Sometimes the most special places are hidden right in plain sight. This is the case with Boothbay Region Land Trust’s Penny Lake Preserve, which stretches behind the businesses and homes of downtown Boothbay Harbor. 

The entrance to the preserve is just past the Hannaford supermarket, tucked in behind the bright red barn of the Carousel Theater. The large parking lot is marked with a kiosk, and a small gravel trail leads hikers into the peaceful fields and forests of the preserve.

Close to the school and the YMCA, Penny Lake is a favorite spot for groups of children to look for frogs and play in the woods. The older generations use the preserve as well, as some of the trails back right up to St. Andrews Village. Penny Lake is used year-round by hikers, runners and dog walkers and is often the only trail system that remains packed down in the winter snow. 

A scenic loop trail is bisected by an ADA-compliant path, which provides an easy walk and is wheelchair and stroller friendly. All of the trails lead to the 130-foot pedestrian bridge that spans the wetland known as Penny Lake. While the water isn’t inviting to swimmers, it is a great spot to watch wildlife. Two benches on the bridge encourage visitors to sit and watch turtles, beavers, muskrats and migrating birds. Occasionally moose can be seen.

While now a nature preserve, Penny Lake has been used by humans in the past. The late Lillian Gilbert Barlow recalled that Indian Americans used to camp on the property and sell trinkets during the blossoming tourist industry of the 1870s. 

Later on, but in the days before refrigeration, the preserve was home to a successful ice works. At the turn of the century, several acres of forest were cleared and converted into farmland. The fields and apple orchard are still visible to hikers today.

Penny Lake Preserve is the successful result of the effort of many individuals and organizations and the combining of several parcels and easements. The preserve consists of a 19-acre parcel purchased from the McKenney family, a ten-acre parcel donated by Tom and Richard Wilson, a 25-acre easement from St. Andrews Village, and trail easements donated by Steve and Richard Malcom as well as St. Andrews Village.

Penny Lake Preserve is dedicated to the memory of Jack Heald, whose family contributed substantially to the purchase of the McKenney property. Funds also were provided by the Land for Maine’s Future Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Fields Pond Foundation and other generous donors. The ADA compliant trail was partially funded by Maine’s Department of Conservation Recreational Trails Program.

To visit Penny Lake Preserve, go .1 mile north of the Route 27 traffic light and turn west onto the dirt road at the Chamber of Commerce sign. Follow the dirt road back to the parking lot and kiosk. The preserve is also accessible from Emery Lane in St. Andrews Village. 

For more information about the preserve or the Boothbay Region Land Trust, visit www.bbrlt.org or stop by the office at 137 Townsend Ave. Boothbay Harbor.