Hiking in Maine

Middle Fowler Pond

October 29, 2023Undercover HikerLeave a comment

Fowler Brook Trail, Baxter State Park, Maine

Baxter State Park’s northern half is quiet, filled with remote ponds. The trail south from the park’s Tote Road to Lower and Middle Fowler Ponds was the perfect late afternoon hike on a mid-September day. I followed the description and map from Hiking Maine’s Baxter State Park, and navigated using AllTrails and the Map Adventures’ Katahdin Baxter State Park Waterproof Trail Map. I completed the approximately 5.4 miles in about two hours and 15 minutes as an out-and-back of the Fowler Brook and Middle Fowler Trails, but a shuttle loop is possible, using the Middle Fowler Pond Trail all the way to the trailhead at South Branch Pond Campground, and spotting a bike or a vehicle there.

Egg-like mushrooms on Fowler Brook Trail, Baxter State Park, Maine

From the parking area on the Tote Road, the Fowler Trail glowed in the late afternoon sunlight, with a pine path carved through bright green moss. The forest held a surplus of red squirrels, busy with late summer gathering activities and chattering at me as I continued to cross plank bridges over a swampy area. A larger bridge crossed a wide brook with long green grass swaying in its current. I could see recent trail work, as storms must have felled a large pine and some other trees further along the way.

View across Lower Fowler Pond to Billfish Mountain, Bald Mountain, and Barrell Ridge, Baxter State Park, ME

By about the half-mile mark, I was traversing an elevated portion of land, looking down at a deep gully to my right that continued for a while, while the sounds of the rushing water of Fowler Brook drifted uphill. At about 3/4 of a mile I crossed a small, rocky creek and finally saw Fowler Brook to my right. In the valley by the brook I saw and then heard a northern flicker, which are always larger up close than they seem as they fly away. I also saw a series of puffball mushrooms, stacked like eggs on a mossy log.

View across Middle Fowler Pond to Bald Mountain, Baxter State Park, Maine

Emerging from the forest, I had a beautiful view of Lower Fowler Pond from the launch spot for the Baxter State Park rental canoes, looking across to Barrell Ridge, Bald Mountain, and the Traveler range. Working my way around the shore of Lower Fowler Pond, I spooked some large waterfowl, who took off for the opposite side of the pond. The trail continued past the Middle Fowler Pond Trail intersection through a campsite with a nice view of the water and its own outhouse. I continued through, on a long quiet walk through the woods to Middle Fowler Pond. The sound of rushing water off to the right signaled the outlet of the pond as I got closer, and I finally saw the outflow, with the water moving over and under large slabs of rock, as it trickled down to the pond I had just departed.

Outlet of Middle Fowler Pond, Baxter State Park, Maine

Middle Fowler Pond itself was magnificent, clear and cradled by lonely peaks and surrounded by trees and flowers. The names lower and middle suggest a third Fowler Pond, and it exists just to the east, named Little Fowler Pond, with no trail leading to it. Should you want to continue onward, the trail continues across the outlet and on the south side of Middle Fowler Pond, moving south of Barrell Ridge and between Little and Big Peaked Mountains, before reaching the road to South Branch Pond. Instead, I paused to take in the pond and its surroundings, have a snack and a drink, then I turned to head back the way I came in the fading light.

Afternoon light on Fowler Brook Trail, Baxter State Park, Maine

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Burnt Meadow Mountain (Brownfield, ME)

October 17, 2023Undercover Hiker3 Comments

Burnt Meadow Mountain (1,570 ft) in Brownfield, Maine, is a favorite hike of ours in all seasons, including when daughter was much younger. Brownfield, close to Fryeburg and the New Hampshire border, is still less than an hour from Portland, and during mid-late summer, the wild blueberries all the way to the summit make for a pleasant distraction and motivator for younger children, as this can be a challenging hike for little ones. In fall, the surrounding hills are alive with color, and in winter, the moderate climb through vanished deciduous foliage yields great views of the White Mountains, as well as the winding track of the Saco River.

