Sam Ristich and Hayes Forest Trails

Sam Ristich Trail (plus Hayes Forest, Old Railroad Bed, north Hayes Forest, and Veterans Park) in orange; south Hayes Forest in blue.

Sam Ristich Trail system (north): My favorite part of this mostly forested trail system was the jaunt along the Old Railroad Bed Trail. I almost skipped this section because I figured it would just be a straight and endless walk down an old train track. Instead, the path is pretty, winding, good for birding, and ends at a wetland area.

Part of the trail here is named after Sam Ristich, who was a beloved Maine mycologist. There are several sections: The 0.2-mile Veterans Memorial Trail begins close to the town office. Then you cross Parsonage Road to continue a 0.4-mile wooded trail (named after Sam) that passes behind the old school. To keep going, you can cross Oak Hill Road and do a 0.8-mile loop in the town forest (named for Eleanor Hayes). Then, you can set out along the ~0.8-mile Old Railroad Bed Trail.

Hayes Forest (south): In addition to the loop off Oak Hill Road, you can explore more of the 67 acres of land Eleanor Hayes’ heirs gifted the town in 1974. This section of trail can be accessed from a large lot off Memorial Highway (Route 9). Unfortunately, some of these trails can be wet and a bit overgrown — but they are wide, flat, and make two loops — so they’d likely be good to explore on ski or snowshoe. The largest loop is about 1 mile. The driest part of the trail system is the narrow loop close to the road. The town says this 45-acre lot south of Route 9 was planted with red pine and spruce in the 1950s, and has been selectively harvested four times since then. It borders a forest wetland area.

Directions: You can either park at the North Yarmouth town office, at 10 Village Square Road off of Route 9. Or take a left onto Parsonage Road from Route 9 after you pass the town office and park behind the salt shed.