Kennebec River Rail Trail, Part 2

Gardiner to Hallowell

The final section of the KRRT, from Farmingdale to Hallowell, officially opened on October 4, completing the 6.5 mile rail trail. This southern half of the trail extends 3.75 miles from the Hannaford parking lot in Gardiner to the southern edge of downtown Hallowell, at which point it joins Water Street to the rail trail parking lot north of town. If you don’t have time to complete the whole Gardiner to Hallowell section, opt for walking the area between Hallowell and the KV Health Club access at mile 5.0. This part of the trail is more scenic, traveling through a pleasant mixed hardwood forest, and more removed from the road.


Getting There
To start on the KRRT from the southern terminus in Gardiner, turn into the Hannaford parking lot on Maine Avenue. Park near the Rail Trail kiosk at the northeast corner of the parking lot. In Farmingdale, you can access the trail at Sheldon Street, Bowman Street, Hill Street and across from the KV Health club. In Hallowell, access the trail from the south end of Water Street or at Greenville Street. Not all of these access points offer obvious parking.


The Trail
Length: 3.75 miles (each way)
Difficulty: Easy
Walking Time: 2-4 hours (round-trip)

The trail starts at mile 6.5 in the Hannaford parking lot. From there, the trail heads north, under Bridge Street. For the first half-mile, the trail is squeezed between Maine Avenue on the left and the tracks on the right, with the river gleaming just beyond. This section of trail is wide open, with no trees to offer shade. After passing into Farmingdale at Sheldon Street, mile 6.0 (where the only bench on the southern portion of the trail is located), a few trees and houses begin to separate the trail from the road, providing some buffer from the noise of traffic. Just before Bowman Street, around mile 5.75, a small drive-through coffee shop offers refreshment to weary walkers. Approaching mile 5.5 and Hill Street, the trail again travels right along Maine Avenue. After mile 5.0, at the KV Health Club access, the trail departs from the road, dipping down a hillside, along a grassy floodplain that thickens into a dense stand of mixed hardwood. The trail passes over small inlet stream and then crosses tracks, skirting along the river into a stand of giant oak trees, including one double-trunked specimen with an impressive girth. Around mile 4.5 the trail moves into a lovely forest of white birch and other hardwood trees. Unfortunately the rock crusher humming up the hill to the left mars the peace of these woods somewhat. The trail crosses back over the tracks just below mile 4.5. At mile 3.75, on the Hallowell line, the a small stream cascades down the bank to the left in a number of small waterfalls, and passes under the trail. At mile 3.25 the trail goes under Maine Avenue/Water Street and crosses Greenville Street. The trail crosses a wooden bridge over Vaughn Brook just before mile 3.0, then crosses the tracks again, and heads downhill to Water Street. At mile 2.75 the off-road part of the trail ends. At this point, northbound bicyclists must cross Water Street to the northbound bike lane. Where the downtown parking begins, bikes will need to merge with traffic until the trail starts up again at the north end of town. Pedestrians will need to navigate the broken and often closed sidewalks through town.

Kid-Friendly Factor
Like the Augusta portion of the KRRT, this section is also paved and smooth, with little change in grade. This surface makes it ideal for strollers and little bikers. In areas where the trail comes near the road or a steep bank, it is fenced off, making it safe for little ones to explore. Although all of the bikers I have encountered have been courteous and not too fast, it’s best to stick to the right side of the trail and allow them plenty of space to pass. Getting through Hallowell to connect one section of trail with the other could pose some hazards to small kids on foot or bike.

Savage Park

Augusta

Savage Park is a surprisingly verdant and wild seven-acre parcel of land directly adjacent to the new Route 3 bridge on the east side of the Kennebec River. I’m sad to see the somewhat neglected condition of the park’s trails, which were one of the projects I worked on as the team leader of a group of teenage workers in the Maine Conservation Corps when I first moved to the area many years ago. Though the trails are somewhat overgrown and bridges dilapidated, it is still worth exploring Savage Park’s quiet woods.

Getting There
Savage Park is located on Riverside Drive north of Cony Circle, on the left, just past the intersection with Route 3. A small semi-circle driveway offers ample parking.

