McLellan-Poor Preserve, Northport

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

There are two parking lots bookending this Coastal Mountains Land Trust preserve that’s popular with dog walkers. From the trailhead off Herrick Road (close to where it turns into Rocky Road), you’ll walk through woods for about 0.4 miles to a metal bridge spanning Ramsey Brook. Then you can choose to hike one or both loops in this fairly substantial preserve. If you stick with the closer of the two loops, the larger Peggity’s Path loop, the total distance is about 1.4 miles.

If you park at the trailhead and larger parking area off Route 1, you’ll begin in a grassy area and follow a trail that brings you close to the reservoir. From this point, you can do a smaller loop, under a mile, with a particularly nice spot high up on a little promontory (marked on my map).

If you hike both loops, you can cover about three or so moderately easy miles, though you will encounter stream crossings and deep ravines (that require a few steep ups and downs!). The trails are well blazed and sign posted.

I couldn’t see an easy place to access the reservoir, since much of the land encroaching it is quite high. For easy water access, check out Little River Community Trail across the reservoir.

Directions: (From the land trust:) Route 1 Entrance: From Belfast, take Route 1 south. The preserve is 100 yards south of the Belfast/Northport town line. Parking is on the right. When I visited in the wintertime, this lot was not plowed. Herrick Road entrance: From Belfast, take Route 1 south and turn right onto Perkins Road (near Northport boundary). Bear left onto Herrick Road. Parking is on left. There is limited space, especially in winter. Probably enough for two to three vehicles.