Three rivers, an undeveloped pond, numerous Black-capped Chickadees, one Bald Eagle, many trees, roots, and fallen leaves. One watershed. This was my “Androscoggin Land Trust in a Day” adventure.
What? I’ve wanted to visit every land trust in Maine for a while (there are nearly 100). I’ve written about my local one, 7 Lakes Alliance, previously. It’s also alphabetically first on the Maine Land Trust Network list, and Androscoggin Land Trust is next, so I decided to head there, since I’d never been to any of its properties.
Where? Androscoggin Land Trust (ALT) conserves more than 5,000 acres of land in Maine’s Androscoggin River watershed, primarily in Androscoggin County. Its lands include trails, fields, wetlands, bogs, forests, and riverfront. But where should I go? Not all conserved lands are open to the public, so first I identified 11 ALT properties with public access and trails—from half-mile loops to a few miles. All were new to me, and I had trouble picking one or two—so I picked them all.
How? I estimated the total distance of all those little trails at 13 miles—very doable in one day. I figured I’d run those 13 miles, occasionally hike and walk, and take pictures. I mapped a circular driving route to reach each trailhead, including an hour drive from my home to the first ALT property, and another hour home from the last (three and a half hours total of driving, on top of the running).
When? On a recent October afternoon I identified the properties, saved and printed maps, figured out how to get to trailheads, and in what order. Planning complete, I decided to just go the next morning.
Why? Land trusts matter. They provide community access to nature, help protect water quality, conserve habitat for wildlife and plants, and contribute to ecological health and biodiversity. And while land trusts commonly work on the local level, they also play essential roles in the bigger conservation picture of one’s state and planet.
Plus, this seemed like a good way to spend a fall day in Maine.
#1 Purinton Homestead Conservation Area
West Bowdoin, Maine (Sagadahoc County): 1.7-mile trail network
At 7 a.m. I hit the first Androscoggin Land Trust trail. Purinton Homestead Conservation Area includes 100 acres of woods, a brook, a 40-acre field, and either a 1.2- or 1.7-mile loop trail, depending on what map you read. I figured I’d start the day with momentum and a quick run. Half a mile later I stood in a frosty field, listening to a rooster crowing, and wondering if I should backtrack to the obvious ALT trail sign, or look harder for the outer trail AllTrails showed on my phone. After sinking into the half-frozen field, I backtracked to the obvious, and correct, trail junction and headed into the woods. (Later I found this handy trail guide.)
The loop was a lovely figure-eight-ish jaunt through mixed woods and along Gillespie Brook. I noticed the first of numerous bat boxes I’d see on ALT lands, and I wondered if this one was in use. There was peak foliage on the trees, and underfoot. The run was rooty, leaf-strewn, and not quick, or really a run, but it was a pretty, serene start to the day.
Highlights: a nearly full moon in the morning sky, frosty winterberry and ferns, diverse woods, numerous birds (including a very loud rooster, Black-capped Chickadees, robins, crows, Golden-crowned Kinglets, and a Red-breasted Nuthatch)
My miles: 2.17
More Purinton Homestead Conservation Area Pictures
#2 Durham River Park
Durham, Maine (Androscoggin County): 0.3-mile trail
A public park owned by the Town of Durham, Durham River Park has a small loop trail down to and along the banks of the Androscoggin River. Essentially, it’s a picnic spot where you can hand carry your kayak or canoe down the embankment to the floodplains to access the river. I did not have a kayak or canoe on me, but with Silver Maples lining the riverbank and morning mist rising, the views were stunning. Golden trees reflected in the water. A Great Blue Heron flew up the river. It was gorgeous, and I had to make myself stop taking pictures and move along.
Highlights: beautiful, calm misty river, fall foliage reflections, Great Blue Heron
My miles: 0.67 (2.84 total)
More Durham River Park Pictures
#3 Sherwood Forest Conservation Area
Auburn, Maine (Androscoggin County): 2.1-mile trail network
Sherwood Forest Conservation Area contains 28 acres of forest and fields (also known as Alexander-Harkins Preserve) owned by ALT, and 50 acres owned by the City of Auburn. They share an interconnected trail system. I followed AllTrail’s driving directions and ended up parking at Sherwood Heights Elementary School; next time I would park at the 19th Street entrance and avoid entering the trail network through the school playground (see trail map).