The Trails
Distance: Approximately 1 mile
Hiking Time: About ½ hour
Difficulty: Moderate

From the parking area, cross the large tree-dotted field and pass a row of birches enclosing the covered picnic area. From here follow the wide grassy path into the woods, where the path narrows to a dirt track. Under a canopy of mixed hardwood trees (aspen, beech, birch, maple and oak) interspersed with white pine, the trail heads west to a T-intersection at the top of a small bank. The right-hand fork follows the bank a short distance, and then arcs right, back toward the entrance, meeting the wide grassy path just beyond a grove of staghorn sumac (just before it turns back toward the entrance, it appears to angle down into the pine trees, but then peters out). A few yards past the intersection, the left fork comes to a set of log steps down the bank on the right. Heading down the stairs, the trail crosses a wooden bridge over a small stream, which is dry now in early September. Several of the bridge’s boards are broken or missing. The trail climbs another set of log steps up the opposite bank. This bank and the rest of the trail to the river grows thick with poison ivy, so watch your step. The trail descends another small set of steps and opens out onto the railroad tracks just above the Kennebec River. Head south (toward the Rt. 3 bridge) along the tracks about 100 yards to where some brownish rock ledge is exposed along the bank to your left. Near the far (south) end of this ledge, the trail resumes, unmarked. From here the trail climbs back up through the trees, and comes to a small stream crossing near one of the biggest white birches I have seen. From the birch tree, the track fades away a bit into some brushy undergrowth for a few yards before meeting back up with the obvious trail. A right turn here will lead you in an arc back toward the far end of the picnic area and a left turn will take you back past the original set of steps and to the T-intersection.

Kid-Friendly Factor
Savage Park would not be my first choice for taking small children on a hike. The narrow and overgrown trails and stairs make it impassible for strollers, and the hazards of broken bridges, poison ivy and broken glass and rusty metal along the train tracks make it less than desirable as a place to allow little ones freedom to explore. It would be a nice short but interesting hike for an older child with more predictable hiking skills and the ability to detect and avoid poison ivy. The big field and covered picnic area might make the park a good spot for a birthday party or play group.

Augusta Nature Education Center

Augusta

Unlike the indoor nature centers you may familiar with, you know the kind in a cozy little building decked out as a hands-on museum with fish tanks and mounted animals, the Augusta Nature Education Center is truly a natural center, set completely in the outdoors, covering 175 acres of woods, fields, ponds and streams. Operated by the Augusta Nature Club since 1919, the Center offers more than five miles of trails that can be linked together in infinite combinations. Outstanding features of this self-proclaimed “diamond in the rough” include the Lily Pond, the Quarry Pond, the Granite Quarry, the Amphitheater and more. With the construction of the new Cony High School next to the Vo-Tech Center, the Nature Center’s trails have been improved, many of them widened and re-graded, with the addition of kiosks at all of the entrances, signs at every trail juncture and two new bridges (North Bridge and South Bridge) over Whitney Brook.

The Augusta Nature Education Center is open during daylight hours 365 days a year, for non-motorized use only, including hiking, biking, nature study and cross-country skiing.

Getting There
The Augusta Nature Education Center is located on the east side of Augusta, situated between Cony Street Extension and Route 105. Eleven entrances offer access points to the Center’s trails. To access entrances 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9 and 10, take Cony Street from the Cony rotary, continue straight on Cony when Rt. 105 veers to the left. To reach Entrances 5, 9, 10 and 11, turn left on Malta St. into the Hodgkins Middle School grounds, and park in front of the school. Entrance 5 is near the back of the loop road to the right of the school; Entrances 9, 10 and 11 are situated around the perimeter of the sports field to the left of the school. To reach Entrance 4, turn left onto Haskell St. and take it to the end, park on the street. Entrance 3 is located on the left side of Cony Road Extension just as it crosses Whitney Brook; there is space for about one car to park at this entrance. To reach Entrances 1 and 2, turn left onto Pierce St., which leads you into the grounds of Cony High School and the Vocational Technical Center, park in the lot to the south of the Vo-Tech Center. Entrance 1 is located to the left of the Vo-Tech Center and Entrance 2 is located to the right of Cony, across the new sports field. Entrances 6, 7 and 8 are located along Route 105 (South Belfast Ave.); these entrances have no parking options.

