Pemaquid Pond Preserve

You can walk to two beautiful spots on the pond at this this 196-acre Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust preserve.

One is reached via the southern loop, blazed blue, where, at the end of a short trail spur, there is a ledgy area that makes for a wonderful base for swimming and sunning on the flat rock. (But not during loon nesting season, from mid-May to mid-June.) The total distance of this easy trail is a bit over one mile. And if you want to get to the pond as quickly as possible, it’s just a bit more than a quarter mile from the parking area to the pond’s rocky outcrop. You’ll first reach a small bench where you can take in water views. It’s possible to swim here as well.

For a slightly longer walk, check out the newer northern loop, about 0.8 miles, that swings through young forest in a previously harvested area and culminates at a lovely point on the pond, with more ledge for sunning and swimming.

While the terrain is mostly flat, expect your usual fare of rocks and roots.

Directions: You access the preserve at 425 Turner Road, at the southern end of Pemaquid Pond, at a parking area that can fit about seven cars. Here are the land trust directions: From Business Rt. 1 in Damariscotta, turn onto Biscay Road at the traffic light (by McDonalds). Travel 3.0 miles and just after Biscay Pond, turn left on to Turner Road. Follow Turner Road, crossing the causeway between Pemaquid Pond and McCurdy Pond, and continue about 0.6 miles. Look for the preserve sign on the left.