Brunswick Town Commons and Coleman Farm

My map is not the greatest (the trail system is complex!). But I have attempted to note the easiest, widest trails in red. The green trail is on the Coleman Farm easement.

The Town Commons is popular and used throughout the year. All together, you can do a longish walk — about 5 or 6 miles — if you leave from Bowdoin College’s playing fields and make it all the way to Middle Bay Road and beyond. There are some mini-loops you can throw in to make the walk more interesting. Along the way you’ll pass a couple of little ponds and a unique pitch pine heath barren. These trails are blazed only sporadically and some people new to the trails say they can get a bit turned around in here. There is a map at the kiosk at the trailhead on Harpswell Road.

Most of the trails are smooth and well maintained, especially near the trailhead on Harpswell Road. I think the main paths (less so the side ones) could accommodate some rugged wheelchairs and strollers.

Additionally, there are several side trails that branch off the main trail that are a bit rougher but get you off the beaten track.

The Coleman Farm trail starts off on a wide, flat, easy path that passes two small ponds and edges expansive fields. At about 0.9 miles in, a narrow footpath leaves on the left. The sign for Webster Loop, had fallen to the ground when we visited. On this 0.7-mile loop, you’ll have some lovely views of Middle Bay Cove, which always looks different depending on the time of day and time of year you’re walking here.

To access just the Coleman Farm trail, park at the lot about 250 feet past the intersection of Middle Bay Road and Pennellville Road. Walk south along Pennellville Road for about 700 feet, past a driveway on your left, and look for the unmarked trail on your left, right before a large bush.

Directions: To access the Town Common trails, park either at Watson Arena and find the trailhead at the north side of the playing fields, or at the lot off Harpswell Road.

A person in the know emailed me about other access points. I don’t think you can park at these trailheads, but they form links to some of the abutting neighborhoods. 1) From Meadowbrook Road just west of Breckan Road. 2) Two trails from the Beech Drive cul-de-sac: one linking to The Pines condo development to the west (and Sparwell Lane) and one on the opposite side of the cul-de-sac leading to the ponds to the east of that turnaround. 3) One that links the Baxter Lane cul-de-sac with Beech Drive (near a pumping station). 4) One at the end of Melden Lane leading into the Commons. 5) One on the eastern side of Tamarack Circle leading into the Commons. 6) One from the end of Sandhill Drive leading into the Commons (paralleling the left side of a driveway).