Beaver Dam Stream Preserve (Downeast Coastal Conservancy), Beaverdam Stream Preserve (Downeast Salmon Federation), and Machias River Corridor Public Reserve Land

There are two land trust preserves located within 200 feet of each other off of the Airline Road in Wesley, Maine.  I decided to hike both this morning after spending the previous night camping at the Machias River Corridor Public Reserve Land. 

Footbridge in the DCC's preserve

I headed out after work on Friday and managed to get a campsite at the Log Landing campground.  The riverside campground has 10 sites (five for tents and five for RVs) and was surprisingly quiet for a Friday night in the summer, despite being near capacity.  

Each site features a picnic table and fire ring

Machias River from Log Landing Campground

After a quiet night, I woke up early and stopped at Salmon Pond before dawn.  The small, 11 acre pond has a boat ramp and is known for its trout, a fact I wish I knew while I was there.  

Salmon Pond, pre-dawn

Approximately 13 miles east of Machias River lies the two Beaver Dam Stream Preserves.  I first hiked the Downeast Coastal Conservancy's 105 acre preserve, which features a well-maintained 1.25 mile lollipop trail which leads through forests and adjacent to (as the name implies) Beaverdam Stream.  This was an enjoyable hike made more so by the sounds of a large, unknown animal crashing through the woods soon after my arrival.  

I next visited the Downeast Salmon Federation's 97 acre preserve across the road.  The preserve has a 0.25 mile trail (0.5 round-trip) which leads to a picnic table overlooking the stream.  Most of the trail is on a logging road/snowmobile trail.

Overall the two preserves were enjoyable hikes near the Machias River Corridor PRL.  Here is a map of the two hikes.