The full loop to Peter's Pond is 1.3 miles in length. From the trailhead, the trail proceeds through a field breifly before entering the woods. Upon entering the woods, bearing left at the junction, the trail travels downhill to a bog bridge over the freshwater marsh. It then climbs back up a gentle grade to Peter's Pond, where a short spur trail leads off the loop to the shore of the pond. The trail loops back to the north above the marsh to return to the trailhead. Two small trails cutting through the loop near the freshwater marsh provide additional options.
The 12 acre Peter's Pond (also known as Gross Pond) is 60 feet deep, and features steep granitic cliffs. No houses are visible anywhere around the pond, giving a sense of deep isolation and beauty.
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 Peter's Pond Preserve hosts a great diversity of habitat, from saltwater marsh, to freshwater streams and pond, to fields and forest. The diversity and abundance of the wetlands on the preserve create excellent wildlife habitat. A great variety of birds live and breed in the forest and in the marsh. You may see or hear blackburnian, nashville, or black throated blue warblers; golden-crowned kinglets; brown creepers; and a diversity of other birds. 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. Along the saltwater marsh or 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:
Midcoast ConservancyFrom ME-1 in Waldoboro, take ME-32 south for 2.7 miles, then turn left onto Dutch Neck Road. Proceed 1.1 miles to the Dutch Neck Community Center on the right. Parking is available at the Community Center; the trailhead is about 300 feet south along Dutch Neck Road, also on the right.
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