Watching three hawks (a pair and a loner) hunt in the valley below the Burnt Mountain Trail — Daughter watching three hawks (a pair and a loner) hunt in the valley below the Burnt Meadow Mountain Trail in summer.

Our preferred route is counterclockwise via the Burnt Meadow Mountain Trail (blue blazes) and Twin Brook Trail (yellow blazes), an approximately 3.7 mile lollipop loop, which took us about 2.5 hours at a relaxed pace in summer, and 2 hrs 10 mins in winter. The spur trail up to Stone Mountain (blue blazes) from the Twin Brook Trail adds about another 1.4 miles round-trip, which was about an hour added to the loop hike in the winter time. A map is available on an information sign at the parking area. These trails are usually well-marked and maintained by the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) and the Friends of Burnt Meadow Mountain. In October 2023, the sign in the parking lot had been knocked over, and the switchbacks on the way up had been modified with blue marking tape guiding a new path, and were a bit confusing. Additionally, the yellow blazes of the Twin Brook Trail can be hard to pick up in the fall amidst the reds, oranges, and yellows of the surrounding forest.

Pink lady's slipper orchids — Lady slippers, Burnt Meadow Mountain, Brownfield, ME

Lady slippers, Burnt Meadow Mountain, Brownfield, ME

As usual, the best description of this hike is in the AMC Maine Mountain Guide. In the new 12th edition of this guide, Burnt Meadow again has its own map. In winter, the parking lot on Route 160 is small and icy, and hikers may have to find a parking spot at the town boat launch down the road. In the summer as well, it may help to have a backup plan for this popular hike. (try nearby Peary Mountain) For updated winter trail conditions, check the Burnt Meadow Mountain Trail page on All Trails. On winter days, the snow on the trail is usually hard-packed, and micro-spikes help with some of the resulting ice on rocks. The only deeper snow can lie on the lesser-used Stone Mountain trail.

Sunlit clearing on ascent of Burnt Meadow Mountain, Brownfield, ME

The Burnt Meadow Mountain Trail passes through shaded woods and over exposed rock faces up a relatively short, steep climb to the North Peak. On clear days, you will see hawks wheeling below, and the green, serrated sharks’ teeth rows of the surrounding hills and ridges. In winter, the climb has the effect of being a pleasantly continuous ridge hike without the leaves to obscure views. While the blueberries were still a bright, electric green in June, we have seen vultures, crows, many lady slippers in peak color, and also ran across a few toads. We used plenty of bug spray, but didn’t hit large clouds of black flies or mosquitoes, except in low-lying areas along the Twin Brook Trail (obviously, no bugs in the fall or wintertime). In fall, I’ve startled grouse along this path.

Winter ascent up to the North Peak, Burnt Meadow Mountain

The broad, open summit of Burnt Meadow is a great place for a picnic, and a rest after the last scramble upwards. We didn’t linger too long in summer, though, just enjoyed some jerky and proceeded across to the Twin Brook Trail. A large cairn marked the point to start our descent. The Twin Brook Trail sets a rolling course downward, with its own view of the White Mountains, then a wooded junction with the Stone Mountain Trail.

View from Burnt Meadow summit, Brownfield, ME

The Stone Mountain Trail is better in winter, as the surrounding area from the summit is easier to see without the leaves. This trail is substantially less traveled than the North Peak or Twin Brook Trails, and may require some travel through deeper snow, with snowshoes being possibly necessary. Following the Stone Mountain intersection, the Twin Brook Trail moves underneath the rock slides on the side of Burnt Meadow, and along the pleasant, cascading brooks for which the trail is named, back to its junction with the Burnt Meadow Mountain Trail, and from there back to the parking lot.

Follow blue blazes through a birch forest to the Stone Mountain summit.

Along the way in June, I saw two red-shouldered hawks patrolling the area recently harvested for lumber, looking for small mammals. These open cuts allowed for the growth of fragrant sweet fern, and blossoms promised blackberries later in the season. Shortly before returning to the trail junction, I spooked a herd of small deer, who disappeared into the thick forest. In October, a lone hermit thrush perched near the trail and listened skeptically to thrush calls played to it from my phone.

