Lilly Pond Community Forest, Bath

(Trails in light blue are walking paths; trails in green are multi-use trails that can be muddy in places. Trails in deep blue are windy mountain bike paths.

This is a great place to go if you want to go for a long walk! Especially if you don’t mind including endlessly looping mountain bike paths (that I find produce existential despair when I attempt to walk them) and occasionally muddy ATV tracks. Much of this area is really lovely, especially around the marsh and pond.

I recently revisited the preserve in 2020, and Kennebec Estuary Land Trust had greatly expanded its trail system here, making some great blazed walking paths through forest lined with old stone walls.

If you stick with the fantastic KELT footpaths, the going is easy/moderate (except for the initial push up from the street to the trail head — that is tough, and steep! Indeed, a few of the trails throughout the preserve are rooty and rocky, with the Marshall Lane (the main path to the pond) being the widest and most gentle, in my opinion). From the parking area to the pond, it’s about two miles. From the parking area to the pretty marsh view, it’s more like one mile. 

The land trust advises you park at the skating rink on Marshall Street. Plans are afoot to build a new parking lot that doesn’t make you cross the busy street (Route 209). 

Close to the trailhead you begin to see glimpses of the Kennebec River. Two highlights of the preserve are the quiet spots at the edge of Lilly Pond, the headwaters of Whiskeag Creek, and at the marsh. There are many other intersecting trails and snowmobile tracks here that cover a lot of miles. Some of the ones near Hyde School are nice—wide and in good condition. The only issue here is parking. You can park at the Fisher Mitchell School on Route 209 on the weekends and walk in via one of the dead-end streets, like Nichols or Spruce Street, or through the Hyde School campus.

Directions: Take High Street south and turn left onto Marshall Street, where parking is available at Goddard Park on the left. Then walk south on High Street approximately 500 feet, just past Getchell Street, to preserve entry at the wooden stairs on the right. Additionally, you can park in a lot that’s big enough for eight or so cars farther down on High Street. Look for what looks like a residential driveway on the right (if you’re coming from Bath) at 150 High Street (the neighboring house’s mailbox is 156 High Street). There’s a trail kiosk at the top of the slight rise.

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