Boothbay Region Land Trust (BRLT) preserves over 1,700 acres including six islands protecting wildlife habitat, vistas, forests, meadows, wetlands, shorefront, and historical sites.  Wherever feasible and ecologically wise, BRLT provides opportunities for public access.  BRLT’s 15 preserves provide over 30 miles of hiking trails open year round, free of charge. 

Six properties are accessible by boat.

BRLT properties are open for quiet, low impact activities.  When visiting BRLT’s properties, please observe the following rules:

COLBY WILDLIFE PRESERVE
River Road, East Edgecomb
The Kitzi Colby Wildlife Preserve is a 12-acre parcel on Salt Marsh Cove on the Damariscotta River. This cove was the site of saltworks, iceworks, a brickyard, ferry landing, sawmills, and gristmills. Now in its natural state, the Salt Marsh Cove is of environmental importance to the health of the Damariscotta River. Follow the old road 0.3 of a mile to Salt Marsh Cove, and a loop trail of about 0.6 mile.
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Directions: From the monument in Boothbay Center, travel north on Route 27 for 2.9 miles to River Road. Turn right onto River Road and proceed 3.2 miles. The Colby Preserve is on your right.

GREGORY HIKING TRAIL
Sawyers Island, Boothbay
A 20-acre preserve with a beautiful 0.8 mile loop trail along the Back River. Please stay on the designated trails as this is private property. BRLT has permission for the trail’s use, thanks to the generosity of the owner.
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Directions: From Boothbay Harbor go north to the monument in Boothbay Center. Turn left onto Corey Lane. Proceed 0.3 of a mile. Turn right onto Barters Island Road and travel 1.7 miles, crossing a causeway. Turn left onto Sawyers Island Road. Proceed 0.5 miles to the entrance on the left.

OVENS MOUTH EAST
Dover Road Extension, Boothbay
The Ovens Mouth Preserve is a unique 146-acre parcel of scenic shoreline bordered by swift tidal water, quiet coves and salt marshes. Of the three peninsulas at Ovens Mouth, the preserve includes those on the east and in the middle. There are 1.6 miles of hiking trails on the east peninsula, which is connected by a bridge to Ovens Mouth West (see description under More Difficult Hikes).
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Directions: From the monument at Boothbay Center, travel north on Route 27 for 1.6 miles. Take a left onto Adams Pond Road. Proceed .1 miles. Turn right onto Dover Road. Continue 2.4 miles to the dead end. Parking is on the left.

PENNY LAKE PRESERVE
Route 27, Boothbay Harbor
Adjacent to the Penny Lake wetland, rich in wildlife including beaver, muskrat, waterfowl and amphibians, there is a 16-acre field as well as woods. There is a 0.55 mile trail, plus a 1/2 mile handicap accessible trail.
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Directions: Go 0.1 of a mile north on Route 27 from the traffic light at the junction with Route 96. Turn left into the Carousel Theater and proceed 0.1 of a mile to the BRLT parking area, leaving the theater on your left.

PORTER PRESERVE
Barters Island, Boothbay
The Porter Preserve is a 23-acre wooded property including a small off-shore island and a beach. There are lovely views of the Sheepscot River, 1.1 miles of trails, and the Roberts working waterfront wharf.
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Directions: From Boothbay Harbor travel north on Route 27; take a left at the monument in Boothbay Center onto Corey Lane. Proceed 0.3 of a mile. Turn right onto Barters Island Road and travel 2.2 miles, crossing two bridges. Turn left on Kimballtown Road. Proceed 0.5 of a mile and turn left onto a dirt road. Proceed 0.1 of a mile to a small parking area on your right just beyond the cemetery. Please do not block the road as it is used by other property owners.

SINGING MEADOWS
Cross Point Road, Edgecomb
Singing Meadows is a 16-acre hardwood-rimmed field, once part of an old saltwater farm. It is a haven for a wide variety of wildlife, including white-tailed deer, fox and moose. The crickets, katydids, grasshoppers and cicadas add their “voices” to the amphibians’ croaking and the birds’ songs, making this truly a Singing Meadows.