Fall foliage on Twin Brook Trail, Burnt Meadow Mountain, Brownfield, ME

One of the reasons we love this hike in the summertime is its proximity to the Brownfield Town Beach, which is a great place to cool off (Note: While dogs are plentiful on Burnt Meadow Mountain trails, they are not allowed at the beach after June 1st). Another interesting development is the effort to re-open the Burnt Meadow ski area, defunct since the early 1980’s, with initial plans to open the lodge as a winter warming hut in 2023/2024. The Whistle Stop General Store in Baldwin is a good place to grab food – open all winter for snowmobilers and other travelers. Alternately, according to a recent Press Herald article, Gneiss Brewing in Limerick has food truck options on summer days.

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Owl’s Head Trail (Scraggly Lake Public Land)

October 13, 2023Undercover HikerLeave a comment

Outlet of Scraggly Lake, T7 R8 WELS, Maine

The Owl’s Head Trail is in the Scraggly Lake Public Reserved Land, comprised of about 9,000 acres just short of the Matagamon Gate of Baxter State Park’s north entrance. After a long bumpy drive up Scraggly Lake Road in northern Penobscot County (be sure to check out Sawtelle Brook and Deadwater feeding into Sawtelle Falls on the way), the Owl’s Head Trail trailhead is clearly marked on a curve just before the outlet of Scraggly Lake to Scraggly Brook, with a map and kiosk, as well as bathroom facilities further down the road. Maine Parks and Lands has a map here. Remember to download or print out the map before you go, as you won’t find cell service here.

Owl’s Head Trail, Scraggly Lake Public Land, Maine

I hiked this trail, listed by Maine Trailfinder as 4 miles round-trip, in about an hour and-a-half, just after some hard rains on a mid-September afternoon. I did eschew the terminal lollipop loop for a simple out-and-back to the top of Owl’s Head, so mileage may vary. The trail starts out as a soft, easy blue-blazed trail through mossy woods. The forest was very quiet and full of stately cedar trees, wild mushrooms, ferns and bright green moss. Soon, the lake was visible through the trees to my left.

View of Scraggly Lake from Owl’s Head Trail, Scraggly Lake Public Land, Maine

The viewpoint at about 6/10 of a mile has an expansive view of the lake with a bench upon which to reflect. The squawking of jays dominated the sounds on the trail. A second viewpoint at about a mile was much the same, with a wooden bench overlooking the lake, mostly empty of boat traffic. The lake, with a maximum depth of 70 feet, is popular for salmon and brook trout, and is no longer stocked, as the wild population of landlocked salmon is sufficiently healthy. Its unique name is said to draw from the irregular shape of its shoreline. The terrain of the path rolls a bit more after this second viewpoint, but it’s still an easy trail, hugging the lakeshore in the shadow of massive hemlock trees, and the openings in the shoreline continued.

View toward Baxter State Park from Owl’s Head, Scraggly Lake Public Land, Maine

I enjoyed the placid lake, serenaded by the sounds of belted kingfisher and loons. Shortly before 1.4 miles, a trail came up from the shoreline marked Owl’s Head Trail. This is the access to the Owl’s Head from the water, which used to be the sole route. Stone steps lead upward, where the trail is a bit more overgrown and blocked by a few deadfalls, but the blue blazes make it easy to pick your way through to the top of the Owl’s Head (930 ft).

View north from Owl’s Head, Scraggly Lake Public Land, Maine

From the elevation of the Owl’s Head, I could see the entire lake, as well as the Traveler and its acolytes in the northern part of Baxter State Park, and Katahdin through the fog to the southwest. Ireland Pond and the hills and lakes of Aroostook County lie to the north. The trail continued its loop, but I turned and headed back downhill. Along the trail back, I saw a northern flicker with its trademark white tuft in the back flashing as it departed. The sun was coming out as I reached my vehicle, and I stepped back in, having had the trail to myself the whole time in this remote, beautiful place.

