The network of forested trails ranges from relatively flat and easy to moderately hilly and narrow. Some sections may be wet in the spring or after rainstorms.
Any number of loop hikes can be made, but two popular loops are as follows:
Woods Trail to Crystal Pond
This easy 1.0 mile loop begins by taking the trail to the right just beyond the trailhead, onto the Spruce Woods Loop (blazed blue). After 0.3 miles, the Spruce Woods Loop comes to the first junction with the Crystal Pond Loop, on the right. The Crystal Pond Loop (blazed yellow) is 0.2 miles in length. It offers access to the shores of the pond in two locations before meeting back up with the Spruce Woods Loop, just north of the first junction of these two trails. A left back onto the Spruce Woods Loop leads back to the trailhead and parking area.
Spruce Woods Loop to Muscongus Bay Loop
This 1.5 mile figure-eight begins by taking the trail to the left just beyond the trailhead, onto the Spruce Woods Loop (blazed blue), formerly known as the old logging trail. After 0.4 miles, the Spruce Woods Loop comes to the junction with the Muscongus Bay Loop. Muscongus Bay Loop (blazed green) is 0.5 miles in length, and goes downhill to the shore of Muscongus Bay before coming back up to meet up with the Spruce Woods Loop. The Muscongus Bay Loop contains one section that is fairly steep. Taking a left after completing the Muscongus Bay Loop, the trail continues around the Spruce Woods Loop, returning back to the parking lot in a clockwise direction.
GUIDELINES
Please respect private property, remain on the trails, and carry out what you carry in.
Well-behaved dogs are welcome under voice and sight control.
ECOLOGY
The Martin Point Wildlife Reserve hosts a great diversity of habitat, from pond to wetlands to spruce forest to rocky coast. The preserve is primarily forested, with early to middle successional age stands. Moss carpeted spruce-fir forest covers most of the entire property, interspersed with some pine and hardwoods and small open areas where wild blueberry, blackberry, bayberry, ferns and other low lying vegetation are found.
Along the eastern edge lies Crystal Pond, with pickerelweed, water lilies, fish, frogs, and other flora and fauna that thrive in a healthy pond environment. South of the pond is a wetland harboring many species of plants and animals.
The interior of the property is home to deer, fox, and an occasional moose as well as many smaller mammals such as chipmunks and red squirrels. If you walk quietly and are very lucky you may even see a fisher—a secretive member of the weasel family that has been spotted here.
Rich in birdlife, a variety of warblers breed here, such as northern parula, chestnutsided, magnolia, yellow-rumped, blackthroated green, black-and-white, and others. During the breeding season, the haunting, flutelike song of the hermit thrush can be heard, as well as the remarkably long and complex song of the winter wren. In the pond you may see great blue herons and other wetland birds, and in the sky, ospreys and bald eagles.
For more information, visit the Midcoast Conservancy website, or contact:
From ME-97 in Friendship
Head north on ME-220 and go 0.5 miles, then take a left on Martin Point Road. Proceed 2.5 miles to the trailhead on the right.
From ME-220 in Waldoboro
From the intersection of Main Street and ME-220, drive south 9 miles, then make a right turn on Martin Point Road. Proceed 2.5 miles to the trailhead on the right.
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