The Rhoda and Lee Cohen River Trail is 8′ wide, gently graded, and surfaced with firm crushed stone dust. Rated accessible by Forest Service standards. Handicap parking is available at both trailheads (Round Top Farm and Whaleback Shell Midden State Historic Site). A wheelchair accessible port-a-potty is available at the Round Top Farm parking area from mid-May into October. Coastal Rivers’ main office is located here and has an accessible bathroom as well, open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. except on holidays.
Other trails: In addition to the accessible trail, there is a network of mown paths through the rolling hayfields here. The terrain drops steadily as you descend to the river, so the trails are steeper in spots and require more exertion. Trails can be wet and slippery in spots at certain times of year.
Multiple mown trails of varying lengths loop around the perimeters of hayfields, following hedgerows and the shoreline of the upper Damariscotta River. The 0.3-mile accessible trail connects Round Top Farm Preserve to Whaleback Shell Midden State Historic Site by way of the Pete Noyes Preserve.
Picnic spots:Two picnic tables in the shade of tall white pines overlook the river down the hill from Darrows Barn (marked on the trail map). There are additional picnic tables overlooking the river at neighboring Whaleback Shell Midden State Historic Site (also marked on the map).
Fishing: There are some good casting spots along the shoreline where people have had luck catching stripers and the occasional mackerel. Note it may be easier to get to the shore from Whaleback Shell Midden next door, just below the bench swing.
The Round Top campus can be accessed by foot or bicycle from Church Street, and a mile+ extension of the accessible trail is in the works. You’ll eventually be able to walk (or ride or roll) from Church Street all the way to Salt Bay Farm on Belvedere Road, passing under the Route 1 bridge!
Round Top Farm is managed for grassland birds and is a great place to see Bobolinks and Savannah sparrows during the nesting season. We have a frequent Red-tailed hawk visitor who takes advantage of the the wide open vistas to scan for prey, and we occasionally see Osprey and Bald eagles as well.
When the fish are running, you may spot harbor seals and diving birds in the river. Horseshoe crabs can be seen along the shore during spring and summer. There are historic apple orchards at Round Top Farm and at Whaleback. Some of the apple varieties are quite good! Visitors are welcome to help themselves.
Located at 12 Round Top Lane in Damariscotta, opposite Hammond Lumber and between Round Top Ice Cream and Women of Substance.