Forest by Owl’s Head Trail, Scraggly Lake Public Land, Maine

Mount Chase

October 4, 2023October 13, 2023Undercover Hiker1 Comment

Mount Chase (2,440 ft) commands views of northern Penobscot County, including the peaks of Baxter State Park to the west, and the Shin Ponds. The mountain, and subsequently the town in its shadow, were apparently named after a man who came as an agent for the state to prevent timber thieves. To get to Mount Chase, head north from Patten, and make a difficult hidden turn onto unpaved Mountain Road off Route 11. You will pass some structures, logging roads, a whimsical wooden carving of a Sasquatch, and turns for ATV trails, as well as some vistas to the right. The road gets rockier the further in that you go, and the parking area is at a small clearing with a picnic table, a little over 2 miles in. I navigated using AllTrails, and it took me just shy of two hours to make the 3.4 mile out-and-back on a cloudy mid-September morning. Maps and description are available in Hiking Maine and Maine Hikes Off the Beaten Path.

The trail doesn’t start in that clearing next to the picnic table, it starts at a small wooden handwritten sign just a little farther down the road. The blue-blazed trail began slightly uphill, rocky and wet, resembling a stream bed, with some ATV tracks in muddy spots. At about a quarter mile, the grade flattened out some, which had the effect of drying it, as well. The incline then grew a bit steeper, and crossed another overgrown road. At about four-tenths of a mile, the foot trail split off to the right, with a slope steeper and rockier than most ATV’s would be comfortable handling, then quickly resumed its confluence with the ATV trail.

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Little Mayberry Cove Trail Loop (Grand Lake Stream, ME)

September 28, 2023Undercover HikerLeave a comment

Little Mayberry Cove Trail, Grand Lake Stream, ME

I first discovered Grand Lake Stream and the Little Mayberry Cove Trail years ago through an August trail run sponsored by Baxter Brewing and Downeast Lakes Land Trust. As young kids, my siblings and I had splashed, played and been ravaged by horseflies in the shallow, rocky waters of the Machias River, and never knew a small town was just up the road a few miles. The Machias River Public Lands off Route 9, full of wildlife, fishing spots, campsites, blueberries, and blackberries, give way to bumpy logging roads leading north to Grand Lake Stream, which is a little under 2 hours east of Bangor, and also more commonly accessible from turning west off U.S. Route One near Indian Township. In mid-August, I came back to this area of Washington County to check out the Little Mayberry Cove trail at a hiking, rather than a running pace.

Over the years, the Downeast Lakes Land Trust (DLLT) has preserved large amounts of land and water, and now manages the giant 57,703-acre Downeast Lakes Community Forest, which includes Wabassus Mountain. Their excellent website has hiking maps and descriptions here, and you can also read a detailed description of the Little Mayberry Cove hike in Maine Hikes Off the Beaten Path. The important part is to do your research and downloads before you arrive, as you won’t find much in the way of cell service in Grand Lake Stream.

The Little Mayberry Cove Trail runs along the southeast shore of West Grand Lake, and parking, trail maps, and a toilet are available at the town boat launch, right next to the dam. The trail itself is 2.5 miles out and back, but navigating via AllTrails, we (husband/wife and Pig the dog) completed a loop using Daugherty Ridge Road of about 6 miles, which took us just under two and a half hours. To get to the trailhead, follow signs leading along Shaw Street, the road next to the lake, then uphill and right (about 1/3 mile) onto the trail, which is attractively marked along the way by individual medallions with silver pines in a blue circle. The trail winds over rolling terrain, with plenty of roots and rocks to hop over, small brooks, spur/side trails and openings in the trees to view the lake.

View of Munson Island on West Grand Lake from Little Mayberry Cove Trail, Grand Lake Stream, ME

We saw brightly colored and oddly-shaped mushrooms and lichen, but no other people on the trail, maybe because we were moving slightly ahead of an impending thunderstorm. At one point, a large bird took off and moved loudly through the thick forest, but we never saw it well enough to identify it. The final overlook of the lake had a nice bench to sit on and watch the wide, flat water. We emerged from the trail onto a logging road, and curved back around Daugherty Ridge Road, mostly uphill, to the trail connecting back to our start point. A good place to cool off, as well, with a swim at the town beach (no dogs, though). Not much in the way of amenities in Grand Lake Stream, but its Pine Tree Store has good food served from a lunch counter, cold drinks, ice cream and more.