Directions: From the monument in Boothbay Center, travel north on Route 27 for 8 miles. Turn left onto the Eddy Road and travel 0.5 miles. Turn left onto the Cross Point Road, and Singing Meadows is 0.3 miles on your right.

LINEKIN PRESERVE
Route 96, East Boothbay
The Linekin Preserve is a 137-acre parcel stretching from Route 96 to the Damariscotta River. The property includes 651 feet of river frontage and 2.75 miles of hiking trails. The Levison and Burley families donated their properties so that the public could continue to enjoy them.
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Directions: From Route 27 in Boothbay Harbor, take Route 96 and proceed 3.8 miles. The Linekin Preserve parking area is on the left.

LOBSTER COVE MEADOW
Eastern Avenue, Boothbay Harbor
This 46.8-acre preserve, with its freshwater wetland, field and forested upland is a wonderful spot for bird watching. Short sections of the hiking trail are moderately steep, but the old road offers an easy walk.
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Directions: From the junction of Routes 27 and 96 in Boothbay Harbor, take 96 and proceed about 0.3 miles to Eastern Avenue. Turn right onto Eastern Avenue and in less than 0.1 miles you will see parking and a BRLT sign on your left. Follow the trail sign. Please stay on the trail and respect the privacy of the abutting home owners.

OVENS MOUTH WEST
Dover Cross Road, Boothbay
The 3.7 miles of hiking trails of the west peninsula are a much more strenuous hike than the east peninsula.
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Directions: See Ovens Mouth East but go only 1.9 miles on Dover Road and bear left onto Dover Cross Road. The parking lot is 0.2 miles on the right.

SAUNDERS PRESERVE
Pleasant Cove Road, Boothbay
A 22.5- acre parcel on the Damariscotta River located where the Kelly Brook flows into Pleasant Cove, with a 1.0 mile loop trail, parts of which are steep.
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Directions: At the traffic light on Route 27 in Boothbay Harbor take Route 96 and proceed 0.9 of a mile. Turn left on Back Narrows Road and travel 3 miles to the stop sign at the intersection with Pleasant Cove Road. There is a small parking area directly across from the stop sign.

SCHOOL HOUSE POND
Barters Island, Boothbay
This 42-acre preserve has a 1.0 mile loop trail through woods which include a variety of wild flowers, mixed forest, interesting rock formations and a beautiful old stone wall.
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Directions: From Boothbay Harbor, travel north on Route 27. Turn left at the monument in Boothbay Center onto Corey Lane. Proceed 0.3 of a mile. Bear right onto Barters Island Road and travel 2.1 miles, crossing two bridges. Bear right onto East Side Road. Travel 1.9 miles. Schoolhouse Pond Preserve is on the left.

ZAK PRESERVE
Route 27, Boothbay
Zak Preserve at Wildcat Creek has open fields and tidal wetland fed by a freshwater stream. The property has outstanding wildlife habitat with several miles of trails.
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Directions: Located on Route 27 about 5.5 miles north of the junction of Routes 27 and 96 and just south of the Boothbay-Edgecomb town line, across from Little Ponderosa Campground.

Islands

DAMARISCOVE ISLAND
A 210-acre island located 6 miles out to sea from downtown Boothbay Harbor, this preserve is a National Historic Landmark. The island offers hiking and picnicking. There are resident caretakers during the summer. A small museum is open to visitors. The north end is a protected bird nesting area and is closed to the public April 1 to August 31. Because of Damariscove’s fragile ecosystem, dogs are not permitted on the island at any time. Please respect the privacy of the owners of the former Coast Guard Station.
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Directions: 6 nautical miles south from Boothbay Harbor in open ocean. The island has an excellent small harbor at the southern tip. Two moorings are available as well as limited anchorage. Courtesy dinghies are provided as no tie-up is permitted at the dock.

INDIANTOWN ISLAND
Indiantown is a 60-acre island in the Sheepscot River. The BRLT owns the northern half, with trails open to the public. The southern half and the dock on the west shore are privately owned with trails open only by permission of the owner.
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Directions: The island is accessible by canoe, kayak or dinghy via the BRLT dock on the northwestern end of the island, and where there is a BRLT mooring for larger boats.