QUICK TRAIL FACTS
- Preserve Size: NA
- Trail Mileage: 6 miles one way
- Pets: yes
- Difficulty: easy
- Sights: towns, woods, wetland, fields
(Rail trail marked in blue on map. McKeon Reserve in green, Hall Reserve in orange, and Sanford Community Forest in red.)
Sanford has converted six miles of a former railroad track that cuts through town into a pedestrian path (snowmobiles and ATVs are allowed, too). I found the nicest section to be on the west end, close to McKeon Environmental Reserve. You pass a wetland area here, and cross a cute bridge. The gravel trail is wide and flat.
There are intersecting snowmobile/multi-use trails all over the place — I walked just a couple of them! You can definitely explore for miles if you wish. Additionally, you can do a loop around Deering Pond in the Hall Environmental Reserve (in orange on map). I highly recommend this nature walk.
The rail trail also links up with the beautiful 550-acre Sanford Community Forest (in red on map) and the pretty McKeon Environmental Reserve (in green).
Directions: The largest parking area for the Rail Trail is at the trailhead off Hanson Ridge Road. There is a tiny parking area (for one or two cars) on Oak Street as well.
