QUICK TRAIL FACTS
- Preserve Size: 100 acres
- Trail Mileage: 1.5 miles in network
- Pets: yes
- Difficulty: easy
- Sights: lake cove, picnic table
Hunter Cove Wildlife Sanctuary in blue; Mingo Springs Trail in orange; Hunter Cove Uplands in green.
You can do a 1.1-mile easy loop at this Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust preserve, plus a 0.25-mile spur, to reach various view points of Hunter Cove and an adjoining stream. (The white side trail that brings you to the stream on the northern end of the preserve passes through a grassy field (and some wet patches) before entering a cool, dim forest of spruce and fir.
The perimeter trail brings you to two nice views of the cove, one with a picnic table. There is also a 0.5-mile connector trail to Mingo Springs Trail (not shown on my map).
Nearby, across the cove, is the twin preserve of Hunter Cove Uplands.
The land trust in 2026 removed non-native Norway spruce trees planted in the early 1960s to make way for native species, which improves wildlife habitat and makes the forest more resilient to pests, climate change and disease.
Directions: Rt. 4, 4.5 miles north of town, or 3 miles south of Oquossoc. You will see the sign on the west side of Rt. 4.
