Photo by Joyce Love
EXPLORE Maine's Wilderness
See what the lesser known land trusts in Maine have to offer. Story by: JOHN BREERWOOD When I moved to Maine in 2017, it didn’t take me long to realize that this state has an abundance of natural wonders but, more than that, how much the public access to this natural majesty is uncanny. Clearly, more people have realized that since the pandemic shut out their usual activities. The outdoors this past year, proved to be more than just a breath of fresh air for folks who didn’t normally hit the trails. Last summer, Maine’s state parks were overcrowded, forcing 22 summer / fall | 2021
some places to actually close to the public. Chances are though, if you live in Maine, a public forest or land trust hosts a trail system within a short drive from home. “When many of the state parks closed last year, local trails and land trusts were overwhelmed,” said Brunswick Topsham Land Trust (BTLT) Executive Director Angela Twitchell. “There were new people who weren’t aware of their local trails, but, on the other hand, we weren’t prepared
for it.” About half hour north of Portland, the Brunswick/Topsham area presents ample outdoor opportunities for convenient hikes and outdoor recreation. The BTLT is committed to preserving natural areas as well as providing public access. Overall, the BTLT hosts 25 miles of public trails within the towns of Brunswick, Topsham, and Bowdoin. Of all their 62 properties, not all have hiking opportunities since they also preserve wetlands and lease farmland.