The Trails
Total Trail Distance: 5 miles

The Augusta Nature Education Center’s thirteen trails link together into a variety of loops that offer hikers options from short strolls to long treks. The trails have an excessively complicated system of blazes and trail names, with often a single pathway changing names as it meanders through the Center. Fortunately, the trails are well-marked with new signs at all intersections and maps posted at intervals. Contact the Augusta Nature Club to get a copy of the latest map to help plan your trip and find your way around in the Center. Most of the trails wind through the dense mixed-hardwood forests of the Nature Center, although a few, most notably the Jordan Farm Trail and Whitney Brook Trail travel through more open areas.

Jordan Farm Trail
Entrances 2, 6 and 7
Difficulty: Easy
Blazes: White
The Jordan Farm Trail is a wide gravel road that bisects an open field studded with apple trees and small pines to the Quarry Pond, a lovely pool of dark water, shaded on the near bank by overhanging trees and reaching to a sheer wall of granite on the opposite side. From the pond, the Jordan Farm Trail follows the eastern border of the Center.

Jordan Farm Alternate Trail
Entrances 2, 6 and 7
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
The Jordan Farm Alternate Trail is a narrow dirt track that travels through the woods, skirting the open field. The Alternate Trail meets the Jordan Farm Trail near the Quarry Pond, and then dips back into the woods, rejoining the main trail at the top of the hill.

Hillside Loop Trail
Entrance 2
Difficulty: Moderate
Blazes: White and Red
The Hillside Loop trail is a narrow dirt track whose two branches link the Jordan Pond Trail and Whitney Brook Trail up and down the pine and hemlock wooded hillside.

Crabapple Trail
Entrance 1, 2 and 3
Difficulty: Moderate
Blazes: Blue
The Crabapple Trail offers a short loop up through the wooded hillside, connecting at various points to the Hillside Loop, the Whitney Brook Trail and the Witch Hazel Trail.

Bruce’s Woods
Entrance 1 and 3
Difficulty: Moderate
Blazes: White
Bruce’s Woods Trails loop through the woods, up and down the hill, just south of the Vo-Tech Center, passing through the Cony Rope Climbing Center, and skirting the back side of Lily Pond. The path of the trails through this area can be somewhat confusing, with a number of crisscrosses.

Whitney Brook Trail
Entrance 7 and 3
Difficulty: Easy
No Blazes
The Whitney Brook trail follows the path of Whitney Brook, a small sluggish stream that spans the Nature Center from south to north. This medium-wide grassy road follows the mostly open east bank of the brook and passes some of the Center’s highlighted natural features, including the Lily Pond (a small pond full of frogs and resplendent in summer with pink-flowered water lilies), the Dam, the Waterfall (a stone sluice, nearly dry in later summer) and the Beaver Works (an opportunity to view up-close beaver-gnawed stumps). From the Whitney Brook Trail, hikers can cross the stream to other trails at one of three bridges.

North Brookside Trail
Entrance 7 and 10
Difficulty: Moderate
Blazes: White
The North Brookside Trail is a narrow dirt track that connects to the Lower Hemlock Trail at both ends, and travels through the woods above the Granite Quarry and Whitney Brook.

South Brookside Trail
Entrance 3
Difficulty: Moderate
Blazes: White
The South Brookside Trail starts near the South Bridge and skirts the wooded west bank of Whitney Brook. This narrow dirt track passes the Dam and Waterfall on Whitney Brook and the Amphitheater, an arc of exposed granite with a two-tiered wooden structure for seating or a stage. The South Brookside Trail also passes by Deadman’s Cave and ends in the Granite Quarry.

Lower Hemlock Trail
Entrance 7, and 10
Difficulty: Moderate
Blazes: Blue
The Lower Hemlock Trail follows a dirt pathway through dense, quiet pine and hemlock forests. At its southern terminus, the Lower Hemlock Trail links up with the Quarry Road Trail and Upper Hemlock trail; at its northern terminus, it connects to the Jordan Farm Trail across the North Bridge, and the other end of the Upper Hemlock Trail. The North Brookside Trail loops off of the Lower Hemlock Trail.

Upper Hemlock Trail
Entrance 7, 8, 9 and 10
Difficulty: Easy
Blazes: Blue
The north branch of the Upper Hemlock Trail travels a wide gravel road from the White Oak Trail, down hill through pine forests, past a small birch grove to where it links with the north end of the Lower Hemlock Trail and North Brookside Trail. The south branch of the Upper Hemlock Trail climbs a wide dirt track from the junction of the Lower Hemlock Trail and Quarry Road Trail, through Ovenbird Corner, where several trails meet in a quiet hemlock grove, back up to the White Oak Trail.

