As you get closer to the end of Esker Trail, which drops off into a wetland, it feels like you might be walking along an old railroad bed — the esker is that wide and flat. In truth, eskers — which today look like long, thin ridges that are usually not too high — were formed
The Kennebec Land Trust does a wonderful job maintaining its trails. This conservation area is no exception. When I visited, the wide grassy paths were mown, the signage at junctions was helpful, and the trails were well marked. Plus — there were juicy blackberries growing along the Inner Loop trail in the Readfield Town Forest
The 400-acre private high school campus includes a huge trail network that is groomed for cross-country skiing. The public and their dogs are allowed to use the trails, which includes the Pond Trail that takes you down to a small clearing on Lovejoy Pond. If you’re on skis be careful: The last 100 yards or
This is a mostly wooded trail systems with two lookouts over Torsey Pond, which is fairly marshy. The Kennebec Land Trust says the pond is a good place to see wading birds and waterfowl. Directions: Take Route 17 to Kents Hill. Go north on Route 41 about one mile to the Torsey Pond Nature Preserve
Tyler Conservation Area is a pleasant wooded area, with a well-marked trail and stone walls. To make a loop, you can walk back along Thundercastle Road. Directions: From the center of Readfield (at the intersection of Route 17 and 41), go west on Route 17. Turn right onto the Old Kents Hill Road. Take the
To do both short loops in this 15-acre area, you’ll end up walking roughly 0.7 miles. The trails are fairly easy and well-marked, with two sturdy bridges across Tingley Brook, a great name. There is a bit more information on the Kennebec Land Trust’s property map. You can also find information about the trail on
Readfield Fairground trails in blue; Maranacook Community School trails in red This is an amazing town trail that winds through forest and fields. It is designed to be accessible — part pavement and part packed bluestone gravel. The paved section can be picked up on the access road to the school, on Millard Harrison Drive;
Whatever you do, don’t miss the huge beaver pond at this Kennebec Land Trust preserve (it’s marked with a binoculars icon on the official land trust map). If you take the blue-blazed and nicely made trail heading west from the parking lot, you’ll reach the north end of the marsh in about 0.1 miles. There’s