Dodge Point Public Land in Newcastle is a 548 acre preserve on the western shore of the Damariscotta River. A map and description is available at Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust, which co-manages the preserve with the state of Maine and maintains the public dock. An additional Dodge Point Natural Heritage Hike brochure, illuminating the history, flora and fauna of this special place, is available on the Dodge Point page at the Maine Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry website. I found this hike by reading Dog-Friendly Hikes in Maine, and there were certainly other dogs (besides Pig) along our route. Dodge Point Preserve is at the terminus of the River-Link Trail, so can be combined with other longer area hikes.

In mid-October, we completed an easy clockwise loop of the Preserve using the Old Farm Road and Shore Trails, totaling about 3.33 miles, about an hour and 45 minutes. We started from the parking area on River Road, passed a series of small bridges and waterfalls, and headed mostly downhill to the shore, past Ice Pond. The first in a series of beaches we encountered was Brickyard Beach, then Sand Beach and Pebble Beach in succession. The trail maps are at most major trail intersections, and allow for self-correction (“You are Here”), and the trails are mostly wide and flat.

Pig sprinted around the beach, chasing sticks and driftwood, and waded into the cold water. The trail moves south along the Damariscotta, with plenty of outlets to the water, ending in the public dock. We saw many gulls and waterfowl along here, as well as a great blue heron. From the public dock, it is an uphill walk through the forest to return to the parking lot, including vernal pools and a beautiful stretch of tall red pines lining the old farm road. Following the trip, we enjoyed the open air tasting room of Sasanoa Brewing (May – Oct, weather-dependent), located on Westport Island.