Weskeag Headlands Preserve, South Thomaston

We visited this 37-arce preserve just a tad early. While the relatively large gravel parking area and the outlines of a footpath had been built, the infrastructure was not yet complete. We forged on anyway, so my map might not represent the accurate trail system when it’s done.

Nonetheless, we enjoyed our walk, which partially follows a wide woods road to the shore of the Weskeag River. The woods open up near the river; it is very pretty. The preserve includes more than 2,000 feet of shoreline footage.

About 500 feet after leaving the parking area, you can follow a footpath that branches off to the right of the main trail. It comes out to a small cove, where you can connect to the wider track that runs down the length of the property and which makes a small loop at the headland.

The Georges River Land Trust describes this parcel as having distinct estuarine intertidal habitat, which is in decline in Maine. Meanwhile, the shallow coves that you see at the headland will allow the marsh to migrate inland as the sea level rises.

The preserve is across the river from more conserved land and another trail system, the Weskeag Preserve, and is part of 1,562 conserved acres in the Weskeag River and St. George River estuarine ecosystem.

Directions: From Westbrook Street, turn down the narrow Hopkins Drive, which can be a touch bumpy. The parking lot will be on your right in about 500 feet.