South End Leeman Island Trail

I loved my wintertime stroll through the silver-maple floodplain next to the Kennebec River. It’s beautiful and quiet, with roughly blazed trails that form a ~0.6-mile flat and easy loop. The area is protected by a tall, steep bank that makes the urban life above feel far away.

It’s important to note that the city has had a no encampment policy here, and that the area floods in the springtime, when the river is high, making walking challenging if not impossible. Also, you don’t want to get washed away by flood waters!

Another point to make for non-Watervillians, like me, is that this is not actually an island! Although the silver maple forest is ringed by water — a little inland stream and the river.

If you start at the Hathaway Creative Center, where there are parking spaces near the carry-in boat launch and trailhead, the trail heads south into the floodplain and crosses a little bridge. After the stream, the trail splits to form the two sides of the loop.

At the southern end of the trail, I found the stream crossing more difficult since there was no bridge. But if you do manage it, the trail continues to its end at a long, steep staircase up to Water Street (where I believe there is no parking). The steps were icy in January!

The trail is maintained by a committee of volunteers that does an annual clean-up of the area.

Directions: The best place to park is at the Hathaway Creative Center. Drive to the back end closest to the river, and stay right. The address for the old mill is 10 Water Street, Waterville.