Old Narrow Gauge Trail, Randolph

This was a surprisingly nice town walk, just under 2 miles one way, from Water Street to Birmingham Road. Volunteers have constructed rough bridges over several stream crossings.

I was expecting a rather straightforward (literally) and somewhat dull walk, but the trail meandered as it followed Little Togus Stream, which alternated between calm sections and little burbling rapids. While trees have grown up on the old bed, it’s still possible to see you’re walking along a section of the 1890-1929 Kennebec Central Railroad between Togus and Randolph. The train used to transport coal and other goods the five miles to the former Veterans Home in Togus. The trail is unmarked but mostly easy to follow.

The walking is also mostly easy and flat. If you start at Googin’s IGA, you’ll find the trailhead kiosk, filled with worn information, just to the east of the parking lot. There’s also a picnic table here. Unfortunately, on the day I visited, this spot was a bit ratty with litter stuck to brambles and branches. You’ll walk along the side of a duck pond, with a little bench at the side. A bit farther along, you’ll come to an open space by the stream with another picnic table and bench.

At about 0.4 miles, you have to cross Windsor Street (Route 226) — it’s not too dicey, but take care. At roughly 1.2 miles, the trail departs from its elevated ridge, to the right, dipping down to the stream and a rough bridge. This is actually a bucolic little spot. A bit farther on, you might see a weathered old sign with one arrow pointing west, to Deb’s Ice Cream, on Route 27, and another pointing in the direction of Birmingham Road. I didn’t explore these possible side paths since they looked roughed, muddy, and not well used.

Closer to Birmingham Road, the trail gets narrower and a touch rougher, with a final push through some brambles to the road, which is unpaved and looks like it could be a possible place to park. Across the road, the track continues on posted land.

Directions: I recommend picking up the trail next to the IGA parking lot in Randolph, where you can also park. I asked for permission and also bought a couple of groceries, but the store staff seemed quite relaxed about walkers using the lot. It also looks possible to leave a car on the side of the unpaved Birmingham Road.