Mercer Town Forest, Mercer

In early April, we visited a tiny hidden gem of a trail system in Mercer. Mercer Town Forest, on Elm Street, has a trail network that totals right around half a mile. It doesn’t seem to see much use, but it is obviously well cared for. There is a large parking lot and a hand-painted trail map on the kiosk. The trails are well signed and blazed, with the main loop taking you through a beautiful red pine forest. A spur trail heads toward the river, passing a picnic table on a bluff above the river before descending the steep bank to the floodplain. There is a lot to see in the short half mile, and it’s a wonderful place to have a picnic and enjoy the sights with no one else around.

By Sam Shirley

Directions: The trailhead kiosk and parking area are on Elm Street, about 0.7 miles from the intersection with East Sandy River Road if you’re going east, and 1.1 miles from the intersection with Sandy River Road if you’re headed west.