Shepard Farm’s Preserve and Witt Swamp

If there was a competition for best trail in Maine, this would be a contender! While there aren’t the dramatic views that other trails might have, the Western Foothills Land Trust has made impressive paths through forest, meadow, and wetland.

The trail from Shepard’s Farm over to Pleasant Street (roughly 2.6 miles) seemingly was built with beginner mountain bikers in mind. It is smooth, wide, and pretty. I think you might even be able to get a wheelchair in here (although there are some rough patches). However, the land trust has also built a dedicated 0.5-mile ADA-accessible path in the art-filled field close to the Crockett Ridge Road trailhead.

You can make a fantastic loop on Witt End and impressive Half Witt trails (ha!); the latter is composed almost entirely of a curving boardwalk through cedar swamp. The loop is about 4 miles if you leave from the Crockett Ridge trailhead, and a bit under 2 miles if you start from Pleasant Street.

Another delightful part of this preserve is the cluster of Bernard Langlais sculptures that dot the pastureland.

Directions: The main parking lot is on Crockett Ridge Road, although you can also park at two trailheads on Pleasant Street. From Route 118, turn onto Crockett Ridge Road (121 Crockett Ridge Road). In about 1/2-mile, turn right into the trailhead parking lot. Also, there is a small parking area for the Witt Swamp trailhead on Pleasant Street (at 570 Pleasant St), and a larger area to pullover at the trailhead for the Half Witt Trail a bit farther along Pleasant Street.