Hey fellow trail fans!
I know it’s been a long time since I’ve posted, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been out on the trails. It’s been an incredibly busy year filled with new adventures and experiences! I want to highlight some of the larger areas we explored this season.
First up: the Fairfield, Waterville, and Winslow area. The Kennebec Messalonskee Trails organization has done an amazing job constructing trails that cater to all challenges and abilities.
Kara, Hope, and I visited this area in July and discovered a fantastic variety of accessible trail experiences. We explored Mill Island Park in Fairfield, North Street Trail in Waterville, East Kennebec Trail (a.k.a. Rotary Centennial Trail) in Winslow, and Winslow Community Trail in Winslow.
The current MTF description reads:
Within view of the parking area, there is a kiosk, swings, a picnic spot, and benches from which one can look out over the Kennebec River rapids. The first tenth of a mile consists of a 9-foot-wide paved walkway that is flat, making it suitable for strollers, wheelchairs, and others with mobility devices.
Along the way to the northern end of the island, there is historical signage and the ruins of the basements of some of the factories that gave the island its name. The trail also offers views of the Kennebec River. There were five miles of rapids between the island and Waterville when Benedict Arnold and his men made their way up the river in 1775. Now those rapids are flooded by two hydroelectric dams spanning the Kennebec between Waterville and Winslow.
While it’s true that a 0.1-mile section is paved, this description leaves out a lot of detail. It suggests the trail stops at the end of the paved section, but that’s far from the case—there’s so much more to explore with a bit of effort or assistance!
The trail starts by crossing a large lawn to reach the pavement. Once the pavement ends, the trail transitions to hard-packed dirt, still about 8 feet wide until you reach the best viewpoint of the river. The grade is mostly flat until the approach to the viewpoint.
At the viewpoint, the grade becomes quite steep, around 11%. It was a bit tricky to measure since the terrain wasn’t uniform, and the soft surface made it challenging to push up the incline.
Beyond the viewpoint, the trail becomes more difficult. There’s debris from old mill buildings, and the trail narrows significantly. I had to have Kara back me through a section to stay safe.
The trail is doable with some help and makes for a great challenge, or you can turn around at the viewpoint for a less demanding experience. Keep in mind, if you continue, you’ll need to cross the entire lawn again to return to the parking lot. There are also no rest spots along the trail until you’re back at the lawn area.
When I arrived at the North Street Trail, I found the parking a bit confusing. I initially parked in a paved lot near the road but realized afterward I should’ve continued to a dirt lot closer to the trailhead. The paved lot has accessible spaces marked, whereas the dirt lot does not.
Here’s the MTF description:
The 0.6-mile North Street Rec Area Trail follows the shoreline of Messalonskee Stream around the North Street Recreational Area. The paved walkway is 11 feet wide and of a mostly flat grade. Various loops may be created by utilizing the widened North Street sidewalk. The 1.1-mile Waterville Connector Trail utilizes streets and sidewalks to connect the North Street Rec Area Trail to downtown Waterville, the accessible Riverwalk Trail at Head of Falls, and the Two Cent Bridge footbridge over the Kennebec River. The North Street Recreational Area Trail was a 2005 Centennial Project of the Waterville Sunrise Rotary Club and is maintained by trail users and the City of Waterville.
The trail has an 11-foot-wide paved surface from end to end, with grades no steeper than 5%. However, some roots have caused bumps, and parts of the pavement have eroded over time. Rest spots are scarce.
Overall, it’s an excellent spot for leisurely exercise with beautiful views of the water.
I stumbled upon the East Kennebec Trail by accident while heading to the Winslow Community Trails. A sign reading “Handicapped Trail” caught my attention, so I made a note to stop on my way back.
The trail begins at the end of a dirt road with a large dirt parking lot. There are no marked spaces, so you’ll need to choose a spot that works for you. The trail itself is an old dirt road, about 8 feet wide and mostly flat, though some sections have rocks.
We made it to the Benton town line, about a mile one way. There are a few rest spots, but they’re spaced far apart.
About 0.25 miles from the parking lot, a side trail leads to an incredible viewpoint with a round stone table. From here, you can see up and down the river and into a marshy area—perfect for birdwatching!
This was my second time visiting the Winslow Community Trail, which is rare for me besides trails near home. It was fascinating to notice new details and share them with the group.
The trail is a typical accessible trail—flat throughout with minimal surface changes, though there are a couple of muddy sections and grassy transitions. The parking area near the superintendent’s office is accessible and convenient.
The Kennebec Messalonskee Trails organization is doing phenomenal work creating trails for everyone. If you’re looking for a variety of hikes you can fit into one day, the Waterville area is worth exploring!
We’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment below or email us to share what information you’d like to see and how we can improve. After all, we do this for you—the people who use Maine’s trails.
If you have a different type of mobility issue or disability and visit this trail (or others), please share your feedback. The more knowledge we gather and share, the more people we can help enjoy Maine’s trails!
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