Josephine Newman Audubon Sanctuary

Map above show the Josephine Newman trails in blue and the Berry Woods preserve trails in red. I also include the town’s Round the Cove forest on the west side of the Sasanoa River. (Dogs are allowed there but not on the Audubon land.)

Tucked away in Georgetown is an Josephine Newman Audubon preserve, with well-marked trails through beautiful land and a few well-situated benches with views. The preserve can be accessed from three places: its main trailhead off of Route 127 (with about five parking spots); behind the historical society on Bay Point Road; and the small parking area at Berry Woods Preserve, also off Bay Point Road. You can do a longer walk if you incorporate the Berry Woods Preserve.

Some of the trails are more rugged and up-and-down than others. The ~0.6-mile blue-blazed Geology Trail is harder, while the orange-blazed, Horseshoe Trail is the easiest. (If you head out on Horseshoe Trail and return along the interior section of Rocky End Trail, its about 0.8 miles.)

There’s a beautiful rocky point on the aptly named Rocky End Trail that you shouldn’t miss, with views up and down the tidal Robinhood Cove. Plan your visit for low or high tide depending on what you want to see, mudflats or seawater! The Rocky End Trail loop, leaving from the main trailhead off Route 127 is about 1.25 miles in total, with some slightly rugged coastal sections and a flatter interior section.

The cabin trail, which ascends 0.2 miles to a high point in the preserve and to the ruins of a cabin is a tad disappointing, since the views aren’t great and the cabin’s foundation stones (or what I think were the foundation stones) are barely visible. Perhaps check it out to contemplate the passage of time and how nature can rub out signs of human interference?

Directions: From the junction of U.S. Route 1 and Route 127 in Woolwich, just east of the Woolwich-Bath bridge, head south on 127 for 9.1 miles to Georgetown. From the junction of U.S. Route 1 and Route 127 in Woolwich, just east of the Woolwich-Bath bridge, head south on 127 for 9.1 miles to Georgetown. Turn right at the sanctuary sign and follow the narrow entrance lane for 0.18 mile to the parking area. You can also pick up the trail at the town hall at 20 Bay Point Road, behind the historical society.