New Meadows Trail

New Meadows Trail in lilac. Sprague Pond Trail in red, Mica Mine trail in green, Denny Reed Trail in blue and New Meadows in lilac.

This 2-mile trail is part of the Basin Preserve, a vast tract of beautiful conserved land around a protected harbor on the New Meadows River called The Basin. The Nature Conservancy maintains several trails here: Mica Mine, Denny Reed Trail and the Sprague Pond Trail. Unlike these other trails, the New Meadows Trail isn’t so much a walking path as a walk along old dirt roads. (Also, the New Meadows River isn’t so much a river as a long inlet!)

To reach the “river,” head straight on the main path from the parking area. There are no trail markings but the path is obvious. The first 0.5 miles is flat and easy. You’ll pass an enormous pine tree on your right — it’s a many-limbed behemoth. In half a mile from the trailhead, you’ll reach the upper trail of the loop on your left. If you continue straight, you’ll arrive at the shore in another 0.3 miles. This last bit of the trail, as you head down to New Meadows River, is more eroded, rocky, and steep. The trail comes to a small clearing and then ends at a jumble of boulders on the shore. Look for seals on the rocks out in the inlet! You also have good views of Malaga Island and Bear Island.

Retrace your steps to pick up the little loop trail, which continues on an old woods road through pretty forest.

There is also a small and pretty pond across the road from the parking area.

Directions: From Route 209 southbound in Phippsburg, turn right onto Basin Road. Proceed on Basin Road (it turns to gravel) about 1.6 miles, passing two gravel roads intersecting from the right. At the intersection at mile ~1.6, stay right to continue on Basin Road, shortly passing a boat launch and viewpoint on the right. Keep going for another ~0.7 miles. You’ll see a dirt road with a series of boulders lining the right side of the road. This is Hedgehog Road and the beginning of New Meadows Trail.