Together these 210 acres include four miles of interconnected trails for those who enjoy an extended hike. The trails feature a beautiful beech forest, several small bridge crossings over tributaries of Jones Brook, old farm foundations and the remnants of 19th century livestock lanes. These conservation lands are part of a much larger undeveloped landscape of forests and wetlands which are critical habitat for black bear and moose – wildlife species with extensive home ranges.
The Jones Brook Loop Trail (1.7 miles) begins at the KLT trailhead on Kents Hill Road. It follows the northern loop of the Town Forest trail to the Town Farm Road and the Selden Smith Farm foundations.
The Huntoon Cemetery Trail (0.4 miles) begins at the Cemetery and connects to the Town Farm Road near the Smith Homestead foundation.
In the Town Forest, there are two loop trails. The inner Loop A Trail is 0.7 miles, the outer Loop B Trail is 1 mile. A 0.2 connector trail connects Loop A with the Huntoon Cemetery trail.
The Town Forest was formerly the Readfield Town Farm which provided a home for residents with financial or mentalf health needs in the 19thf and 20th centuries. Today the Town Forest fis sustainably managed as a town woodlot.
In the 1800s the Selden Smith family farmed what is today’s Macdonald Woods. A town road, part of today’s trail network, linked the Smith farm to neighbors in Wayne and Readfield and to markets in larger communities. The Smith house and barn foundations are reminders of a time when orchards, pastures, and fields would have surrounded this farmhouse.
Some or all of the Readfield Town Farm Forest/Jones Brook trails are often closed during bird nesting season. From April through July, check the posting at the entrances or call the Kennebec Land Trust and please respect the closed trails.
Visit Kennebec Land Trust (Macdonald Conservation Area) and Town of Readfield (Readfield Town Farm Forest) online for more information or contact:
Directions to Macdonald Conservation Area trailhead: From ME-133 turn north on North Wayne Road for 3 miles to the T; turn right (east) on Kents Hill Road; go about 1 mile uphill (you will pass the Innes Ridge Road on your left); look for a Kennebec Land Trust parking sign, parking is available on the left side of the road at the sign. Please do not block the road or driveways.
Directions to Readfield Town Farm Forest trailhead: From ME-133 near Berry Pond in Winthrop, turn north onto North Wayne Road. Go 1.3 miles and turn right onto the Hathaway Road, and then go 0.7 miles and turn left onto the Belz Road. Park on the left along the road. Just before the gate at the end of the road there is parking for a couple cars on the left along the road. Please do not block driveway or the turnaround. Proceed on foot past the gate about 0.5 miles.
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Well worth the hike and bring your dog(s). Trail easy terrain and clearly marked. No snow with the recent rain. Trails do have water running through and areas of frozen ice - just walk around Very quiet, no birds or other wildlife seen/heard. 1800 cemetery was special to come upon.