Weston Woods and Oatway Preserves, East Winthrop

The 55-acre Kennebec Land Trust preserve protects a beautiful dim, shadowy forest, as well as some of this region’s history. According to the land trust, “Cobbossee Lake was part of the Abenaki passageway between the Kennebec and Androscoggin rivers, and archeological artifacts suggest that people fished and hunted in the region as early as 7,500 years ago. The wild rice in the wetlands could have been a valuable food source for Native people, and may have been planted by Abenakis.”

You can read more about the land here.

The paths bring you to the reedy shores of Little Cobbosseecontee Lake in just under half a mile. A short there-and-back side trail at the trailhead goes to the top of a rocky bluff that looks out into the forest.

Directions (from Kennebec Land Trust): From Manchester: From the intersection of Route 202 and Route 17, drive 1.8 miles west on Route 202 to Old Village Rd. Turn right, then turn right again onto Case Rd. Drive 0.7 miles up the hill to the Preserve; parking for roughly four or five cars will be on your right. From Winthrop: From the junction with Main St., take Route 202 east for 2.8 miles, then turn left onto Old Village Rd. After 0.4 miles, turn left onto Case Rd and drive 0.7 miles up the hill to the Preserve; parking will be on your right.