Hall Environmental Reserve

Trails in orange are on the Hall Environmental Reserve; trails in blue are the Sanford-Springvale Rail Trail; trails in green are part of the McKeon Reserve (which appears to be in development).

This Mousam Way Land Trust preserve has a lot to offer! On one side of the pond, the northern side, the Vigue Trail is wide, flat packed gravel — it is probably passable for most sturdy wheelchairs. From this trail, if you’re inclined, you can dart off on several (non-accessible) short side paths that bring you to highish ledges with nice pond views or down to the water. There are so many rocks and ledges that Native people refer to the area as Tombegawoc, or “the pond of the rocky reefs.” I also like the land trust’s description of Deering Pond as “a tea-colored bog pond.”

On the other side of the pond, you can follow the non-accessible Hazen Carpenter Trail, which offers a great education as you walk its ~1-mile length. Not only is the path pretty — it takes you through woods and along old stone walls on a fairly easy route — but someone very knowledgeable about natural history has written a series of elegant facts about different aspects of the land. These write-ups are hidden in little wooden boxes you flip open to read as you make your way along the trail.

You can do a roughly 2-mile loop around Deering Pond if you continue from the Hazen Carpenter Trail to the Sanford-Springvale Rail Trail and return via the Vigue Trail. Be sure and check out the little side path to the pond off the rail trail! It leads to to flat ledges with benches and yummy high-bush blueberries.

Directions: The best place to park is at the Rail Trail trailhead off Hanson Ridge Road, about 0.3 miles from the intersection with Blanchard Road. There is also a little driveway off of Deering Neighborhood Road that was not plowed in the winter during our visit. During the rest of the year, three to four cars can park here, at the gate.