A peaceful walk along a wild stretch of the Pemaquid River
It’s not often we get to share news about a new trail! This summer, after extensive preparation, Coastal Rivers Trail Tamers volunteers and staff began cutting a trail at Keyes Woods Preserve in Bristol.
Located on Poor Farm Road, Keyes Woods is a beautiful wooded property extending east to the Pemaquid River, with over 1900 feet of shoreline and a free-flowing tributary stream. Crisscrossed with historical stone walls, the preserve offers a number of interesting features including old stone foundations and glacial erratics.
Pemaquid Watershed Association, with assistance from Damariscotta River Association, acquired the 70-acre property in 2018 shortly before the two organizations unified to become Coastal Rivers. Purchase of the property was made possible by the generous support of George Keyes, joined by his brothers Henry and Jonathan.
A great deal of preparatory work took place at Keyes Woods this summer prior to cutting the trail. An abandoned cabin on the property that presented a safety risk had to be removed. In another area, enthusiastic groups of volunteers tackled infestations of invasive Japanese honeysuckle and Asiatic bittersweet vines.
Now that this initial clean up has been completed, Trail Tamers volunteers have been making fast work of the trail. The route begins on a woods road along the southern boundary of the preserve, passing by an old stone enclosure and an elaborate stone foundation. It then winds down through the woods to the shore, a wild and marshy stretch of the Pemaquid River frequented by dabbling and wading birds.
After following the shoreline north to “Picnic Rock,” a large glacial erratic, the planned route veers inland once more and then will meander north to take in a lovely wooded stream and slopes studded with moss-covered rocks.
The next Trail Tamers work party is scheduled for September 16. If all goes according to plan, the trail will be open to the public later this fall!
Invasives work crew photos by Kris Christine.
