Shaker Woods Reserve is a short lollipop loop hike in Alfred, Maine, about 1.9 miles in total length (appx 45 minutes). The 34-acre Reserve, accessible from a small parking lot on Stone Road, is owned by the Town of Alfred, and is open from dawn to dusk, for foot traffic only (dogs must be leashed). A detailed map is available from Three Rivers Land Trust.
On a cool June morning (read: before mosquitoes woke up), I hiked this quiet, wooded trail, which winds through land bounded on the east by the Middle Branch of the Mousam River and on the south by Hay Brook. Deer tracks covered the trail, and throughout my walk, I could hear them bounding away from me intermittently, but never saw them. The trail was lined with ferns and the bright white flowers of berry bushes.
The immersion in nature was not total, as the trail’s beginning skirts the edge of private yards, and vehicle sounds, including a train horn, punctuated the quiet morning. But the songbirds, red squirrels and chipmunks continued their chorus throughout. This short hike is perfect for families, and provides many opportunities for bird and wildlife viewing.
Hiking in Maine 