Hemlock Grove Preserve, Scarborough

Hemlock Grove has a pleasantly shaped trail (a 0.3-mile leg to a 0.5-mile loop) in a forest of Hemlock trees, which are popular with porcupines. The preserve appears to have been created in conjunction with the development of a nearby neighborhood. The trails take you through both a Hemlock nursery and a mature Hemlock forest, where some of the trees could be as old as 150 years, according to the Scarborough Land Trust. The preserve abuts the highway, so the sound of traffic can be loud. Additionally, a side trail connects to the power lines.

Directions: Drive to the end of Saratoga Lane. You’ll see a small parking area, large enough for three cars. If the lot is full, the land trust asks that you return another time. But it probably won’t be full!