Posted on October 19, 2020 and last updated on December 26, 2022

Kate Furbish Preserve, Brunswick

QUICK TRAIL FACTS

  • Preserve Size: 591 acres
  • Trail Mileage: ~12 miles
  • Pets: yes
  • Difficulty: easy to moderate
  • Sights: Harpswell Cove, Mere Brook, meadow, marsh

The nearly twelve miles of trails at the Kate Furbish Preserve on Brunswick Landing are still in development, but it is still great to visit. Right now, you can try out some of these trails in the eastern section of the preserve off Ordinance Road. (Ordinance Road brings you through a neighborhood of old military bunkers…we know where Brunswick townspeople will be headed when the nuclear winter arrives!) The preserve land was conveyed to the town by the US Navy, and was once used for detonating munitions to dispose of them.

I think the long perimeter trail at Kate Furbish East will be groomed for skiing? The signs indicate it is meant for skiers. It is also nice for walking, since the first half — to a nice view of the cove — is level and flat. If you start at Ordinance Road and do this 3.5-mile loop clockwise, you begin on a dirt track (it is wheelchair accessible) that passes through a meadow and by the tip of a small pond. At the end of the meadow, the path turns sharply right to enter the woods. The road follows the southern end of the preserve before arriving at the shores of Harpswell Cove. The walking is very easy on this section, wide and clear, with some rolling hills. The last winding leg of the path, along the cove and marsh, is beautiful, but the walking is more difficult, with more roots and a few deep gullies.

At the sharp corner of the perimeter trail, you can cut into the woods to head over to Buttermilk Cove and the Princess Point trailhead. There is a long and winding bike path that weaves in and around the paths meant more for walking. It can be a bit confusing at times (or it was in late 2022) but I presume all the trails will be clearly marked soon.

Additionally, you can pick up the trails from Coombs Road and Princess Point Road. The parking area for the latter is at the Princess Point boat launch, and if you walk in to the path some 50 feet, there is a great place to swim a dog in Buttermilk Cove.

Across the cove, the trails at Kate Furbish Preserve West can be found next to the golf course. Park across the street and look for a high wooden fence. Walk to the right of this, and you’ll eventually reach a wide, old road that heads into the woods. These tracks are flat and easy, with the exception of the connector trail between the two roads (the connector trail is blue and the roads are shown in white on the land trust’s map). Additionally, a narrower, windy side trail has been constructed on the north side of the preserve. It was marked with tags when we visited. It follows the marsh river for a while, and offers pretty views. This trail is easy, too, but not quite as smooth as the rest.

For updates on grooming conditions, check out the town’s website.

Directions: From Orion Street in the old Navy base, now called Brunswick Landing, turn onto Purinton Road. Continue 0.3 miles on Purinton Road—it will bend sharply to the right at a cemetery. Continue straight for 0.5, and take a left at the next junction, onto Ordinance Road. Ordinance Road makes a small one-way loop at its end. Here, you’ll see the first trailhead on your right, through a hole in a metal fence. There is ample parking in the old paved lots at the end of this loop. If you continue on the loop a short ways, you’ll see the other trails on your right.

Let me know if you have any trail updates or corrections!