Snowshoeing Snowmobile Trails in Hermon

A blizzard dumped two feet of snow on the Bangor area yesterday.  I took advantage of the fresh snow to snowshoe on a local snowmobile trail this morning.  

Hothole Pond Trail (Orland)

Friends and I hiked to Hothole Pond from the north gate of the Great Pond Mountain Wildlands this afternoon.   On the way to the pond, we stopped at the Baker Brook Campsite.

The trip to the pond was mostly downhill, a fact we hadn't noticed until the return trip.   It was a fun trip nonetheless, as the recent extreme cold temperatures made the 26 degree day feel warm.  Here is a map of our hike.  

Otter Point Conservation Area (Hudson)

A friend and I went snowshoeing at Otter Point Conservation Area in Hudson this afternoon.   The property is administered by the Orono Land Trust and has a loop trail leading through forested habitats.   We enjoyed the hike, and noted that, despite it being a few days since it last snowed, there were no other human tracks in the preserve.  Here is a map of our trek.  

Icy Waterfalls at Papermill Park (Hampden)

It's been very cold this weekend, reaching a low of -6 degrees last night.  A friend and I visited Papermill Park this afternoon to view the frozen waterfalls and do a quick 0.75 mile hike.   

Smelt Brook Preserve (York)

Smelt Brook Preserve is a 300+ acre property owned by the York Land Trust.  A 1.4 mile loop trail through a mature forest of hickory and oak trees leads to views of salt marshes and the York River.  Parking for the preserve is across the street in a lot shared with the Highland Farm Preserve, another York Land Trust property.

I was on my way home from Massachusetts and needed a break from driving so picked the preserve due to its close proximity to I-95.  It was a good choice, scenic and long enough to stretch my legs.

Here is a map of my hike.  For more information about the preserve visit the York Land Trust's website.