Esker Trail

As you get closer to the end of Esker Trail, which drops off into a wetland, it feels like you might be walking along an old railroad bed — the esker is that wide and flat. In truth, eskers — which today look like long, thin ridges that are usually not too high — were formed by glacial activity during the last ice age. As streams flowed within or beneath glaciers, they deposited lines of sand, gravel, or boulders that we often use as forest trails today.

As you walk this pleasant esker, you’ll have boggy forest on one side and marsh on the other.

The town trail is well blazed and signed, and fun to explore. It starts off at the Maranacook bus facility, and crosses two roads into the recycling facility, so take care. The rest of the trail makes a big C around the transfer station, eventually leading to the wetland esker.

The there-and-back trail is 1.1 miles. More info here.

Directions: Park at the Maranacook bus facility, about 0.3 miles up North Road from Route 17 on the right. Look for a little grey cement-block building on the right, or the south side of the facility, fairly close to North Road. The trail sign will be visible on the right side of the building. The trail heads behind the building and alongside the parking area before crossing Recycle Road (which it will do a second time, as well, before heading down a dirt road).