PORTLAND — Outside magazine has named a waterway along Maine’s coast as the nation’s best sea-kayaking trail.

The magazine’s July issue gives top billing to the Maine Island Trail – a “water trail” that links nearly 200 islands and mainland sites from the New Hampshire border to Canada – in an article about America’s best trails.

The magazine says the Maine Island Trail offers more options and solitude than either Wisconsin’s Apostle Islands or Washington’s San Juans.

The Maine Island Trail Association oversees the trail of ocean properties. Since 1988, it has entered into agreements with island owners to allow recreational access to their islands in exchange for volunteer stewardship services.