West Grand Lake from Little Mayberry Cove Trail, Grand Lake Stream, ME

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Mill Brook Preserve (Westbrook, ME)

September 23, 2023Undercover Hiker2 Comments

Westbrook, with its proximity to Portland and its gritty mill background, does not instantly come to mind when thinking about hiking in Maine. But Mill Brook Preserve is a 130-acre section of delightfully unlikely green space in Westbrook along Mill Brook, bounded by Route 302 and Methodist Road. The six miles of trails in the preserve, suitable for hiking, mountain biking, and snowshoeing, can be accessed from four different trailheads. Leashed dogs are welcome, as long as owners pick up after them. The best information and trail map can be found at the website of the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust, which holds this land and coordinates the 28-mile Sebago to the Sea Trail.

I recently re-visited this Preserve in late September, taking a leisurely north to south lollipop loop from the north trailhead at 302 and Methodist Road down to the Southern Loop, with Pig the dog, making for a 6.45 mile hike taking a little under three hours. I’m sure that you could extend this mileage by adding on a side trail or two, but this route stuck to the main attraction, which is Mill Brook. It’s truly impressive that you can find a path through the woods this long in the greater Portland area.

In late May and early June, alewives migrate from Casco Bay upstream in the Presumpscot River, then to Highland Lake through this narrow brook, drawing visitors to the flashing, silvery spectacle. Due to the variation in the flow, breadth, and depth of the Brook, two viewing areas (one north, one south) are identified on the trail map for maximum observation of the alewives’ run.

The Northern Fish Viewing Pool is closest to the MAGAN/Willow Dr trailhead, and the Southern Fish Viewing Pool is by the Methodist trailhead. A new bridge connects the southern end of the east side trail to the Perry Court trailhead, avoiding a previously muddy crossing, and this Southern Loop also includes posted Scavenger Hunt signs for kids – you can find the educational flyer and scavenger hunt at the Explore Mill Brook page.

Flora and fauna, Mill Brook Preserve, Westbrook, ME

Alewives are not the only wildlife to be found in the forest valley of Mill Brook Preserve. The Preserve abounds with life, from beautiful and unique insects to small mammals and birds, to wildflowers and vines hanging with Concord grapes. These birds and wildflowers are particularly abundant in the open spaces created by power lines and ATV trails that briefly interrupt the forest. One one trip in the early fall, I saw a handful of garter snakes sunning themselves on the sandy trail near the Perry Court trailhead. On my recent mid-September trip, I saw and heard cardinals, northern flicker, a phoebe, dark-eyed junco, blue jay, sparrows, and chickadees.

The mosquitoes and biting flies can be intense in the early summer, especially in the evenings. The trails are quiet and mostly bug-free in the fall, and the spacing of the trees in the young forest creates a patchwork of light and foliage. The Presumpscot Regional Land Trust also opened (in October 2019) a new 1.5 mile loop trail through 32 acres of forest in Mill Brook Preserve South, accessible from a parking area at Millbrook Estates off East Bridge Street in Westbrook. This southernmost trail of the Preserve does not currently connect with the northern side.

Afternoon light, Mill Brook Preserve, Westbrook, ME

The trails are not difficult, overall, but the narrow, winding path up and down ridges in the middle section between the MAGAN and Methodist trailheads might challenge some hikers. Thankfully, the trails provide enough variety that this should not preclude hikers of any ability from enjoying this suburban forest oasis. One suggestion is to pick a theme – for example, the sheer number of fern types is incredible, and counting the different kinds could sustain an entire hike. Navigation along the trails is also forgiving and self-correcting, with maps posted at critical intersections throughout the Preserve. Mill Brook Preserve in Westbrook, ME, is an unexpected swath of forest, water, and wildlife in the Portland metro area, with six miles of trails and activities for everyone.

