QUICK TRAIL FACTS
- Preserve Size: +100 acres
- Trail Mileage: 2.7 miles
- Pets: yes
- Difficulty: easy
- Sights: flowers, birds, woods, golfers!
Mingo Springs loop in orange; Hunter Cove Wildlife Sanctuary in blue.
Mingo Springs Bird Walk lived up to its name in a mid-July visit, with many warblers overheard and seen. I had the best luck in the northwestern part of the loop, headed toward the Hunter Cove Wildlife Sanctuary connector trail (which is marked with a red arrow and brings you down a gentle but steady descent to the neighboring preserve). I also enjoyed the section of trail through the lupine field, which you’ll find on the eastern part of the loop. (I’ve marked the start of the lupine fields with a red icon on the map.)
Overall, at Mingo Springs, you’ll find a charming trail that brings you through woodland and fields around a golf course on more than 100 acres. If you do both loops on either side of Mingo Loop Road, it’s about 2.7 miles. The connector trail to Hunter Cove Sanctuary is 0.5 miles.
The east side of the loop swings around the golf course — with some mountain views at the top of the hill — and brings you through lupine- and bird-filled meadows and a bit of woods. You’ll find the one steep hill in this woods patch here, marked with a warning sign for “steep hill.” It’s very short! The west side of the loop is more wooded and flatter.
Note that there are two short sections on roads: One section follows Mingo Loop Road for 0.2 miles, between Lakeside Lodges Road and Hyatt Road; look carefully for the red dots on the trees to see where the trail cuts back into the forest. You’ll also walk along the main golf course drive called Country Club Road. This goes up to a highpoint of the area, with those great mountain vistas.
Mostly the trail is easy, with some roots and that one steep hill! If you don’t want to do both loops, you can cut off halfway by walking back along Mingo Loop Road.
More than 90 species of birds have been seen here, according to Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust.
Directions: From the intersection of Routes 4 and 16 in downtown Rangeley, head north on Route 4 for 2.2 miles and turn onto Mingo Loop Road. Continue 0.4 miles and turn left onto Alpine Way. Park on the grass to the left of the access road. The trailhead is across the street. You can also park along the road shoulder up the street, along Mingo Loop Road, where you’ll find a trail sign.
