QUICK TRAIL FACTS
- Preserve Size: ~85 acres
- Trail Mileage: 1.6 miles in network
- Pets: yes
- Difficulty: easy to moderate
- Sights: woods, wetlands, streams, interpretive trail
The Bearce-Allen preserve, managed by the Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust, has a great nature walk, or interpretative trail. The walk includes a “name-that-tree” quiz, where you stand in front of different trees along the trail to identify them, lifting the lid of the box to reveal the answer. Fun and educational. I spied a lot of pink lady slippers on the day I went out in May — and the walk included an information panel on them!
The preserve includes both young and mature forests, and lots of nature signs. The trails, if you do both the Bearce-Allen and the adjoining Norgal Preserve, come to about a 1.6-mile walk.
Pick up the trail close to the kiosk (there’s another track that leaves the lot that looks like it could be the main trail-don’t be fooled!).
Directions: From Damariscotta, take the Bristol Road 7.1 miles and turn left on to Sproul Hill Road. Travel 0.2 miles and turn right on to Austin Road. Preserve and trailhead are on the left, with small pullout for parking on the right.
