Merryspring Nature Center

As you can see from my map, there are many trails at this 66-acre nonprofit center! If you take the time to explore them, you will come across secret forest nooks with benches, an arboretum with 36 native trees to Maine, open fields with mown paths, and narrow, winding trails through different habitats. I saw many wild turkeys and deer families — they must love the paths, too. The Nature Center has really great map resources.

An important note: dogs are not allowed here. Also important: The trails are open to the public free of charge! Since there are so many trails, it’s helpful to go out with a digital map. But it’s also hard to get lost. For those who prefer easier footing, the dirt roads around the center, the mown paths through the field, and the garden grounds are all flat and easy.

I recommend walking the perimeter of the park — which has a bit of a wilder feel to it — as well as some of the arboretum’s color-coded trails and the field trails. You can end at the gardens for a peaceful rest. On a recent Saturday afternoon, I saw several visitors ambling through the gardens (herb, winter, daylily, rock, hosta, children’s, rose, perennial, pollinator and duff) and sitting on its benches.

On the trailhead kiosk, the center makes these hiking recommendations: “The Homestead Trail (blue) follows the remains of an 18th-century road that bisects the upland enter of the park. To get the full flavor of Merryspring, take the Perimeter Trail (green), which is an energetic 30-45 minute loop around the park. The various interior trails offer many different habitat types. For panoramic views to the north and south, take a short walk to the Power Line Trail.”

The center has paid attention to detail; even the paths along the power line corridor are blazed and have wooden steps up the hillier sections.

Directions: Merryspring Nature Center is at the end of Conway Road, 3/10 of a mile off Route 1. Conway Road is the first left after Hannaford, or if you’re coming from downtown Camden, it is the first right before the Hannaford grocery store. Once you are on the preserve grounds, you’ll find several places to park along the access drive; the first is on the left side of Conway Road soon after you enter the preserve. Park diagonally here. If you keep going, there’s a very large lot around the road bend. If you continue on the road up to the main building, you’ll find few spots in front of the house.