Little River Community Trail and Howard School Trails

Little River Community Trail in blue, Howard School trails in orange, McLellan-Poor trails in green.

I enjoyed hiking this 5.4-mile trail, which starts (or ends) at the Belfast Water District on Route 1 and ends at the University of Maine Hutchinson Center on Route 3. In between is a mostly easy, well-marked and well-maintained trail that edges Belfast’s two reservoirs and the charming Little River. For much of it, you have water on your side. You have to cross two roads (and briefly walk along them): Perkins and Route 52. The final 1.2-mile section between the Walsh Recreation fields and the Hutchinson Center is the least fun and charming.

Anticipate a few small hills, and the usual Maine trail fare of uneven terrain with roots and rocks. There are some nice spots where you can access the water, which I’ve marked on my map.

Here are approximate distances:

• 1.2 miles, between Route 1 and Perkins Road.
• ~3.0 miles, between Herrick Road and Lincolnville Avenue.
• 1.2 miles, between Lincolnville Avenue and the Hutchinson Center.

Note: If you’re doing the ~3-mile section between Herrick Road and Lincolnville Avenue and starting at the Lincolnville Avenue end, you’ll walk by the ball field before turning right and crossing a little field. Then you’ll enter light, airy woods. There are a few bog bridges. It’s a flat 1.3 miles until you reach the river. While the views get nice starting here, the terrain also becomes more rolling. At around 2 miles, the river widens, becoming the upper reservoir. On this stretch, a pleasant short walk you could do is to start at Hutchins Road and walk the trail to the little peninsula, about 0.3 miles from the road. The path follows a high bank, and there are nice views of the water as well as short spur trails to the water’s edge.

Directions: From the intersection of Routes 1 and 52 in Belfast, drive south on Route1 1 for 2.4 miles, and turn right into the Belfast Water District. Park at the back of the lot where the trail starts at a kiosk, the trail follows blue blazes one mile to the Perkins Road, crosses, and continues 3 miles to Rt. 52 at the Walsh Ball Fields, diagonally across the street from the YMCA. The Howard School is 100 yards or so up Route 52 from the YMCA.