Thu, 05/17/2018 - 9:30am

Kay Stephens

An old dairy farm, which has sweeping views of meadows and forested trails. Photo by Kay Stephens

ROCKPORT— Want an easy early morning or after-work blast of nature, but don’t want the sweat or the black flies? Erickson Fields Preserve, tucked off Route 90 in Rockport, is a serene trail through a former dairy farm. Right now, there are a few wildflowers blooming beside the trail’s streams and ferns unfurling. The flat, even trail makes for a great, meditative walk or the perfect trail run.

The Layout

This family-friendly and dog-friendly 1.4-mile trail loops through fields and forest. Along the route, there are fitness stations where walkers can stop for additional workouts. There are also bird-identification signs along the way, where one might see pileated woodpeckers, warblers, thrushes, sparrows and hummingbirds, to name a few.

History

A dairy farm for many generations, the Erickson family stopped farming the land in the 1980s. At that point, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, in partnership with Maine Farmland Trust started working with the family to preserve the farm property for the public to use forever.

What Makes It Unique

Starting in May, the Preserve offers a Kids Can Grow program, which is a five-session course once a month from May through September, where families can learn about growing vegetables using the square foot gardening method. Community garden plots are also available for people who need space can grow for themselves or for Maine Harvest for Hunger.

How To Get There

From the junction of Route 1 and Route 90 in Rockport, follow Route 90 west and drive approximately three tenths of a mile. After passing the Market Basket, several houses and a short stretch of woods, Erickson Fields Preserve is on your left, across from Cross Street.

For more information visit: Maine Coast Trust Heritage’s website.

Photos by Kay Stephens

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com