River Elf Trail

The Royal River Conservation Trust’s River Elf trail — a beautiful two-mile ramble through fields and mature forests, along stone walls and impressive exposed ledge, and down to a shallow, sparkling river — is named for the river elves in old Wabanaki tales. Though these stories suggest that river elves are likely to play tricks on hapless visitors, we did not experience any mischief! All we experienced was pure delight at getting to explore this lovely place. The enchantment is real!

The trail starts at 400 Cobbs Bridge Road, at a small parking lot for about four, maybe five cars. The trail is mostly easy, with one hill close to the river. One nice forested part of the trail is tucked between a sloping meadow and an old stone wall. The 150-acre easement includes working farmland, a mile along the Royal River, and “exceptional terms to keep the farm in agricultural use and to protect high value ecological areas, rare shoreline species, and mature forests,” according to the trust.

The section of the trail by the river is particularly enjoyable, no surprise! I have a close-up shot of a small waterfall in my photo gallery but this is a bit of a trick, à la those elves, since it was hard to clamber down the steep bank to reach it. It’s best to enjoy from a distance, unless an official path is made down to it at some point.

Directions: There’s a parking area for four or five cars at 400 Cobbs Bridge Road.