White Oak Trail
Entrance 8 and 9
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
Blazes: White
The White Oak Trail loops between the Upper and Lower Hemlock Trails and around Amphibian Pond. From Entrance #9 to the junction with the Lower Hemlock Trail, the White Oak Trail is a wide gravel road, from Entrance #8 around Amphibian Pond, it is a narrow dirt track. Amphibian Pond is a small wetland area, that has recently completely grown in with cattails. It creates a break in a small pine grove. The trail follows a ledgey ridge between the pond and Route 105. The northern connection between this backwoodsy section of the trail and road-like part appears to be under construction at this time, entailing a small climb up the bank to the main trail near of shiny new culvert. Look for white oak trees (distinguishable by their rounded edges) growing amongst the red oaks and pines.

Quarry Road Trail
Entrance 4 and 7
Difficulty: Easy
No Blazes
The Quarry Road Trail varies between is a narrow road that connects the Lower Hemlock Trail to the Witch Hazel Trail. The Quarry Road Trail travels the high ground above (and to the west of) Whitney Brook and offers connections to the South Brookside Trail.

Witch Hazel Trail
Entrance 1, 3, 4 and 5
Difficulty: Easy
Blazes: White
The Witch Hazel Trail is a broad gravel road that travels down the hill from the Hawthorne Trail to Whitney Brook and back up again to the Vocational Center and Bruce’s Woods Trails. True to its name, the woods along the Witch Hazel trail are dotted with witch hazel bushes. Look for these small trees with scalloped leaves and tiny yellow flowers that bloom in the autumn.

Hawthorne Trail
Entrance 4, 5, 10 and 11
Blazes: White
The Hawthorne trail is a wide dirt track that loops from the Malta Ledges near the water towers, past Blueberry Bend, a small open meadow covered in low-bush blueberry bushes to Ovenbird Corner.

Kid-Friendly Factor
The Augusta Nature Education Center is a fabulous place for kids to explore. The many looping trails offer a variety options for short or long hikes, depending on hiker ability, and the center abounds with interesting destinations, such as the three ponds, the quarry and Whitney Brook. Some of the trails lend themselves to jogging strollers—Jordan Farm Trail, Upper Hemlock Trail, part of White Oak Trail, Hawthorne Trail, Witch Hazel Trail, and Whitney Brook Trail—while the others are too narrow, steep or rocky for a safe, comfortable stroll, but are great for more mobile children. A summer day camp (Augusta Nature Camp) run at the Nature Center every year gives testament to the many attractions the Center offers kids.

Getting Involved
To support trail upgrades and maintenance with a donation or to become a volunteer, contact the Augusta Nature Education Center.

Pine Tree State Arboretum

Augusta

The Pine Tree State Arboretum is arguably the most interesting natural area in Augusta, offering ponds, wetlands, tree plantings, fields and dense woods. A wilder cousin of the genteel, groomed arboretums of bigger cities, the PTSA offers visitors a more adventuresome experience in trying to distinguish between the over 300 species and varieties of trees in the collections and the native growth.

Originally part of the vast State Hospital Farm that fed and employed the patients of the Augusta Mental Health Institute (AMHI) from 1840 until 1972, this 240-acre natural gem is owned by the state, but operated by a nonprofit organization under a 99-year lease. plagued by perennial funding and staffing shortages and maintained largely through volunteers, the Arboretum’s trails and tree and plant collections are somewhat worse for the wear, however the beauty and serenity of its quiet trails and wild landscape are well worth the minor inconveniences of broken boardwalks and neglected gardens. For those of us who enjoy these trails on a regular basis, becoming a member and/or volunteering our time gives us an opportunity to give back and help maintain the trails and facilities.

Nature lovers will appreciate the wide array of wildlife to be experienced at the Arboretum. Birds abound among the treetops—over 150 species have been sighted; I saw my first scarlet tanager, American redstart and American bittern here, to name a few—turtles sun themselves on half-sunken logs in Viles Pond, frogs sing from the wetlands, deer travel the woods and numerous species of dragonflies and butterflies color the fields throughout the summer.

Hikers may choose to hike one of the three main loop trails, or connect them in endless combinations using link trails, for a total of nearly five miles of hiking options. Be sure to pick up a map at the kiosk just north of the Viles Visitors Center—trails crisscross frequently with link trails and can be confusing, especially at junctures where there are no signs, although recently-painted tree blazes help to alleviate this problem. Maps are also posted at several points throughout the trails. Dogs are permitted on a leash. The Arboretum is open every day from dawn to dusk, year-round.

