One of the hallmarks of Maine Audubon’s vision is to create accessible, inclusive, and welcoming wildlife sanctuaries that provide a haven for Maine wildlife and broaden access to nature and experiential learning for everyone. Stepping over tree roots, navigating an uneven path, and climbing up a grassy slope: these present unsurmountable obstacles for many people. With that in mind, we are thrilled to report that we have secured funding from the Recreational Trails Program, as well as Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust, Fields Pond Foundation Inc., Athletic Brewing Company Two for the Trails, Martin’s Point Health Care, and other generous donors, which will enable us to construct a 2,075-foot-long All Persons Trail at Gilsland Farm Audubon Center this year. Opening week is scheduled for October 19 through 23; look for more details about the opening coming soon!
The new trail will begin and end at the Visitor Center parking lot, go through forested areas, and along a boardwalk before emerging into edge habitat and open meadow, with three rest stops and benches. A 275-foot-long spur trail will reach a high vista point in the West Meadow offering views of the Presumpscot River estuary, before looping back through a shaded mixed hardwood forest. Built to U.S. Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines, the trail will be five feet wide (six feet wide along the boardwalk) with a compacted gravel surface and a maximum slope of 5%. The parking lot, which is 105 feet from the trailhead, will have two accessible parking spaces including one which is van accessible.
We’re excited to report that construction on the trail begins in mid July! We will need to make some adjustments at the sanctuary and ask for your patience as we create this important new feature that will both benefit visitors to Gilsland Farm and better mitigate the long-term impacts of our trail system.
The trail will follow some of the existing trail network, while other sections of trail will be rerouted and some sections newly created. As such, during this construction phase, visitors should expect to see small sections of the existing trail network located around the Visitor Center temporarily closed. Areas with trail closures will be identified by orange fencing and signage. There may also be days when some parking spots are reserved for construction equipment and these will be marked with orange cones. Access to the West Meadow will remain open during the initial phases of construction, but the routes to get there may shift temporarily. Staff in the Visitor Center will be able to provide up-to-date directions during open hours and signs will help point the way.
The All Persons Trail at Gilsland Farm will have features similar to the trail at Mass Audubon’s Cedar Pond Wildlife Sanctuary, pictured above.
