QUICK TRAIL FACTS
- Preserve Size: 200 acres
- Trail Mileage: ~1.8-mile loop
- Pets: yes
- Difficulty: easy to moderate
- Sights: fields, Back River
By far the loveliest, and most accessible, of Chewonki’s trails is the south loop of Eaton Farm Preserve, which is on a small peninsula jutting into the Back River. The Back River Trail here is easy to find and follow, and the footing is mostly gentle, on meadow paths, old woods roads, and footpaths around the peninsula. There are a couple of spots with steep sections. If you want to avoid those, stay on the eastern side of the peninsula, along the Back River.
All of the trails starts out in a rolling meadow that slopes gently to the shores of the tidal river. You can follow one of two paths across the meadow (one heads off to the left, shortly after the kiosk, while another heads straight). Or, you can veer off right into the woods, and do your loop counter-clockwise. The loop around the peninsula is just under 2 miles.
The now-defunct north loop (which you can see on the map below and on the trailhead kiosk map) is impossible to follow these days.
Directions: To get to Eaton Farm, take Route One to Old Ferry Road. Take the 3rd right onto Ready Point Road (Ready Point Road is 0.5 miles past Chewonki Road). Follow Ready Point Road until you see a well-marked sign on the left for Eaton Farm Trail.