Groomed cross-country ski trails and marked snow-shoe routes extend the pleasures of the Arboretum year-round.


Getting There
The Pine Tree State Arboretum is located on the east side of Augusta, approximately 1 mile south of the Cony Circle rotary on left side of Hospital St. (Rt. 9). You can park either at the DEP visitor parking lot (turn left at the light on the Piggery Rd.) or at the Viles Visitor Center (turn left at the Arboretum sign). The official starting point for the trails is located near the old sugar maple just north of the Visitor Center. Pick up a map and membership brochure at this kiosk.


The Trails
Total trail distance: 5 miles

Viles Pond Loop
Difficulty: moderate
Hiking time: ½ hour
Blazes: red

The Viles Pond Loop trail offers a pleasant ramble through the woods and passes by many of the Arboretum’s more interesting natural and historical features. The trail starts near the Visitors Center, at the ancient sugar maple and can be enjoyed in its entirety, or used as an access point for the Woodland Loop. Some of the collections that can be viewed along the Viles Pond Loop include the black ash planting, heirloom apple collections, the Rhododendron Grove (come here in June to see these beauties in full bloom) and the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) Gardens. One of the loveliest spots along this trail and in the Arboretum is the Hosta Garden. Over 290 specimens from 190 varieties of hosta grace the wide, sloping gravel pathway, along with a variety of wildflowers, in the cool shade of graceful white birches. The first 100 hostas in the garden were moved here from the Arnold Arboretum’s collection at Case Estate in Weston, MA in 1994 and are tended by volunteers from the Maine Hosta Society.

The Viles Pond Loop also treats visitors to views of a brick well that houses the valves and pumps that ran the hospital’s vast waterworks and the enormous cistern that held the water for the hospital and now houses the Johnson Education Center, a covered outdoor classroom. Despite its name, the loop merely skirts the west bank of Viles Pond, a small, shallow, manmade body of water that nevertheless teems with wildlife. To get a better view of the pond, rather than turning right at the sign, go straight, past the Piggery, the concrete and metal remains of the building that once housed the pigs raised to feed the State Hospital’s patients until 1944 when it was destroyed by fire, and the farm discontinued raising pigs. Beyond the Piggery, this link trail passes Viles Pond along its north shore, offering visitors a resting spot on a large granite bench. Retrace your steps back to the sign to continue the Viles Pond Loop. The Viles Pond Loop meets the Woodland Loop in a clearing on its southeast corner, but link trails provide access to both of the other trails at several points along the trail.


The Woodland Loop
Hiking time: ½ hour (plus time on connecting trails getting there)
Difficulty: moderate
Blazes: green

The Woodland Loop takes you on a gentle upland hike through the Arboretum’s fragrant pine woods and demonstration tree farms. One of the highlights the Woodland Loop offers is the Space Shuttle Pines, whose seeds traveled aboard the space shuttle Atlantis in 1991, orbiting the earth 93 times and traveling 24 million miles. Upon their return to Earth, the seeds were grown into seedlings and planted here during Arbor Week 1994 by Kennebec County 4-H members and International Paper. Unfortunately, the pines have been vandalized in recent years, as evidenced by the broken and missing tops of several trees.

The Woodland Loop trail takes you past a tree harvest demonstration project and clear-cut demonstration. Both of these projects fulfill part of the Arboretum’s mission as a Demonstration Tree Farm. Near the bottom of a gentle hill, the Woodland Loop passes the Constitution Pine, the Arboretum’s oldest and tallest tree, which dates back to 1787.

The Outer Loop
Hiking Time: 2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Blazes: Blue

The Outer Loop passes through the most remote and wilderness-like sections of the Arboretum. Unfortunately, this longest of the Arboretum’s trails is closed due to lack of staff time for mowing and maintenance and a broken boardwalk at the “Wetlands Enhancement Project,” on the northern branch of the loop. Segments of the trail are still in good condition and are accessible from the other loops and link trails. One especially lovely section begins at the Governor’s Grove and enters the deep woods. Walk quietly through this dark, mossy forest and you may hear the haunting song of the veery in a high treetop. The trail passes a small open area with a vernal pool and a nearby picnic table before entering another thickly wooded area. A short way beyond this area, the official Outer Loop route, passes a sign that warns “unmaintained trail beyond this point.” Beyond the sign, the trail becomes thickly overgrown with tall grasses for a fair distance, and crosses a couple of wet areas via wobbly but serviceable bog bridges. To avoid the unmaintained section, take a right at the fork in the trail just prior to the sign, and continue on to the Woodland Loop. The southernmost branch of the Outer Loop passes between the Larch Plantation and Green Ash Plantation and joins up with the Woodland Loop before heading off into unmaintained territory.

