Parker Pond Headland Preserve, Fayette

I found this to be a lovely preserve, even if it didn’t quite meet my expectations. For instance, the trail doesn’t skirt close to the shore with lots of stops along the water; it’s more of a pleasant forested walk. However, there are two really lovely view points — one high (250 ft.), and one at the pond’s edge, which also looks like it could be a decent swimming spot. The high rocky ledges look out over Parker Pond and Birch Island.

At one point, the upper loop somewhat unexpectedly (if you weren’t looking at a map) comes out on the dirt Fellows Farm Road. You can find the trail again a few feet farther along the road, to the left. More info at Kennebec Land Trust.

There is also a .6-mile loop through an open field and woods on a parcel that is part of this preserve but not physically connected. To reach this little parcel, look very carefully for a small KLT land trust sign on the right of Sandy River Road, before you reach Fellows Farm Road. You can park at the edge of the road, next to the entrance to the meadow. The trail was well blazed but hadn’t been cleared of fall-down debris when I visited in the summer of 2018.

Dogs have to be leashed until the first trail intersection on the highland loop trail.

Directions: From Route 17 in Kents Hill, take Rt. 41 north 3.6 miles to the Chimney in West Mt. Vernon. Take Sandy River Road 2.5 miles to Fellows Cove Road. Take Fellows Cove Road to the end to a KLT sign and a parking area on the right. The registration box is at the trail head. I think Fellows Cove Road might not be plowed in the wintertime.