QUICK TRAIL FACTS
- Preserve Size: +450 acres
- Trail Mileage: varies
- Pets: yes
- Difficulty: easy
- Sights: Carrabassett River, wetland, wire bridge
By Sam Shirley
Whitten Woods was protected in April of 2025 by the Somerset Woods Trustees, conserving over 450 acres of forest and 2 miles of shoreline on the Carrabassett River. It is also the first property in New Portland protected with fee ownership. It is likely that there will be more future trail development on the property, but most of the current trails shown on the map are very primitive, mainly following overgrown logging tracks. Because of this, the property is likely best explored in winter, at least in its current state. There are three separate out-and-back trails, all starting from different trailheads.
The trail off of Wire Bridge Road starts as a storybook walk along an old woods road. This section of trail seems to be well maintained. After the storybook trail ends, the trail follows the same old woods road, which is now overgrown with no discernible treadway. It eventually ends in a clearing. This, and all other trails, are completely unmarked and are hard to distinguish from other old woods roads and skid trails.
The easternmost of the two trails off of Middle Road starts by following a grassy old woods road. It is easy going and pleasant for a bit, before reaching an old log yard with regenerating white pines. After this old log yard, the trail follows an overgrown old skid trail with no treadway. The skid trail ends near the river, and the map suggests a “bushwhack” route to the riverbank. In reality, this “bushwhack” is through open hemlock forest and is easier going than many sections of the “trail.” There are some nice boulders to sit on along the very picturesque stretch of river.
The westernmost of the two trails off of Middle Road follows an old woods road with no treadway or cleared path for any of its length. After crossing an old log yard, the woods road dips by a tiny wetland, before reaching another larger wet area. After passing this wetland, the trail peters out in a forest with some tall red and white pines.
Directions: There are three separate trailheads, two on Middle Road, and one on Wire Birdge Road. Middle Road connects Kingfield to Route 146 in New Portland. The two trailheads on Middle Road are a short distance west of the intersection with Wire Bridge Road. Wire Bridge Road runs north from the center of New Portland to Middle Road. The trailhead on Wire Bridge Road is located just north of the Wire Bridge. All trailheads have signs and a parking pull-off.
