Briggs Meadow, Belmont

For years, I have looked at the little hiking icon in Belmont, wondering about the trail at the Ducktrap River Wildlife Management Area. I had driven to the trailhead once, too, but the path into the woods looked overgrown and uninviting! I finally overcame my reluctance this time around, and my partner and I parked on the side of the dead-end dirt road and wandered in.

According to the Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition, the trail forms a loop. Unfortunately, we didn’t find the loop — but we may not have gone far enough? What we did find was a short walk of 0.4 miles along an old woods road to a very faint trail off to our left. When we visited in February 2022, this trail was marked with faded, tattered ribbons. We followed these for a quarter mile or so to reach a pretty spot by the edge of Ducktrap River.

I hate to admit this, but I couldn’t figure out where the meadow is – perhaps it’s an antiquated reference to a former meadow, now grown in? It all seemed like forest and wetland forest here to me. Hm.

My map marks a return to the trail head, but if you continue up the old road (heading south), you eventually reach an intersection. It looked like snowmobiles might use the track ahead and to the left, and these might join to form a loop? Potential to explore here! Be mindful, as always!, of staying in the wildlife management area and off private property. The state has a map of the area here.

Directions: The trail is three-quarters of a mile down Dickey Mill Road on the right. You’ll see signs for the wildlife management area, and a sign saying foot traffic only is allowed on this section of the trail. Park on the side of the road.