Town Forest Trails, Topsham

This is one of the public trails the town lists on its website, but the trail system is not blazed and doesn’t seem frequently visited. That being said, there are some nice perks to exploring here, including walking by one open meadow and ending at another.

But, as the town says on its site, it can be a bit difficult to find the town land. And I’m not sure where is the best place to park. The town recommends starting from the Lisbon side and driving down Edgecomb Road, from Summer Street, but the parking area it recommends is inaccessible now, blocked by a gate.

Once you’re on Edgecomb Road, the road turn to dirt quickly (and its name changes to Ward Street). Right before the bridge over Little River, we parked in a little pull-out large enough for two cars that was marked private property. A neighbor said it was okay to leave a car here, but you might want to leave a note in your dashboard or seek permission.

Hikers can then head across the bridge and down the dirt road. In a short while, you’ll come to a gate that you can scoot around. At just under .5-mile, you’ll reach a fenced meadow. Continue along the road and alongside the meadow until you reach the end of the field, about another .1 mile. Here, you’ll see a snowmobile track heading right into the woods toward the power lines. Take this to the power lines, and you should see an unmarked trail heading into the town forest on the other side. If you take this, in about .3 miles you’ll come out on a large private field.

Return the way you came. Ward Road continues through the woods, cutting through timber land, before coming out on the Topsham side and turning into a paved street again.

Note: The Topsham map shows additional cross trails in the woods, but we couldn’t find them on our visit.

Directions: From Summer Street in Lisbon, turn onto Edgecomb Road and drive about .57 miles to a small turnaround area and bridge. The signs here say private property, so you might want to seek permission or leave a note in your dashboard.