Ravine or Highland Trails, Topsham

In this unexpected place, you can leave behind a busy little neighborhood and roads and sink into a peaceful, light-dappled ravine. The trails bring you along a narrow, winding stream with sandy banks. I believe they are carefully maintained by the neighboring retirement community. So — with the exception of the fairly steep but manageable paths that bring you to the little stream at the base of the gulch — they are flat and easy.

There are little bridges crossing the stream at times, allowing you to do several small loops. The Ravine Trails network contains four mini-trails that total about 1.5 miles. The Ravine and Brook Trails, and part of the Gazebo Trail, follow the brook. 

The Abby Trail is a bit more difficult than the rest. It climbs up, leaving the ravine behind for a small silver forest of birch trees. 

You can access the paved bike path from the trail network, as well. This path is marked in yellow on my map.

The easiest trails down to the ravine are, in my opinion, the School Trail and Gazebo Trail. But parking is easiest at the Williams Cone School (after hours, or on weekends) or at the Topsham municipal buildings, rather than in the Highlands community.

Directions: From the Frank Wood Bridge (green bridge across Androscoggin), cross into Topsham and head through the first set of lights on 201. After the Dairy Queen, take a right on Pleasant Street. The trail entrance is straight ahead, just as Pleasant Street begins to turn right. There is no designated parking area for the trails, although you can park at the Williams Cone School after school hours and on weekends, or at the Topsham Grange Hall.