Pig explores a bend in the river, Mill Brook Preserve, Westbrook, Maine

Fields Pond Audubon Center (Holden, ME)

September 19, 2023Undercover HikerLeave a comment

The Fields Pond Audubon center is a 229-acre sanctuary in Holden on the shores of Fields Pond. Trails are free and open to the public year round, dawn to dusk, and dogs are not allowed. In mid-August, I took a loop of the outside perimeter of Fields Pond by using the Mowed Path behind the Visitors Center, crossing the 300 foot bog bridge to the Lake Shore Trail, to the Beechwood Trail, then back on the Ravine Trail. This relatively easy loop of about 2 miles took about 47 minutes. I navigated using AllTrails, and trail maps are available on the website of the Fields Pond Audubon Center The trails are also well-marked and self-correcting, as prominent intersections are marked alphabetically.

Lake Shore Trail, Fields Pond Audubon Center, Holden, ME

I heard catbirds almost immediately, calling through the wide open fields covered with goldenrod, thistle, Queen Anne’s lace, and other wildflowers, attended by Monarch butterflies and many other insects. I continued left over the bog bridge to the Lake Shore Trail, stopping to let pass a sizable group of young day campers. The forest of the Lake Shore Trail quickly opened up to the shore of Fields Pond, where people were enjoying recreation opportunities like fishing and sailing. Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife lists Fields Pond as a popular place to catch pickerel and perch.

View of Fields Pond from Lake Shore Trail, Fields Pond Audubon Center, Holden, ME

At the letter “E” on the trail, I turned up and left to follow the blue blazes of the Beechwood Trail. The slope of this trail was slightly more challenging than the level grade of the Mowed Path and Lake Shore Trail, and wound uphill through a relatively open forest with many signs of recent trail work. Crows called throughout the piney trees, which gave way to the trail’s tree namesake, as well as numerous oak and birch. This deciduous forest quickly turned to marsh and swamp, and an American Goldfinch sang me through this portion, where there were ample deer tracks splashed through the mud.

Bright purple fungus, Beechwood Trail, Fields Pond Audubon Center, Holden, ME

The chattering of gray and red squirrels took over for the Goldfinch, and I picked my way through a host of ferns, and more swampy, low-lying areas, before I reached the intersection with the connector trail to Hart Farm Trails (conveniently marked with an “H”). I turned left to head back on the Ravine Trail toward the Nature Center. This portion of the trail was wide and covered with soft pine needles. At the intersection marked “G,” I turned left again to stay on the Ravine Trail as it worked its way downhill towards the Nature Center. At “C,” I turned right, and took rough stone steps down at the intersection of the Brook Trail to stay on the Ravine Trail, continuing the downward walk back to the parking area.

Stream running alongside Ravine Trail, Fields Pond Audubon Center, Holden, ME

Bald Bluff Mountain (Amherst, ME)

September 7, 2023September 13, 2023Undercover Hiker2 Comments

Bald Bluff Mountain (1,011 ft) is located within the beautiful Amherst Mountains Community Forest, a Public Land reserve of almost 5,000 acres, located east of Bangor in rural Hancock County off Route 9 (the Airline) on the way to better-known Downeast destinations. The day after hiking the Partridge Pond and Ducktail Pond Loop in mid-August, I again took Pig the dog up Bald Bluff Mountain, a lollipop loop of about 2.25 miles which we did in about an hour and fifteen minutes. As usual, I used AllTrails to navigate, and there is a thorough description and map in Dog-Friendly Hikes in Maine (pets under control are allowed). The state of Maine has a comprehensive map and guide to the Amherst Mountains Community Forest, including campsites and the Partridge and Ducktail Ponds hike, here. Again, the turn off Route 9 onto Ducktail Pond Road (22-00-0 road), marked by a blue Amherst Public Lands sign, is a tricky hairpin off a busy road from either direction.