Kid-Friendly Factor
I have traveled much of the Arboretum with a jogging stroller (both single and double), but it is a workout and some areas are simply impassable. A more practical way to travel with small children is to carry them in a backpack, sling or front carrier. Toddlers will enjoy running around in the grass and trekking short distances along the trails. For preschoolers and older children, the Arboretum offers a wealth of opportunities for exploration and adventure. The frog and turtle-filled ponds will be especially attractive, but the trails, fields, trees and historic remains will all provide endless fascination. At the Sugar Maple kiosk, you can pick up a Quest brochure which takes you on a 10-question scavenger hunt throughout the Arboretum’s trails. This is a great way to engage school-age children in the history and nature of the Arboretum and to become better acquainted with some of the lesser-known trails.

Getting Involved
To become a member or volunteer visit http://www.pinetreestatearboretum.org/ or call 207-621-0031.

The Augusta Greenway Trail

Augusta

Paralleling the Kennebec River on its east bank, the Augusta Greenway Trail offers a quiet alternative to the busier Rail Trail. Although this gravel walkway dead-ends after only a mile, it offers a pleasant, shady stroll with numerous granite benches for resting and viewing the river. The Greenway is a lesson in contrast; it gives visitors a view of the underbelly of Augusta—Memorial Bridge, the snow dump, stormwater overflow pipes, invasive plants—while at the same time birdsong chimes from the trees and shrubs along the trail and cooling breezes drift up from the river. Signs showing a map of the Greenway and providing information about the river’s wildlife appear frequently along the trail. Unfortunately the signs, as well as many of the granite benches have been marred by graffiti.

Getting There
The Augusta Greenway Trail officially starts at the northern terminus of the Kennebec River Rail Trail, in the Maine State Housing Authority parking lot, proceeds north through the Waterfront Park, crosses the river on the Father Curran bridge and then heads south behind Old Fort Western and City Hall. However, if you’re not meeting the Greenway from the KRRT and want to avoid all that urban interface, start from Eastside Boat Landing Park. Take Arsenal Street from Cony/Bridge Street, turn right on Williams Street just past Augusta City Center, and left onto Howard Street, which takes you into the park.

The Trail
Distance: 1 mile (one-way)
Walking time: 1 hour (round-trip)
Difficulty: Easy

From Eastside Boat Landing Park, the Augusta Greenway Trail proceeds south along the river, passing under Memorial Bridge and along the snow dump. The trail takes a fairly straight and level path under a canopy of box elders and other hardwood trees. At about the halfway point, the trail climbs a slight rise and comes into an open area, passing by the soon-to-be-redeveloped Kennebec Arsenal. This collection of eight granite buildings and the recently-restored retaining wall and wharf dates back to the Northeast Boundary Conflict and is the best surviving example of an early nineteenth century munitions depot. Be sure to take a short side trip down the steep granite staircase to get a closer look at the magnificent retaining wall and dock, made up of enormous blocks of granite, and recently restored through a Save America’s Treasures grant. South of the Arsenal, the Greenway becomes wooded again. This part of the trail seems wider and more road-like than the northern segment, perhaps for some maintenance purpose. At a point almost directly behind Riverview Psychiatric Center, the Greenway dead-ends, with no established connecting trails through the AMHI campus to the nearby Arboretum. An adventuresome hiker might choose to climb the steep, weedy hill here or a few-hundred yards north, just below the giant smokestack, but for the casual walker, turning around and returning to the starting point offers the best bet.

Kid-Friendly Factor
The Greenway’s broad, level path is great for strollers, although those with bigger, chunkier wheels do better on its gravel surface. The fairly short distance makes it do-able for beginning hikers or bikers, and they may feel more comfortable on this trail than the busier Rail Trail. The Eastside Park has a beautiful playground for pre- or post-hiking fun, although I avoid it with my toddlers because the smaller slides and ladders are part of the same structure as very high platforms and ladders that make me nervous with two little ones. The park also has picnic tables and a small grassy area for running around.

