QUICK TRAIL FACTS
- Preserve Size: 401 acres
- Trail Mileage: ~4.8 miles in network
- Pets: no
- Difficulty: easy to moderate
- Sights: cedar swamp, Mud Pond, views
This sanctuary, protected by the Stanton Bird Club, contains 401 acres, two short summits, one lovely pond called Mud Pond and views from three elevated lookouts along the trail! The sanctuary has two trail systems that don’t connect, with two separate parking lots, and offers more than four miles of paths. The trail system off of Town Farm Road has the greater mileage and the views, while the short trails off of Carver Road have access to Mud Pond and Jock Stream. The paths are well marked. Dog owners take note — no dogs allowed here.
Be ready to do a bit of climbing. From the Town Farm Road trailhead, you can take the Blue Trail clockwise to reach lookouts one, two, and three in succession. The first is just about 0.35 miles from the trailhead, which along with Lookout two, offers views of Woodbury Pond, while the third looks west, over Mud Pond and some distant mountains at the horizon.
The White Trail on this side does a big loop which brings you down close to Mud Pond. While you can see the water through the trees, the trail doesn’t actually bring you to its shores. Go to the Carter Road trailhead if you want access to Mud Pond. The trails on the Carter Road side are like old woods roads — wide and easy and they’re blocked by a gate. The pond is the main attraction on this side, which is localed 0.4 miles from the trailhead.
Another quick note: there is a short loop off the Town Farm Road trailhead called the Yellow Trail. The stream crossing on the outer loop can be tricky. To avoid it, take the bypass.
Directions: To get to the bigger of the two trail systems, the eastern network, from Lewiston, take Route 9 north to Monmouth and turn left on Town Farm Road and drive about a mile to the trailhead on the left. To access the western trail system from Lewiston (the Mud Pond portion), take Route 9 north to Monmouth and turn left on Carver Road (a dirt road) which immediately crosses the power line corridor. Trailhead will be on the right.
