Black Brook Preserve is owned and maintained by the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust (PRLT). This 105-acre preserve in Windham is accessible through a small, clearly marked parking area just to the south side of Black Brook and Route 202 on Windham Center Road, with another small trailhead on Route 202. PRLT has the best map and description of the well-maintained hiking trails, accessible here. Dogs on leash are allowed, and as hunting is permitted, blaze orange is recommended for all in the fall.
Pig and I took the Hawkes Trail to the Deer Trail and Diamond Trail to make an easy clockwise lollipop loop of about 2.1 miles that took just under an hour at a leisurely pace in late August. Plank bridges span muddy areas and small streams along the route, which is mostly shaded (a nice feature in the summertime, especially along the Family-Friendly Loop. Chipmunks, squirrels, and birds chattered in the surrounding forest. At about a half-mile, we switched over to the Deer Trail to continue the loop, and the trees opened up a little bit, letting in more sunlight.
Hiking in Maine 