QUICK TRAIL FACTS
- Preserve Size: 118 acres
- Trail Mileage: 3.6 miles in network
- Pets: yes
- Difficulty: easy to moderate
- Sights: fields, rocky shore, Bowdoin's wet lab and Coastal Studies headquarters
This is a remarkable piece of land, with forests and meadows, owned by Bowdoin College. The College maintains a marine lab, retreat center, dormitory, and farmhouse on site (the property is also known as Thalheimer Farm). The network is about 3.6 miles. Dogs must be leashed.
Walk the perimeter of this college-owned land at different times of the day and in different seasons to experience the changing light on the sea. But don’t ignore the center trail in the long peninsula. This red-blazed trail takes you to a bit higher ground, where you have some good views.
While the loops along the beautiful coastline are wonderful, the mown trails through the fields near the farmhouse make for good birding!
At low tide, you can also walk the causeway to Wyer Island, but be mindful of the tides.
The dirt road to the farmhouse and Coastal Studies Center is wheelchair accessible, as are some paved paths connecting Bowdoin’s marine science center buildings.
Here is more information about the preserve from the Harpswell Land Trust.
Directions: From the intersection of Mountain Road and Harpswell Islands Road (Rt. 24), follow Harpswell Islands Road south toward Orr’s Island. Approximately 2 miles after crossing onto Orr’s Island from Great Island take a right onto Bayview Road (this turn is easy to miss). The dirt road into the center extends off the end of Bayview.
