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.

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.

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.