Lowell Preserve and East Windham Conservation Area

The trails in this area are well connected, with just a few road crossings. In red, in the northwest corner, are Lowell Preserve and the East Windham Conservation Area. The yellow trail within East Windham Conservation Area is the accessible trail to the view.

On the 700-acres of the East Windham Conservation Area and the 308 acres in the connected Lowell Preserve, you can hike, run, bike, or snowshoe for many miles along well-marked trails. They range from rooty forest footpaths to wide gravel roads. A lovely 1.13-mile accessible trail of packed stone dust weaves up the hill to a vista of the western mountains. These trails connect to many more miles of biking and walking trails in Falmouth and Cumberland.

Many visitors are likely interested in hiking up to the view, which is most easily accessed from the parking area off Falmouth Road. You can follow the 1.13-mile accessible trail, the easiest way up, or charge up some of the wider roads that have steeper pitches. At the viewpoint, a panel identifies the Maine and New Hampshire mountains in the distance. The other highlight is a lovely lakeside spot on Little Duck Pond, which seems like a possible swimming spot, if you don’t mind a bit of muck mixed in with your sandy bottom! There are a handful of cottages on the pond.

Alternatively, you could do a longer hike through Lowell Preserve, a roughly 4.5-mile round trip to the vista from the fire station, though slightly more or less depending on your route. Right off the bat from the parking area, you start heading uphill. But while you do gain some elevation (~300 feet), it is a mostly a gentle, easy hike. In Lowell Preserve the trails are categorized as either a main trail — these are wider — or a technical trail. Technical trails are meant more for mountain bikers, but they are pleasant to walk as well. Just be mindful of bike riders and step off the path for them. At almost every intersection, the land trust has helpfully posted a trail map. 

 If you’re looking for the connector to North Falmouth Community Forest, you’ll find the intersection halfway up the eastern side of the red trail. 

Note: My map doesn’t show all the biking trails within these two connected preserves, just the main walking trails and a few bike paths.

Directions: The parking lot for Lowell Preserve is at the East Windham Fire Station, 45 Falmouth Road, across from Beach Road and about 1,100 feet from Little Duck Road. You’ll see the trailhead in the field behind the station, and there is ample parking. Additionally, you can park at the big lot for the East Windham Conservation Area off Falmouth Road, just east/south of the power line corridor.