Waterfront Trail

Gardiner

I’ve gotten into the habit of strolling along Gardiner’s new waterfront trail after the kids’ music class Friday mornings. The trail (which, as far as I can tell, has not been officially named yet) is a short but pleasant walk through the woods along the Kennebec River south of downtown Gardiner. The trail follows an easement through land owned by the State of Maine, parallel to, and down a steep bank from, the railroad tracks and Route 24.

You can access the Kennebec River Rail Trail from the waterfront trail by following Main Avenue from the Waterfront to the north end of the Hannaford parking lot.

Getting There
The head of the trail is rather well-concealed at the far end of a large expanse of dirt that the City recently purchased from Webber Oil through a Land for Maine’s Future grant. Based on the proposed Waterfront Park Expansion Diagram on the City’s website, this brownfield will one day be a park with lawns and an arts pavilion. To access the trail, you can park at the Waterfront on Main Avenue and follow the newly-built timber boardwalk to its south end, and meet the trail just beyond the canoe/kayak launch site. For those with strollers, bikes or disabilities, be aware that the boardwalk drops off a good 18” to trail level. Alternatively, you can park along Water Street and reach the trail via a small alleyway just beyond Bailey’s Garage. This is a somewhat hazardous access point because Water Street’s sidewalks do not extend this far and the alley is used as parking for the garage.

The Trail
Distance: ½ mile (one way)
Hiking Time: ¼ - ½ hour
Difficulty: easy

Once the trail bypasses the brownfield and enters the trees, it becomes a pleasant walk, under a canopy of Norway maples, paper birches and other mixed hardwoods, with intermittent views of the river. The trail is wide and level, surfaced in crushed stone, with lovely granite benches creating resting or reflecting spots at regular intervals. Half a mile south of the Waterfront, the trail ends in a cul-de-sac, with more stone benches around the circle and access to a small sandy beach at low tide. Some traffic noise from Route 27 carries across the water, but birdsong, rustling leaves and lapping water offer a soothing counterpoint.

Kid-Friendly Factor
I love taking my kids here—the smooth level surface makes the waterfront trail ideal for pushing the stroller and the short length makes it manageable for little hikers and beginning bikers. Once you get past the sketchy starting points mentioned above, it’s a nice, safe place for little ones to explore. About halfway down the trail, an old yellow caboose sits along the train tracks just uphill from the trail. I’d love to see it moved down near the trail and renovated into something kids could play in.

Kennebec River Rail Trail, Part 1

Augusta to Hallowell
The birth of the Kennebec River Rail Trail marks Augusta’s entrance into the ranks of cities with riverside recreation trails. When complete, the KRRT will cover 6.5 miles from Gardiner through Farmingdale and Hallowell to Augusta. At this point, two sections are finished: Augusta to Hallowell and Gardiner to Farmingdale. The final, middle section of the trail is scheduled for completion in September 2007. The sheer number of people out jogging, strolling, and biking on any given day attest to how valuable safe, pleasant trails are to our communities.

Getting There
The Augusta-Hallowell section of the Kennebec River Rail Trail can be accessed at three points. The trail’s northernmost terminus opens out into the Maine State Housing Authority parking lot, directly under Memorial Bridge, at the south end of downtown Augusta (this is also the handicap access point to the trail). To reach the second access point, turn onto Union Street just south of Capitol Park and turn right into the parking lots for the ball fields at Capital Park (near the YMCA). To access the trail in Hallowell, park in the lot at the north end of Water Street.

The Trail
Distance: 2 miles
Walking time: 1-2 hours
Difficulty: easy

The Augusta-Hallowell portion of the Kennebec River Rail Trail is surprisingly peaceful, considering it is located only a short distance from State Street. Trees line the trail for most of the distance, and the river bank drops steeply down to the water, affording visitors a view of the Kennebec’s placid waters and the forested east bank, which appears undeveloped most of the way. Aside from the wastewater treatment facility near the Capital Park access point, a few warehouses and some type of abandoned-looking industrial installation near the Hallowell entrance, very little industrial development remains to remind walkers of the railroad’s existence.

The trail is wide, level and paved for the Augusta portion, topped with crushed stone in Hallowell. Because it follows the rail bed, there is very little change in grade the entire distance, the only climbing required is to reach the access points in Hallowell and Capital Park.

