QUICK TRAIL FACTS
- Preserve Size: 2,675 acres
- Trail Mileage: ~23 miles in network
- Pets: yes
- Difficulty: easy to moderate
- Sights: river, forest, meadow
This state park, which opened in 2010, is about 2,700 acres huge! It contains 12 miles of frontage along the slow, wide Androscoggin River (or it looks like it’s slow), and has miles and miles of trails — a combo of walking/biking trails and ATV trails. Some of the trail loops are almost 10 miles, so you can prepare for a day’s worth of hiking if you head out here. A good map of this park is here.
The north part of the park is more widely used, I think, and there are more walking paths on this end. As well as more nice spots on the river (there is no easy access to the river in the bottom third of this park). The ATV trails are not always pleasant for walkers because on nice weekend days, you can feel as if you might get run down by a motorbike. And there tends to be big, wet, muddy sections. The snowmobile/ATV trails intersect with the park and go for miles outside of it, if you are inclined to continue your walk.
When I visited in spring of 2016, the ATV trails were not marked, although they’re wide and easy to follow. The walking trails are blazed, but not meticulously so.
The brochure recommends several loops for walkers, which I will add notes about as I re-explore this park in 2024.
Pine Loop Trail (in green): If you leave from the southern parking area, the hike is about six miles, 2.5 miles off the four-wheeler route. The first 1.7 miles are along the Old River Road, an ATV/Snowmobile path, which is muddy at times and popular with four wheelers. At about 2 miles, you will come to the intersection of the footpath. If you go right onto the yellow-blazed footpath, you’ll pass a small river inlet, and then continue along a trail set back from the river by quite a bit (100 meters). (This beginning section of the trail had a lot of ticks in October.) In frustration, we bushwhacked to the water’s edge! The return is along a slightly overgrown woods road.
Ledges Trail: The half-mile trail climbs steeply up, including along stone steps, bringing you to a ridge, a view, and to the Ridge Trail. But the junction between the two trails can be easy to miss. Also, though one end of the Ledge Trail has a sign from where it departs from the ATV trail, the other side doesn’t. Just a small cairn, easy to overlook, off to the side of the trail.
Directions: There are two trailheads and parking areas, on the north and south end. For the south end, head north on Route 4 from Auburn. Soon after crossing the town line into Turner, you’ll see Conant Road. Follow that around a sharp bend, and continue for approximately 0.85 miles — look for the trailhead and parking on your left. There’s room for up to six vehicles. The main lot is north, off Center Bridge Road, about a half mile west of Center Bridge, on the left.
Which trail to take with a group of 4 year olds for a scavenger hunt? We will be there for 2 hours and have a picnic!
That sounds fun! If I were you, I would take the Homestead Path (in the north end of the park) to where there is a little clearing and a picnic table and lovely views of the river, and then hike back along the Porcupine Path. I think it’s roughly a mile from the parking lot to the clearing — I hope the little ones are troopers! And remember to look for ticks! They are bad right now.
Interested in kayaking, ideas where to put in and take out?
Hi Sue
I think you can put your boat in at the the Center Bridge, on Center Bridge Road, just beyond the main (north) entrance to the park. There should be small sign with a boat on it. Hope you have fun!
Any information about where the park passport station is located ?
When I was there, there was no station at either the north or south parking lots. The park still feels a bit wild! It’s kind of nice, though.
I know this is 8 rears out but there is no golf course off the Conant Rd end. You go by the now (no longer) Twitchells Airport. Belongs to a storage company now.