Pig inspecting moose droppings, Bald Bluff Mountain Trail, Amherst, ME

The road is a typical logging road, dirt and gravel with some washouts and protruding rocks, and when I used the road this day, there was someone using heavy equipment to grade it, which made the ungraded portion a bit like the surface of the moon. It would be slow going in a low-clearance vehicle. The Bald Bluff parking area is about 6 miles from Route 9 – Google Maps will likely take you in from the north (from the direction of Sunkhaze Meadows NWR in Milford and/or Stud Mill Road) on the 22-00-0 road, which is another access point. I made some errors at the beginning of our hike, by following a grassy, overgrown woods road/biting insect nursery north of the parking area. The actual trail is just south (downhill) of the parking area, marked by a small brown “Trail Head” sign on a tree. This required me to do some bushwhacking to get back on track, and is reflected in the mileage. We were not the only ones to use this route, as evidenced by some of the comments on the Maine Trailfinder site, and generous piles of moose droppings on the disused road.

View just shy of summit, Bald Bluff Mountain, Amherst, ME

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Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park

July 2, 2023July 14, 2025Undercover HikerLeave a comment

(Note: as of July 2025, ongoing construction affects accessibility and capacity at Wolfe’s Neck. You can receive park Park & Trail Conditions by sending a Text WOLF to 888-514-7527.)

For good reason, Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park is a popular year-round destination for both Mainers and visitors. Close to the shopping mecca of Freeport and L.L. Bean’s adventure excursion launchpads, the state park can sometimes become crowded with people seeking an accessible outdoors spot (it’s listed as #1 of 21 things to do in Freeport by TripAdvisor). There are, however, quiet parts of this over 200-acre coastal sanctuary. A detailed map and description can be found in the worthwhile Falcon Guides’ Hiking Maine, or free, along with a calendar of activities, on the Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park website. Entry to the park, which is open for day use, is $4 for Maine residents (free for veterans). Dogs must be leashed, and owners must pick up after their pets. No bicycles are allowed on the Wolfe’s Neck hiking trails. Restrooms are located near the parking area, and picnic areas are interspersed through the park nearby.

Googins Island from shore by Casco Bay Trail, Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park

On a busy weekend at the beginning of July, we used the White Pines Trail, North Loop Trail, Casco Bay Trail, and Harraseeket Trail to make an easy 3 mile perimeter loop, taking about an hour and a half to enjoy, and as usual, navigating using the AllTrails app. As soon as we left the parking area via the White Pines Trail, we began to hear a variety of birds, including red-eyed vireo, dark-eyed junco, black-throated green warbler, and inland, a broad-winged hawk. On the shoreline, we heard and saw osprey, including one returning to the treeline with a large fish. Further along, on the Harraseeket Trail, we heard the distinctive song of a hermit thrush, chipping sparrows, blackburnian warbler, and a blue-headed vireo.

Casco Bay view, Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park

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Fore River Sanctuary (Portland, ME)

June 25, 2023July 4, 2023Undercover Hiker4 Comments

We’ve explored Portland’s Fore River Sanctuary many times in different seasons and conditions. This preserve, open from dawn to dusk and maintained by Portland Trails, is 85 acres of nature inside Maine’s largest city. Fore River Sanctuary contains a waterfall, as well as a lowland marsh area popular with bird watchers, and is a favorite with dog walkers. It is in fact, featured in the book Dog-Friendly Hikes in Maine, and dogs under control (voice or leash – we saw both) are welcome in the Sanctuary, as long as owners pick up after them. Regarding birds, we encountered a hardy birdwatcher braving morning bugs on a June day on the Forest City Trail (FCT) Canal Path, listening to red-winged blackbirds, song sparrows, and mockingbirds, and we saw many mallard ducks, crows, and a snowy egret.

Snowy egret and mallard ducks, Fore River Sanctuary, Portland, ME

The FCT Canal Path, covered in wildflowers and serenaded by birds, leads past a salt marsh to the alternate parking area on Frost Street at Maine Orthopaedic Center’s lot (parking available only in five marked spaces closest to Frost), and destinations beyond. Parking is also available at the end of Rowe Avenue, on Hillcrest Avenue (as of June 2023, this trailhead is closed due to city sewer work), across the street from the Westbrook Street trailhead, and in designated spaces on Starbird Lane. We’ve enjoyed an out-and-back lollipop loop to Jewell Falls from the Frost Street trailhead, mainly using the FCT, of about 3.2 miles.

Dog/crow encounter, Fore River Sanctuary, Portland, ME

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