Three Chubby Hiker Friendly Midcoast Trails

Trail conditions: mostly dry with a few wet spots here and there. The trail is very well maintained and easy to follow. The bugs were fierce.

According to the website for the Brunswick Topsham Land Trust, this 230-acre preserve includes 9 miles of trails, a large portion of which are right along the shores of the Cathance River. The preserve features a vast array of ecosystems, from woody forests to tidal marshes and heath bogs.

I didn’t do all 9 miles, but I did do a roughly 2 mile loop-da-loop around the ecology center. They have story book pages spread along the trail to keep the kiddos entertained. There is little change in elevation, some mild up hill grades but nothing too crazy. Some parts of the trail were pretty flat, while others were a bit rooty. My favorite part of this hike was that I saw more wildlife in this preserve in the middle of town than I have on any backwoods trails. I saw a doe, a fawn, a porcupine, and frogs.

There are a few different places to enter the preserve. I started at the lot near the ecology center, but you can also park near Head of Tide Park, where there is a waterfall. No matter where you start, I highly recommend checking out the ecology center. There are things for the kids to see and feel, like pelts, turtle shells, and wood slabs. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable and happy to answer any questions. The Cathance River Education Alliance puts on hands on day camps for kids throughout the summer to foster a love and appreciation of nature.

Navigation: Morse Mountain Road is a private but this is the road that you want. There’s a small parking lot on the left. 

Trail conditions: minimal mud, no roots. The trail is a private gravel road that is partially paved. There are several seasonal cottages here and the road is for the homeowners. Be sure to watch out for vehicles and stay on the path.

When you arrive, there will be a nice attendant that will tell you where to park and give you directions.

The trail starts at the gate for the private road, and the summit is about a mile in. This is basically a giant hill that you’ll have to climb twice. A little ways past the gate you’ll come  to a salt marsh, and then it starts heading up hill. I rated this as moderate for me because even though the incline is pretty gradual and there’s nothing to climb, you’ll still get some good cardio in. After the hill you’ll come to a Y. The summit is to the right, and there are incredible panoramic views of the Sprague River, the ocean, and surrounding islands.

When you turn around and go back to the Y, you can go to the left to reach the beach. It’s downhill after this, which is a nice change of pace, but unfortunate because it will be uphill on on the return. After another mile you’ll come to Seawall beach. If you keep an eye on the tides and go when the tide is low, it’s easy to find sand dollars here.

While this trail was GORGEOUS and perfect for the family or new hiker, the one downside when I was there is the mosquitos. I’d like my blood back please! Anyway, bring bug spray. It doesn’t help though, but still bring it!

Trail conditions: minimal mud, some rocks and roots. A couple of stone steps. It is well marked and has benches on which to take breaks.

There are a lot of trails here and you can make it as long or as short as you want. The white trail loop has a nice overlook and the blue loop has several as well. This is great trail for beginners as it isn’t very steep or difficult. There are some uphills where I had to take a break, but nothing too crazy.

My favorite part about this trail was the flora and fauna. There were tons of frogs, birds and feathers, and mushrooms. We saw several coral mushrooms and a huge patch of trumpets that were sadly passed. There were some wet spots that look like vernal pools. I’d love to come back here in the spring for big night.