Sherwood Forest is open to the public and used for nature and environmental education. Once in the woods it was lovely. A stream passes through the area. There are woody wetlands, and mixed, evergreen, and deciduous forest. I surprised a pair of mallards swimming at a tiny pond. Maybe it was the proximity to the school or the name, but Sherwood Forest reminded me of secret childhood hangouts in the woods. As a kid I would have wanted to build a fort and live here (until dinnertime).
Highlights: two mallard ducks, beautiful trees, playful appeal
My miles: 2.77 (5.61 total)
More Sherwood Forest Conservation Area Pictures
#4 Barker Mill Trail
Auburn, Maine (Androscoggin County): 0.5-miles each way
A little trail along the Little Androscoggin. The half-mile long Barker Mill Trail is on private property, but open for public use. It runs along the Little Androscoggin River between two dams, with the trail starting at the parking lot of the lower Barker Mill Hydroelectric Dam.
I avoided the no-parking signs by the dam access, but wasn’t sure if I was allowed to park on the side. Not feeling 100 percent on the parking situation, I decided to make this a quick out-and-back and had a nice run along the river. The trail is overgrown in spots and some bridges were lacking, but it’s straightforward and fishermen and women might want to check it out. The still waters of the Little Andro reflected the fall foliage beautifully, and I saw Northern Cardinals and White-throated Sparrows in the shrubs along the riverbank.
Highlights: reflected fall foliage, birds
My miles: 1.06 (right on it!) (6.67 total)
More Barker Mill Trail Pictures
#5 Garcelon Bog Conservation Area
Lewiston, Maine (Androscoggin County): 0.4-mile out-and-back
Garcelon Bog Conservation Area was a unique and beautiful spot, and one of my favorites of the day. The area protects more than 100 acres of ecologically significant wetland right in the city of Lewiston and contains a peat bog, forested, open, and emergent wetlands. The peat bog isn’t just pretty; it removes sediments and pollutants from storm water runoff as it flows to the Androscoggin.
I took the 0.4-mile round trip on the boardwalk over the bog to an open stand of trees. It was peaceful and birdy. In fact, it was so nice I did it twice. Back at the car I turned around with my longer telephoto lens to see the bog, birds, and trees again. I heard and saw creepers, woodpeckers, chickadees, Blue Jays, kinglets, and more. Birders and anyone looking for a peaceful spot in a city would enjoy it. I would stop by again to listen and look.
Highlights: peaceful among the birds and trees, despite being in the second biggest city in Maine
My miles: 1.33 (8 total)
More Garcelon Bog Conservation Area Pictures
#6 David Rancourt River Preserve
Lewiston, Maine (Androscoggin County): 0.8-mile loop trail
Finally, halfway through my day, I met someone else enjoying the trails! (To be fair, it was a weekday.) In this case, a very friendly mountain biker on the Androscoggin Greenway, which passes through David Rancourt River Preserve. While enjoying the river overlook, we talked about biking, trees and lumber, outdoor access and trails (Maine has its first-ever $30-million trails bond on the November 5th ballot!), trash, water quality, to swim or not to swim in the river, and more.
This is a good spot to mention that the Androscoggin River was once one of the most polluted rivers in the country. Its stench and foul conditions inspired Maine Senator Edmund Muskie, who grew up along it, to support the Clean Water Act in 1972. While the river is much cleaner today, there’s more work to do: my new friend told me that just two days prior the Lewiston Auburn Clean Water Authority had announced a 30-million-dollar infrastructure project to further improve water quality in the river.
Highlights: friendly company, big environmental issues, Vote Yes on #4
My miles: 1.05 (9.05 total)
More David Rancourt River Preserve Pictures
#7 Hooper Pond Preserve
Greene, Maine (Androscoggin County): 1.2-mile out-and-back
I was excited to visit Hooper Pond (also known as Little Sabattus Pond) as it is prime bird habitat. ALT owns 187 acres along its entire eastern shore, and the undeveloped pond, stream, and forested upland is high-value breeding habitat for wading birds, waterfowl, and other bird species in decline.
