La Verna Preserve

La Verna Preserve features 3,600 feet of stunning rocky ocean shoreline, 2.5 miles of trails, and a diverse array of wildlife habitat, including mixed hardwoods, coniferous forests, and freshwater streams.
Trail Activity
Snowshoeing Hiking
Length
2.60 miles, Network
Difficulty
Moderate
Town
Bristol
Surface
Dirt/Forest Floor, Rock/Ledge
Pets
Permitted on leash
Fees
No

Description

HIGH USE TRAIL:

This is a busy trail system, especially on weekends between 9AM-4PM. Consider visiting outside of peak periods. Use Maine Trail Finder to identify other nearby trails. If the parking lot is full when you arrive, please choose another trail.

This 120-acre preserve features some 3,600 feet of shoreline, 2.5 miles of trails, and a diverse array of wildlife habitat, including mixed hardwoods, coniferous forests, forested wetlands, freshwater marsh, and gently sloping overgrown farmland.

Access to the preserve is directly across from the parking lot via the 0.6-mile Hoyt Trail, which is a right-of-way across private property; please stay on the trail.

The shoreline ranges from the steeply sloping ledges near the southern tip of Brown’s Head to the beach at Leighton’s Cove. Small springs and freshwater seepages also exist along the shore, sustaining communities of cranberry, sundew, and mountain sandwort, and, at one point, give rise to a small pond frequented by shorebirds. There are some steep section on the Ellis Trail.

Other Information

Masters Machine Company sponsors this preserve as part of Coastal Rivers' Adopt-a-Trail Program. Visitors are welcome to enjoy this preserve during daylight hours. Fires are not allowed. Be aware of poison ivy near the shore.

Leashed dogs are permitted. 

 

Trail Manager

For more information visit the Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust website, or contact:

Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust

Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust
PO Box 333
Damariscotta, ME 04543
Phone: (207) 563-1393
info@coastalrivers.org
View website

Nearby Events

VIEW EVENTS CALENDAR

Trail Tips

Plan Ahead and Prepare
Use common sense. If it seems like a bad idea, it probably is.
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Trailhead Information

Take ME Route 32 south from Round Pond in Bristol. Go 3.5 miles south of the Round Pond Post Office (which is the same as 3 miles north of New Harbor Center). Notice Ocean Hill cemetery on the right. The preserve parking lot is just after the cemetery (west side of road). Preserve access is gained by following a trail located directly across ME Route 32 from the parking lot.

Click on a parking icon to get custom directions
Please Log In or Create Account to add comments.
bicksjr
January 24, 2021
When we arrived at the trail head, there were approx 6 cars. The trail accommodated these people well and when we did encounter anyone, they had masks and kept distance.
This is not very strenuous, but you do have to watch your step on roots and rocks.
The trail along the coast is beautiful! But in winter, be aware that you will encounter sun glare when heading south in the afternoon. We found this quite uncomfortable (with older eyes) and wish we had hiked north instead.
Children would love this hike as you walk over board walks, small bridges, rock walls, and they could also climb on the coastal rocks.
garascia family
May 03, 2020
So listen... this La Verna Preserve is OFF THE CHARTS amazing.... we’ve been to every state park in southern and central Maine and La Verna can go head to head with ANY of them! 5-Stars EASY!!

We are enthusiastic and pretty well-practiced... but absolutely NOT super proficient hikers... and I will say that the mileage numbers on this trail seemed to under sell the distance pretty significantly. This is probably because there were a solid dozen vistas, bridges, boardwalks, that just demanded 5 minutes of extra attention.

We’ve been on some great hikes in some great places and this one was right up there with anything we have experienced in Maine. If you want a complaint, (like just to prove this wasn’t written by the tourism board)... this place is a $20,000,00+ property at todays values.... I mean half a mile of quintessential Maine coast.... unbelievably well maintained trails... just pure hiking Nirvana... and 15 parking spaces.... 15... look.... I get it... I really do.... they want to keep this place pristine. It’s not a state park... and that means no rangers to protect it... so they made a decision to limit the hiking pressure... all I’m saying is this site and these trails could accommodate 10x (and quite possibly 50x) the people we saw today, (assuming they share the respect 95% of Maine hikers have.)

Just put this on your “Must Hike” list and if it isn’t in your top 3 hikes of the year please tell me where your going so we can follow in YOUR footsteps!!! Get here... you won’t regret it!!!
andimr
April 05, 2020
One of the most beautiful coastal trails. I did this with my 4 year old and 8 month old in an ergo. We sat an had lunch on the rocks. Would love to go back and do it again.
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