With three morning hikes in June, the Midcoast Conservancy’s seasonal hiking series of “Wednesday Wanders” and “Saturday Saunters” is in full swing, offering opportunities to enjoy nature in Alna, Whitefield, and Friendship.  All the hikes start at 10 a.m. and all have at least one Maine Master Naturalist to lead the group and talk about what is of interest to participants. 

Our first June hike will be on Wednesday, June 5, at Trout Brook Preserve in Alna, which protects over 4,200 feet of the lower reaches of Trout Brook as well as frontage along the main stem of the Sheepscot River.  Maine Master Naturalists Chuck Dinsmore and Susan Cottle will lead a gentle hike through both a portion of former farmstead that has now returned to forest as well as some older forest growth.  With such variety, we hope to see an array of plants as well as enjoy the brook.  Parking is available at the trailhead on Rt. 218 in Alna.

Our second hike in June May will be on Saturday, June 8, at Maguire Preserve in Whitefield.  This walk will provide a lovely forest walk out to Weary Pond, where we may catch some sign of beaver if not of other wildlife.  The gentle ups and downs along the forest trail will be naturally decorated by ferns, mosses, lichens, etc.  Parking is also available at the trailhead on Heath Road.          

On Wednesday, June 12, we’ll be visiting Martin Point Wildlife Preserve in Friendship, where we can enjoy the moss-carpeted spruce-fir forest and have choices about taking one or more of several loop trails, along which we have the opportunity to visit Crystal Pond and a bit of Muscongus Bay. On this third hike of the month, we’ll spend some time looking at and learning about mosses, but we’ll also be enjoying other plants and aspects of nature we find. Parking is available at the trailhead on Martin Point Road.  

All are welcome on these hikes and encouraged to wear good hiking shoes or boots.  To learn more about the preserves themselves, check out www.midcoastconservancy.org .   And stay tuned for more Wednesday Wanders and Saturday Saunters throughout the summer and into the autumn.  If you have any questions about the hikes or about Midcoast Conservancy’s recreational programming, you can email landmcc@midcoastconservancy.org.  Hope to see you on the trails!