I was concerned when I saw a no-parking sign at the end of Grey Road where the trail starts though. I reread the ALT description carefully and repeatedly (“Please park only on the left side/trail side of Grey Road. Walk forward on closed road until intersection with trail to left”), carefully parked on the left side, and decided the sign was an adjacent landowner’s assertive warning. Then I donned extra orange here for hunting season.
The start to the trail is overgrown snowmobile trails (check for ticks!), but shortly heads left and down to the pond. The trail opens up into a nice walk in the woods, and I heard kinglets and chickadees. From the pond’s shore I saw a Bald Eagle fly down to the other end, and what I think was a Greater Scaup. If you want to paddle the pond, you can launch a canoe on the other side. Despite the aggressive warning at the start, it was a calming hike. I was glad to see my car where I parked it when I finished though.
Highlights: a Bald Eagle, undeveloped pond, prime and important bird habitat
My miles: 1.56 (10.61 total)
More Hooper Pond Preserve Pictures
#8 Jones-Bonney Village Park
Turner, Maine (Androscoggin County): 0.3-mile loop
A tiny park and trail on the Nezinscot River, Jones-Bonney Village Park is 21 acres with 1,000 feet of river frontage owned by ALT. It’s also conveniently located next to a Hannaford supermarket parking lot, with spots dedicated for trail users. This property had excellent mid-afternoon timing as I needed a bathroom and was able to get bread and cheese for a late lunch. Fortified again, I walked into the woods and onto the trail. It was short, but the Nezinscot, an Androscoggin tributary, was quiet and beautiful, offering an immediate reprieve. Jones-Bonney Village Park was a reminder that small spaces can hold and connect us to nature.
Highlights: a new river, beautiful trees, easy access, restrooms and snacks, plus Hannaford gave me free bread since the package I wanted to buy had no price tag
My miles: 0.45 (11.06 total)
More Jones-Bonney Village Park Pictures
#9 Alden Hill and Academy Hill Conservation Areas
Canton, Maine (Oxford County): .77-mile ATV trail on Academy Hill
Technically these are two conservation areas, both owned by ALT, but one (Academy) has a multi-use/ATV trail and one (Alden) has no official access points. So, during my brief research, I ignored Alden’s existence and focused on Academy’s trail. When I drove up Alden Hill Road and saw ALT’s Alden Hill Conservation Area sign, I decided I should park by the official sign, even though I knew Academy Hill should be another 0.8 miles up the road, and even though the sign had bullet holes. Plus, there was a pull-off to park.
I donned lots of orange, followed the ATV’s I’d seen riding up and down the road, and ran almost a mile uphill to discover that the Academy Hill Conservation Area trailhead was right where it was supposed to be—and that it was closed for logging till next June. Apparently, the sustainable forestry that ALT practices on this 392-acre property was happening now. So, I turned around, and ran back down the road, technically through Alden Hill Conservation Area, which I now know exists.
Highlights: I thought I didn’t run in a conservation area, but then figured out I’d run through a different conservation area
My miles: 1.79 (12.85 total)
More Alden and Academy Hill Pictures
#10 Spruce Mountain Conservation Area
Jay, Maine (Franklin County): 2.2-mile network
Ski time by the Andro…kind of. The 143.6-acre Spruce Mountain Conservation Area starts next to Spruce Mountain Ski Slope, which is right on the banks of the Androscoggin. It’s a small trail network, but I didn’t have an online map or one with trail distances for this area. It also was getting late in the afternoon, and I ended up veering off course when I wishfully hoped a dirt road would connect back to the ski hill. It did not, and I ended up on private property. Oops.
I quickly backtracked, rejoined the actual trail network, and continued running out to the train tracks and bridge that cross the river. Maybe it’s a Maine thing or being a kid who watched the movie many times, but I often get Stand By Me vibes standing at train track bridges like this. I did not go on the bridge though. I ran back along the river, on the trail. The trees blocked the river views, but they’re trees, so really, they are the view. Especially in fall.
