Fristad Trails

Get ready for some dog action at the 94-acre Fristad Trails! Here is a place of woodland trails and wide, grassy paths created by its original owner for dogs to freely romp and explore (and go to the bathroom without owners having to pick up after them). Dogs come first here!

The trails in this dense network add up to about four miles of easy to moderate walking. They’re mostly short, alternating between winding forest paths and wider, straighter tracks, likely the remains of old skid tracks. You’ll encounter more of these wide paths in the northern part of the parcel, where it’s also sunnier and the tree growth is younger.

From the south end to the north end, it’s just about 0.8 miles as the crow flies. There are a few major paths that run from the parking lot in the south to the top, with lots of loops possible. As you can see from the map, this is an intricate trail system! You could come here again and again and never do the same loop twice. At the same time, you will likely have a quiet walk since everyone can take their own route. The trails are mostly flat, with some roots and rocks on the narrower woodland paths.

The land’s most notable features are its pretty streams. At many of the stream-side spots, you’ll find a bench or couple of chairs, as well as well-built little bridges to aid with crossings. Dogs will enjoy jumping into the creeks on hot days (and the owner had this in mind when he cared for these little oases). Another highlight is the “world’s best bird-feeder,” a rough-hewn wooden contraption, which was popular with chickadees and nuthatches when I visited. You can sit here on supplied chairs and watch the bird action, just remember to BYOB (bird seed).

In 2025, Charles Beck donated the parcel to the city of Belfast, protecting it—and its unique dog-centric, animal-lover sensibility—forever. Fristad is Swedish for refuge or haven, and Beck built the trail system “by hand, clearing brush, cutting paths, and shaping a quiet sanctuary along the Little River,” News Center Maine reported, helping the land recover after a harsh timber harvest in 2015. “Beck said the idea traces back to his childhood in Sweden, where open public lands were a way of life.”

Directions: The parking lot, big enough for several cars, is at the end of a dirt dead-end road, just west of the Seascape Motel and Cottages. The address is for the motel is 202 Searsport Ave in Belfast. Turn into the drive and go about 850 feet to the parking area and gate. There’s a sign here with a map, and paper maps are also available. No bicycles, motorized vehicles, or hunting allowed.