Alfond Center for Health, Augusta

Springtime is a really wonderful time to walk the roughly 0.6-mile mown trail in the meadow behind the hospital’s staff parking lot. On the sunny May day that my mom and I walked through the field (and did not pick up ticks—a miracle!), we saw bobolinks, goldfinches, red-winged blackbirds, and robins. It also looks like you might be able to explore more north of the meadows, too, if you follow a rough track that diverges from the mown loop.

Then, when we checked out the paved walkway behind the oncology center, which has a flower garden, benches, and pavilions, we saw swallows in the nesting boxes, Eastern bluebirds, and an American redstart. All without binoculars.

The hospital has signage up for its Hayden Recovery Path, which is a paved sidewalk circling the hospital. I preferred checking out the grassier areas, but the Recovery Path is certainly an option if you need an easy, quick walk. There is also a little garden area between the staff parking lot and hospital with paved walking paths. (I didn’t map this part or the Recovery loop.)

Directions: The hospital is located at 35 Medical Center Parkway, a short distance from the highway and its rotary circles. The meadow trail is behind the staff parking lot, which you’ll find if you enter the driveway and then circle around the main buildings. The healing garden and paved trails are behind the oncology center and pharmacy building, which are to your left soon after you enter the driveway.