Highlights: Stand By Me bridge, more foliage reflections
My miles: 2.63 (15.48 total)
More Spruce Mountain Conservation Area Pictures
#11 French Falls Recreation Area
Jay, Maine (Franklin County): 1.2-mile network
I reached the last stop of the day, French Falls Recreation Area, near dinnertime. The 29.4-acre property is just across the river from Spruce Mountain Conservation Area—I could still see the train bridge downstream. I’d eaten my free bread and various snacks, but at least I would not need my headlamp as I ended the day’s adventure with a sunset run along the Androscoggin.
The area is named for French Falls, a drop of six feet on the Androscoggin, but the falls were blasted and mostly removed during early industrialization of the area. The rapids also used to be the end of the ride for logs floating down the river before being turned into paper at a mill here. But there are no falls nor floating logs anymore. Just quiet, more tree reflections, and a pair of Canada Geese heading home for the night. I enjoyed the quotes and signs along the trails too.
Highlights: river views, fun and informative signs, final leg of the day
My miles: 1.35 (16.83 total)
More French Falls Recreation Area Pictures
Post-Adventure Thoughts
While planning, I imagined myself running the ALT’s trails through beautiful woods and fields. The woods and fields were beautiful, but this wasn’t really a run. I did run at least some of each trail system—even when I (carefully) carried my camera—but I also walked, backtracked, looked at maps, took pictures, listened for birds with the Merlin app, and so on.
In addition to woods, rivers, and fields, I saw reminders of river and forest industry—numerous dams, the railroad, former logging and paper mill activities, current forestry. I also saw peak foliage reflected in glassy smooth waters, and a diversity of landscapes and habitat scattered across one watershed.
This random little adventure was the opposite of my experience with 7 Lakes Alliance’s The Mountain. Instead of accumulating intimate knowledge and connection to a place, I visited a whole bunch of places, quick-ish, in one day and one season. I stepped on the first trail at 7 a.m. and off the last at 5:30 p.m., spending between half an hour to an hour at each area, and covering nearly 17 miles.
I wouldn’t suggest rushing through places to get to know them. However, I appreciate the glimpses I had on this day, and I learned more about Androscoggin Land Trust and its namesake river in the process than if I’d stayed home. My “Androscoggin Land Trust in a Day” was a reminder of the value of nearby nature—spaces that offer outdoor access, connection, land conservation, and water protection.
Whatever this day was—a run, a hike, a wander—it’s a thing I’m glad I did.
Navigation and Gear Notes
Navigation: Each of these trails was less than three miles, I printed off maps beforehand, and many had maps at the trailhead. Despite a few wrong turns, navigation was not a concern. I used a combination of info and maps from Androscoggin Land Trust, Maine Trail Finder, and AllTrails. I tended to assume the longest distance reported was right, and generally it was. I usually deferred to ALT maps and info, but AllTrails was useful for driving directions to trailheads and showing my progress during a run/hike. It wasn’t 100 percent though, and a few times (Sherwood Forest and Hooper Pond) I needed to read the Androscoggin Land Trust info more closely.
Gear: I had my car for food, water, and extra layers, so I didn’t carry much beyond a map, the occasional snack, my phone, and sometimes my camera. Even though it was warm for fall, I’m glad I wore long running tights, as I went through tall vegetation at numerous points and didn’t want ticks. Also, it’s hunting season and many land trusts allow hunting on certain properties, including some of these. I had my orange hat and reflective vest.
Paddling: The Androscoggin is a river, so maybe you’re wondering why I haven’t mentioned paddling it, instead of randomly running near or next to it. Well, there is an Androscoggin River Trail for you! The Androscoggin River Watershed Council has worked with numerous groups and individuals, including Androscoggin Land Trust, to establish a water trail along the Andro’s 168 miles, from Lake Umbagog in northern New Hampshire to its end in Merrymeeting Bay in Maine. Also, you can learn more about the historic riverfronts of downtown Lewiston and Auburn with ALT’s L/A Riverwalk, a paddling or walking self-guided tour for smartphones.
All photos copyright Alicia MacLeay and taken October 18, 2024.