QUICK TRAIL FACTS
- Preserve Size: 120 acres
- Trail Mileage: 2.7 miles in network
- Pets: yes
- Difficulty: easy to moderate
- Sights: forest, rocky headlands, Muscongus Bay
Magnificent! A quiet mile of walking through the woods is a lead-up to a thrilling section of Muscongus Bay. For the last hundred yards heading to the sea, you can begin to smell the salt and hear the crashing surf. This Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust preserve includes 3,600 feet of craggy, dramatic coastline and 2.7 miles of trails.
The coastal section of the trail sits on the forest edge, above the rocks. You can climb down onto them if you wish, and peer into tidal pools. This is a lovely piece of land, and popular. The parking lot for a dozen vehicles can be full on nice weekend days, and there is no other place to park, unfortunately.
Many of the trails here are easy and gentle, following wide, flat paths— that is, save for the stretches right along the coast. On these sections, you’ll be walking up and down a bit more, and over rocks and such (with amazing views, however!). For the gentlest walk, follow the trail marked in blue from the trailhead to Leighton Head. Also, the stretch of Tibbets Trail, in green, which brings you to the freshwater pool, is also fairly easy going.
Directions: Take Route 32 south from Round Pond. Go 3.5 miles south of the Round Pond Post Office (which is the same as 3 miles north of New Harbor Center). Notice Ocean Hill cemetery on your right. Soon after the cemetery, there is a parking area for the preserve on the right (west side of road).
