QUICK TRAIL FACTS
- Preserve Size: 65 acres
- Trail Mileage: ~2 miles in network
- Pets: yes
- Difficulty: moderate
- Sights: Saco River, old cemetery
If you like jumping off cliffs, this is the park for you. This 65-acre town park borders more than a mile of the Saco River. The river here is deep (~50 feet), and there are several places people like to jump from very high riverside cliffs. It looks dangerous to me but it must be okay since so many kids do it.
On a hot summer day, this place is busy! You might want to plan your visit for midweek. Some people have pointed out that this spot attracts partiers and they recommend the lovely Indian Cellar Preserve, on the other side of the river, as a quieter destination.
If you don’t want to jump from a frighteningly high cliff or swing perilously by rope over a craggy ledge, you can access the river less abruptly at a boat launch and also at a nice spot just north of the biggest cliff (marked on my map). A 0.3-mile dirt road connects the parking area to the boat launch, making it easy for people to carry their canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards to the river. This road should be passable for most wheelchairs.
For me, the nicest part of this park was the southern side, where there are several tucked-away benches and picnic tables by the river, as well as an old cemetery (and no rope swings). The cemetery contains burials of early settlers to the town, between 1774 and 1817. There is not much left to it.
The paths can be a bit rugged by the river. For more even, easier walking, stick to the upper trails. All told, you can do a roughly 1.8-mile loop from one end of the park to the other.
Directions: From 202 in Buxton, turn onto Route 117. Soon after turning, you’ll come across an old entrance to the park (it’s been around a long time), but you are not allowed to park alongside the street here. Continue up Route 117 another ~0.35 miles, and turn right onto Simpson Road. In 0.3 miles, a large parking lot will be on your right.
The town does not maintain the property well .During the summer it becomes a haven for under aged drinking making it unsuitable for young children. The best time to visit is spring or fall. Indian Cellar does not appear to have the same problems and is well maintained.
That’s too bad! I visited during the week when it was quiet and empty. I can make a note in my write up.
The park needs imaintainance and has become haven for drinking. During the summer you might be better off trying the Indian Cellar preserve. It is better maintained. and more suited to families looking for some outdoor fun.