Kid-friendly Factor
Thanks to the non-existent grade and wideness of the paths, the rail trail is a great place to push a stroller and for little kids to try out shaky biking skills. Although the trail is well-used, I’ve found most people are extremely tolerant of kids biking in the wrong lane or darting across the pathway unexpectedly.

Getting Involved
To help support the completion of the rail trail, contact the Friends of the Kennebec River Rail Trail.

Capitol Park

Augusta

What better place to start a guide to walks in Maine’s capital than at Capitol Park? Situated between the Statehouse and the Kennebec River, Capitol Park is a lovely 20-acre parcel of lawns and trees, offering visitors an impressive view of Maine’s verdigris-domed house of governance. Capitol Park was the first piece of land consciously set aside for public use in Maine. With amazing foresight, Maine’s early government established the park along with the grounds for the Capitol in 1827, when Augusta was established as the seat of governance. According to the state’s website, the park was fenced off from cattle and planted with trees for the purpose of creating a “dignified setting” for viewing the Capitol. Over the years Capitol Park has served many, varied purposes, including camp site and parade ground during the Civil War and leased farmland after the war. The park was restored in 1878 and in 1920 the Governor commissioned the firm of Frederick Law Olmstead, the landscape architect best known for designing New York’s Central Park, to create a plan for the park and surrounding grounds.

Today Capitol Park is indeed a dignified setting for viewing the Capitol, as well as a peaceful escape from the traffic of State Street and the bustle of activity surrounding the Statehouse. Stately oaks, beeches and pines shade quiet pathways and benches and tables offer numerous spots for picnicking or quiet contemplation. The Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial, dedicated in 1985, presides over the northern edge of the park, near Capitol Street, its overlapping wedges of concrete and bronze with cut-out silhouettes of three soldiers providing a haunting tribute to those who served. Other memorials in the park include a granite block dedicated to the victims of 9/11 and an obelisk-topped mausoleum in the northeast corner.

You can access the Kennebec River Rail Trail from Capitol Park via its municipal sister, Capital Park, across Union Street, where the YMCA and ball fields are located.

Getting There
Capitol Park is located on the west side of Augusta, directly across State Street from the Capitol. Parking is available along Capitol and Union Streets, and in the visitor parking lots near the Statehouse and State Library/ Museum/ Archives building.

The TrailsHiking time: ¼ - ½ hour
Difficulty: easy

Visitors can stroll casually along the broad gravel paths that wind around Capitol Park, or break free from the designated avenues and ramble over grassy expanses to explore the trees and monuments nestled throughout the park, or view the Kennebec River from the park’s easternmost edge.

Kid-friendly Factor
Capitol Park is a great place to take kids. The level, gravel paths work well for strollers (those with somewhat more substantial wheels than mall strollers) and are easy for kids to walk on, but the real draw for kids will be the big lawns for them to run around on. The trees and shrubs along the eastern end of the park also offer great hide-and-seek potential.

When we think of hiking or nature, rarely does Augusta, Maine come to mind. For most of us in central Maine, Augusta is a place to work or to shop at big-box chain stores, but not a place to enjoy the outdoors. For our outdoor adventures we hop in the car and head to Tumbledown, or Baxter, or the Camden Hills, rarely giving a second thought to the hiking possibilities in our own backyards.

But believe it or not, those possibities are out there! Augusta and the surrounding communities boast numerous hiking and walking trails. Some, like the rail trail, are fairly new and well-known. Others have been hiding in quiet anonymity for years. I can't tell you how many times I've heard a long-term resident excalim of a newly-discovered hiking area, "I never even knew this was here!" This blog is a place where I hope to make these hidden little treasures of our capital more well-known, so that hikers and nature lovers can enjoy them, without spending hours in the car getting there.

Over the last few weeks I've rambled over a number of these trails, and the words that most often come to my mind to describe them are "pleasant" and "peaceful." Although many of the trails run near urban, suburban and industrial areas, never far removed from roads, they almost always give me a sense of peace and quiet. It is my hope that as more people become familiar--dare I say in love--with these areas, the support for preserving open space and developing and linking trails will overwhelm the forces in favor of more of the sprawl-mall-style development that seems to be taking over our capital.

I plan on posting at least one hike each week over the next several months. Come back often and get out on the trail!