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Information about and maps of FCT's trailheads and access points by Freeport
town region:
COUSINS RIVER TRAIL SYSTEM
Download and print a .pdf map of the Cousins River Trail System.
Cousins River FCT-YMCA Trail
The
Cousins River Trail is a cooperative conservation and trail project on
properties owned by FCT and the Casco Bay YMCA. This trail passes through 45
acres of forested hills for 0.6 miles to the marshy shore of the Cousins
River. While there is a steep hill at the beginning, the trail is well
maintained and has many beautiful boardwalks and low bridges.
Directions:
A kiosk marking the trailhead is located on a knoll at the back left-hand
corner of the Casco Bay YMCA parking lot on Old South Freeport Road, off
Route 1.
Parking:
Parking is available in the YMCA lot.
Powell
Point Trail
This
beautiful 29-acre preserve at the mouth of the Cousins River was donated to
FCT by the Hildreth family in 1997. The trail winds through the woods for
0.8 miles and ends with a spectacular water view looking past the mouths of
the Cousins and Royal Rivers to Casco Bay. There are a couple of short,
steep hills. A side loop trail takes walkers past a salt marsh that provides
habitat for many species of birds and wildlife.
Directions:
The trailhead is on Lambert Road, approximately 1 mile from the intersection
with South Freeport Road. From the parking area, walk along the unpaved
section of Lambert Road; the trail begins on the right before the first
driveway and is marked with a small diamond-shaped FCT sign near a plank
over the ditch.
Parking:
Park in the paved turnout on the left side of road, just before the unpaved
section of Lambert Road begins. Be sure to leave space for a school bus to
turn around.
SOUTH FREEPORT TRAIL SYSTEM
Download and print a .pdf map of the South Freeport Trail System.
Bliss
Woods Trail
Bliss
Woods is 85 acres of working forest owned and managed by New England
Forestry Foundation; FCT holds an easement on the property. A 1-mile trail
loops around the woods. The Stonewood Connector to Sayles Field leaves from
the northeast corner.
Directions:
The trailhead is located on the north side of the South Freeport Road, about
0.5 mile from the “Big Indian” on Route 1. Look for the Bliss Woods sign.
Parking:
Spaces for 2-3 cars are available, but the lot is not plowed after snowfall.
Ridge
Trail
FCT
holds an easement on 13 acres along Highview Ridge, including a 0.4-mile
out-and-back trail. This trail is a dead end, so please return on the same
trail; do not continue onto private property.
Directions:
The entrance to the Ridge Trail is just north of the four corners in South
Freeport on the right side of Pine Street.
Parking:
Parking is available on South Freeport Road.
Sayles
Field & Woods Trail
This 70-acre FCT property has 2 miles of trail loops that wind through field
and forest. Dogs must be kept on-leash past the gully before the large
field. Visitors can walk from the Sayles Field Trail to through to the Bliss
Woods Trail via the Stonewood Connector, which is accessed from the
northwest corner of Sayles Woods.
Directions:
The entrance to Sayles Field's trails is a short walk north of the four corners in South
Freeport on the left side of Pine Street.
Parking:
Parking is available on South Freeport Road.
Stonewood Connector
The Stonewood Connector links the Sayles Field and Bliss Woods trails. The
connector may also be accessed via a trailhead at the end of Stonewood
Drive; from there it is a 0.3-mile walk to the main trail.
Directions:
The Stonewood Drive entrance to the connector is accessed at the end of
Stonewood Drive, which is off of Route 1 across from National Ski & Bike.
Parking:
Parking for 2-3 cars is available on the right side of Stonewood Drive’s
dead end.
EAST FREEPORT TRAIL SYSTEM
Download and print a .pdf map of the East Freeport Trail System.
Antoinette Jackman Trail
This 1.5 mile trail is an easy walk through 161 acres of mixed woods with
old stone walls. Please stay on the blazed trail as the rest of the woods is
private property and is not open to the public. A left fork in the trail
goes a short distance to a marshy area along Kelsey Brook; follow the right
fork for a longer walk to the Little River and a connection to the Brimstone
Hill Trail. An easement with provision for a public access trail was granted
to FCT in 2005 by Antoinette Jackman, shortly before she passed away.
Directions:
The trailhead is at the end of Litchfield Road
where it meets Windpointe and is marked by a small diamond-shaped FCT sign
on a tree.
Parking:
Parking is on Litchfield Road only.
Brimstone Hill Trail
The moderately hilly trail winds approximately 1.5 miles out-and-back
through evergreen forest to Kelsey Brook. It connects to the Antoinette
Jackman Trail at Kelsey Brook. The Brimstone Hill Trail is on private
property that the owner has graciously allowed the public to use; please
stay on the blazed trail.
Directions:
From Pleasant Hill Road, turn onto Ringrose Road.
The trailhead and parking area are on the left, 0.2 miles down Ringrose
Road. A laminated white sign on a tree indicates the trailhead.
Parking:
There
is a small off-road parking area.
Calderwood Trails
The Calderwood property is 50 acres donated to FCT by bequest of Roger D.
Calderwood and includes a 0.5-mile loop trail on the eastern side of the
road, and a 1-mile loop trail on the western side of the road; both trails
cover flat ground. The eastern loop takes you through a hardwood forest and
provides views of Maquoit Bay. The western loop will bring you through a
thick evergreen forest and then to open woodlands and a pine-covered knoll.
Directions:
Calderwood is on Flying Point Road near the
Brunswick town line. Trailheads are on both sides of the road and are
indicated by small signs on posts.
