Coffin Wildflower Reservation

The Coffin Wildflower Reservation, protected by the Native Plant Trust, includes trails on both sides of Route 128. The trails take you along the river on the western side, and to a little bog on the eastern side. 

Though blazed, the trails on the eastern side are a little less trafficked and can be hard to follow at times. The western side — the riverside loop — is about 0.9 miles in total and is much easier to follow. Plus there are a couple nice views nice of the river.

Don’t miss the very short side trail that brings you to the shores of the river. There are stone steps at the end and the river’s edge is rocky.

According to the trust, more than 100 wildflower species grow here—including fringed yellow-loosestrife, clasping-leaved twistedstalk, elliptic-leaved shinleaf, yellow forest violet, and white baneberry.

Note — There is a short spur that heads off the main loop of the preserve, on the Merrymeeting Bay side, onto private property. It can be a bit confusing to discern where the preserve boundary is, so be on the lookout for the signs marking the Reservation line.

Down a short ways on Chopps Point Road, you’ll find the lovely Merrymeeting Fields Preserve, which I egregiously conflated with this preserve for years! They’re both worth visiting.

Directions: To get to the wildflower preserve, take Route 1 North to Route 127 (just across Bath bridge). In four miles, turn left onto Route 128. Follow it for a few miles to Chopps Point Road, and turn left. The parking lot and kiosk should be on your immediate right. The parking area is small — just about large enough for one car — and was a bit rough and eroded.