QUICK TRAIL FACTS
- Preserve Size:
- Trail Mileage: ~1 mile in network
- Pets: yes
- Difficulty: easy
- Sights: Middle Bay Cove, a salt marsh, old stone ferry wharf, the remains of a 20-century boathouse
This preserve is like the twin to Brunswick’s Skolfield Nature Preserve; they’re both located off Route 123, on the right if you’re headed away from Brunswick into Harpswell. This little preserve offers up a short walk with interesting views of Middle Bay Cove, a salt marsh and the historic Merrucoonegan Farm. Early on, you can take a short trail to the shore (off to the left) where you can see the remains of a 20-century boathouse. Harpswell Heritage Land Trust says that “the preserve provides habitat for 40 of the 64 declining species of migratory birds, anadromous fish and federally endangered or threatened species in the Gulf of Maine including, horseshoe crab, northern harrier, short-eared owl, bald eagle, roseate tern, osprey, American black duck, sanderling and meadowlark.” The total network is just about a mile.
(Between the two loops the trail takes a rather steep dip into a little gully. I’m not sure if this part of the path will be rerouted in the future.)
Additionally, you can walk about a quarter of a mile along Rt. 123 (be careful, the cars drive very fast!) to a short there-and-back trail to the cove. There is a little pullover here for cars, but in the winter it is not plowed.
Directions: From the intersection of Mountain Road and Harpswell Neck Road (Rt. 123), head north on Harpswell Neck Road 2.2 miles almost to the Brunswick town line. Turn left onto Skolfield Place and immediately turn into a parking lot on the left. The trail starts on the right side of the kiosk.
