chance.

Currency

Use the U.S. Dollar (USD) in Maine and the Canadian Dollar (CAD, Can$, or C$) in New Brunswick. While there might be businesses on both sides of the border that accept each, the acceptance rates are dwindling. Even Walmart on the U.S. side no longer takes Canadian Dollars. Even though this is a small town, you can exchange currency here and shop duty-free.

Weather

Be casual and comfortable with clothing that can get wet or muddy. You'll need boots with traction and ankle support. If you're going rafting, bring water shoes to protect yourself from the river rocks. You can rent fishing and water sports gear in Calais, but you'll want to bring your own sunscreen and bug spray.

Airports

There are two airports in New Brunswick, each about 90 minutes away. Bar Harbor's airport in Maine offers flights to Boston. Bangor's International Airport has more flight options domestically and internationally, and that's about two hours away.

Travel Insurance

You'll want travel insurance to protect your flight investment and should consider rental car and wilderness insurance in case of an accident or injury. Confirm with your travel insurance company how much protection you get if you cross the border. Be honest with your car rental agency if you plan to cross the border.

Calais Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Average High/Low Temperature

Maine - Safety by City