Mt. Percival and Bird Hill (Northport)

My younger son and I went to Northport today to explore Mount Percival and the Newman Breslin Preserves, both owned and maintained by the Coastal Mountain Land Trust.

Mount Percival is a 73 acre Preserve in Northport featuring a 0.6 mile round trip trail leading to a forested summit.   At one point in the early 1900s there was a lookout tower at the summit but all that remains is the stone wall foundation and cistern.  

 

The trail to the summit was gradual and not strenuous.  Here is a map of our hike.  Note that parking for the preserve is along the roadway and the roadway itself was not well plowed. 

The Newman and Breslin Preserve consists of 230 acres and a 2.2 mile round trip Trail that leads from Beech Hill Road to Pitcher Pond.  The preserve also contains Bird Hill, a 570' hill with a forested summit and no formal trails.  We elected to climb Bird Hill and came to a clearing just beyond the summit which offered expansive views of the surrounding area, including Camden Hills State Park.  Here is a map of our hike.

Lack Camp and Roque Bluffs State Park

My kids and I spent the day at Lack Camp in Whitneyville and took a short side trip to Roque Bluffs State Park.  

Lack Camp is a small cabin owned by the Downeast Salmon Federation, a non-profit organization devoted to restoring habitat for salmon.   The organization is also a land trust and maintains several properties in Washington County including three cabins.  

Although close to Machias, Lack Camp has a remote feel to it.   There is a dirt road leading to the camp and the 300 foot driveway was not plowed.  There was ample room to park on the road, however, and it was easy enough to move our stuff in with a sled.  

The cabin has two rooms downstairs with bunk beds as well as a sleeping loft upstairs for a total of four beds and ample floor space.  There is a kitchen table, couch, chairs and a woodstove and a small screened in porch.  There is also an outhouse with pit toilet.  

We brought our own campstove as well as pots, pans and dishes, but there were some pots and pans there as well.  

The cabin is right on the Machias River, with a short walk leading to the river's shore.  

After arriving and eating lunch, we visited Roque Bluffs State Park and walked along the beach area.  We then returned to Lack Camp where we spent the rest of the afternoon playing Skip Bo and eating dinner. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, we had to cut our trip short and return home that night rather than staying over.  

For more information on Lack Camp and other DSF cabins, visit https://www.mainesalmonrivers.org/land-conservation.  

Top: Lack Camp, Middle: Machias River, Bottom: Roque Bluffs State Park.

Snowshoeing Caribou Bog (Orono)

I went snowshoeing at Caribou Bog this morning at dawn.   The snowshoeing trail to the bog is a relatively flat 4.2 mile loop that travels through woods and the bog itself.   

During the two hours I was on the trail I only encountered one other person, a cross country skier.   Despite it's proximity to Bangor the bog felt remote.

 

Here is a map of my hike.

 

Sandy Point Wildlife Management Area (Stockton Springs)

My sons and I explored Stockton Springs this morning, visiting Sandy Point Wildlife Management Area, Fort Point State Park and Sandy River Beach.   With temperatures in the single digits we decided on a few short walks.

Sandy Point Wildlife Management Area is a 564 acre state owned wildlife preserve featuring a wetland surrounded by woods.  There are no formal hiking trails on the property.  There is a short road leading down to a parking area and a path which overlooks the lake.  The wildlife management area has been identified as an Important Bird Area by Audubon.   

  

Peaks Kenny State Park

Matty and I visited Peaks Kenny State Park this afternoon, hiking from the park's entrance to the beach area along the park's closed road.  The snow was firmly packed down along the road, making walking in boots a relatively easy task.  It was 15 degrees out, but when we reached the beach area 30 mph winds were whipping in from the lake, making it feel like -6 degrees.  The round-trip distance was 3.2 miles.

Here is a map of our hike.  We had a great time despite the frigid temperatures.

Sklar Park (Orono)

I explored Sklar Park in Orono this morning with a group of friends.  The 40 acre park, owned by the Town of Orono and managed by the Orono Land Trust, features a 3.5 mile trail network that runs through woods and past a brook.   There are trails that lead from the park to nearby Rampe Woods as well as a local retirement community and a Boy Scout office.

We started our hike at the Boy Scout office as it offered a convenient meeting spot right off of I-95.  The trail leading from the parking lot wasn't well marked at first but after a brief detour we found it and were able to easily follow it.  There are a number of trails in the area so I'd recommend bringing a map of the area with you (you can find one here).   

The trail was flat and wooded and there were many animal tracks.  The trail had many icy spots (it was 20 degrees today) and I imagine that the trail would be quite wet during warmer weather.   

Here is a map of our hike.  We hiked approximately 1.6 miles.   

McPhetres Farm Forest (Veazie)

Matty and I explored the McPhetres Farm Forest in Veazie this afternoon, hiking 8/10 of a mile on slushy, modestly hilly trails.  The 25 acre preserve is owned by the Town of Veazie and sits adjacent to two other preserves - Davis Forest and Manter Wood - giving visitors several trail options for exploring the combined woodlands.  

When I last visited here in September 2019, I found the trail system somewhat confusing.  However, since that time the trails have been freshly blazed and new trail maps have been added at nearly every intersection, making it very easy to navigate. 

Here is a map of our hike.