QUICK TRAIL FACTS
- Preserve Size: Not sure
- Trail Mileage: 2.4 miles from Holdsworth Park to Riverside Cemetery
- Pets: yes
- Difficulty: easy to moderate
- Sights: Mousam River, in-town trails, cemetery
I’ve put all the trails I’ve walked along this stretch of Mousam River in one map.
Of all the pretty trail systems in Sanford and the village of Springvale that lace around the Mousam River (Mousam Way (Center), Mousam Way behind the high school, and Mousam Way South), this one—Mousam Way North—is in many ways the nicest. It feels quiet and wild, and the river takes on different characters as you walk along it (gentle and placed to faster and more dramatic). You can see all the in-town trails on this great map.
On a snowy weekend, we snowshoed the Mousam Way North trail, which goes up one side of the river and back the other (requiring you to close the loop by making your way through a bit of a maze of in-town streets). Along the river, we admired the inky black river pools set against the snowy banks. There are rapids and ravines, boulders, and a beautiful forest.
The trail is a bit rugged in places, with ups and downs. (For wheelchair accessible trails, check out the Mousam Way trail between the YMCA and Gowen Park.) We started at the trailhead at Springvale Recreation Area/Holdsworth Park on Main Street, and walked through the park to access the wooded trails behind the group picnic area. From the park to Stanley Road, it is roughly one mile. (In the summer, go for a dip! Springvale Recreation Area is a popular swimming spot.)
We returned along the east side of the river, which comes out at the far end of Riverside Cemetery (a scenic place to be buried, for those planning ahead). This stretch, from Stanley Road through the cemetery, is about 1.4 miles. After making your way through the cemetery, the path is marked through town with green arrows and signs, showing you where to take shortcuts back to the trailhead. You do have to walk along the broad shoulder of busy Route 109 for a half mile.
Directions: You can start the loop at Holdsworth Park, Riverside Cemetery (although I don’t think you can park at the cemetery?), or at the parking area of Stanley Road near the electrical facility/tower thing.
We were in Holdsworth Park yesterday and hiked to Indian’s Last Leap and back. Beautiful area! We will have to come back in the warmer weather and do the whole loop, starting from Mousam Way Park to include more of the historic city walk.