Alewive Woods Preserve

(Accessible trail in yellow.)

From the trailhead, you have a choice of following a 1.1-mile accessible trail or taking non-accessible but still easy forest footpaths through the woods until you’ll teach a 45-acre pond in about 1.2 miles. The preserve’s trails, even the non-accessible ones, are mostly wide, flat and smooth. Some of the reroutes around wet or steep sections get a little less easy, as is the trail that approaches the pond, since it dips a bit and gets rooty. The red trail over to Sucker Brook is also just a touch tougher; this path brings you to the brook and a small bench perched alongside it.

Additionally, there is another white-blazed trail that departs from the blue-blazed trail (you can see on my map). This path is easy to walk for about 0.6 miles but then deteriorates. According to Strava, the trail links up to the power lines and Jeffrey’s Way.

The Kennebunk Land Trust calls this 625-acre preserve its “crown jewel,” and the trails through the red pines and scrub-pine habitat are lovely to walk. The land was revegetated after a 1947 fire. 

Directions: The preserve trailhead is off Cole Road, 3.5 miles west of Interstate 95. (From the land trust: From the intersection of Route 1 (Main Street) and Fletcher Street (Route 35) in Kennebunk, proceed west on Fletcher Street for 1.8 miles. After crossing I-95 bear left on Alfred Road and drive 3.0 miles. Bear right on Cole Road and drive 0.7 miles. The entrance to the parking lot for Alewive Woods Preserve is on your right). The land trust says the lot, which can accomodate about eight cars, fills up quickly. Additional parking alongside Cole Road.