Parking:
Parking for one car is available on the west side of the road.
Kelsey
Brook Trail
The
Kelsey Brook Trail begins next to one of the prettiest farm fields in the
town of Freeport. The field is often filled with Belted Galloway cattle or
the large white “marshmallows” of recently cut and wrapped hay put up for
the winter. Because the Kelsey Brook Trail is entirely on privately owned
land and because much of the property is a working farm, visitors must stay
on the blazed trail, NO PETS ARE ALLOWED, and people must stay
away from the livestock.
The
trail traverses the back of the field on its way to Kelsey Brook and after
following the banks of the brook for about 1 mile, it passes another
spectacular field at the foot of Mitchell Ledge. From the parking lot you
can walk 1.5 miles to the Antoinette Jackman Trail, however there is no
bridge across Kelsey Brook at that point. You may be able to cross the brook
depending on the water level, beaver activity or how wet you’d like to get.
The
Kelsey Brook Trail was made possible when FCT acquired an easement on
Mitchell Ledge Farm in 2007, which protected 105 acres of farmland from
development, FCT also holds an easement on 50 acres of protected forested
open space associated with the Kelsey Brook subdivision.
Directions to the trail:
From downtown Freeport, take Bow Street, bear
right on Flying Point Road; turn left onto Litchfield Road.
Parking:
A parking area for 4 cars is located on the left
side of Litchfield Road, 0.1 mile from the intersection with Flying Point
Road.
Lot J
A
1.4-acre parcel owned by FCT that is adjacent to the south end of Wolfe’s
Neck Woods State Park. There is an FCT marker on the west side of Wolf Neck
Road and a trail to the Harraseeket River. FCT also holds a conservation
easement along Wolf Neck Road where it passes through the park.
Directions:
Follow Wolf Neck Road 2.6 miles from Flying Point Road
Parking:
Pull
over on the east side of Wolf Neck Road
NORTH
FREEPORT TRAIL SYSTEM
New! Download a .pdf map of the North Freeport trail system.
Hidden
Pond Preserve
FCT
holds an easement on the town-owned Hidden Pond Preserve that consists of 46
acres of field, woods and wetlands, including a small pond. The trail from
the parking area through the field is mowed during the summer months, and it
is an easy 10-minute walk to the shore of the pond. Great spot for watching
birds and other wildlife.
Directions:
The trailhead, a kiosk and a parking area are located on the south side of
Grant Road, approximately 0.6 of a mile from Wardtown Road (Route 125).
Parking:
A parking lot holds 6 vehicles.
DOWNTOWN FREEPORT TRAIL SYSTEM
Mill
Stream Landing
Public
access to the Harraseeket River is available via a ramp for hand-carried
boats. The landing can accommodate small boats at roughly mid-tide and
above. Trailered boats can be launched at Town ramps at Porter's Landing and
Winslow Park. The Mill Stream Landing was originally given to the Town of
Freeport by Mrs. L.M.C. Smith. The Town later deeded the .2 acre landing to
Freeport Conservation Trust for permanent protection.
Directions:
Located on Bow Street, just after the intersection
with Lower Mast Landing Road.
Parking:
A gravel parking area accommodates 2 or 3
vehicles.
Quarry
Woods & Wetlands
This
35-acre town-owned preserve on which FCT holds an easement is behind the
Mast Landing School, a short distance from downtown Freeport. The 1.5 miles
of wooded trails pass by vernal pools, an old apple orchard, and the site of
the former E.B. Mallet granite quarry. As of May 2009, the trails are not
clearly marked; with the assistance of the Maine Conservation Corps, as well
as community volunteers, the town plans to upgrade the trails in November
2009.
Directions:
The
public may enter and exit Quarry Woods trails from the trailhead on Lower
Mast Landing Road. Travel on Bow Street from downtown Freeport, and turn
right onto Lower Mast Landing Road. The trailhead is located approximately
.3 mile south, by a woodchip pile on the right. During non-school hours, the
Woods may also be accessed via the Leon Gorman Park or Mast Landing School,
both on Bow Street. At the back of the School parking lot, visitors may walk
around the pond to the left where the trail leads down the hill.
Parking:
Along Lower Mast Landing Road. During non-school
hours, cars may be parked at the back end of the school parking lot.
Tidebrook Trails
Tidebrook’s trails are open to the public during daylight hours, spring,
summer and fall; there is no public access during winter. Pets are not
allowed. FCT holds an easement on this beautiful 44-acre property on the
Harraseeket River that was carefully maintained to ensure a diversity of
vegetation and wildlife habitat. The entrance to the trail is across the
road from the parking lot, to the left of a small apple orchard where there
is a sign and a small kiosk. In the spring, hundreds of daffodils bloom in
the orchard. The trail leads through the orchard into woods and fields to
the Harraseeket Estuary and back to the parking lot. Please stay on the
marked trail and stay clear of the private house at the trailhead.
Directions:
From Route 1 by the Freeport Public Safety Building, turn east onto West
Street. West Street becomes Torrey Hill Range Road, which runs over a steep
hill, and then becomes Bartol Island Road after it crosses Lower Mast
Landing Road. Follow Bartol Island Road for .75 of a mile to the end of
public way where the pavement ends, and continue for .25 of a mile along the
dirt road.
Parking:
Available for 2-3 cars on the left before a tall
hedge.
ISLAND ACCESS
Little
French Island
Owned
by FCT and located just off the west side of French Island, this 2-acre
island is accessible by kayak or other small boat.
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