Ezra Smith Wildlife Conservation Area
Location and Description:
Location: Mount Vernon, Maine
Property Description: Located off of Route 41 in Mount Vernon, the Ezra Smith Wildlife Conservation Area is managed to protect wildlife habitat and water quality, for low impact outdoor recreation, and as a sustainable forestry demonstration site. The eastern boundary of the property is close to the beautiful, largely undeveloped Hopkins Stream corridor. The 125 acre hilly property conserves a 50 acre wetland with a large vernal pool, a well-managed mixed hardwood-conifer forest, and a deer wintering area. The interior of the property and parts of Hopkins Stream are identified as Resource Protection Areas in the Mount Vernon’s Comprehensive Plan. The extensive undeveloped uplands and wetlands along the Hopkins stream corridor provide important wildlife habitat for ducks and wading birds.
Allowable Uses: hiking, nature observation, snowshoeing, hunting.
No motorized vehicles.
Directions: A sign for the Ezra Smith Conservation Area is present on the East side of Route 41 in Mount Vernon, adjacent to a cemetery. The property is about half a mile South of Blake Hill Road. Please be careful on Route 41-vehicles travel at a high speed.
Trails: From the large parking area at the bottom of the hill on Route 41, there are two lollipop trail options. Continuing straight past the sign-in box, the ~0.2 mile Boardwalk Trail takes you east across the wetland via boardwalk and bog-bridge to the ~0.5mi Doghair Fir Loop. The loop features a vernal pool, large boulders, mature forest, balsam thicket, and views of the fen from the eastern edge.
Taking a right past the sign-in box takes you south along the ~0.3 mile Beaver Trail. The trail follows the west edge of the fen and leads to the ~0.5 mile Deer Loop. The loop features mature forests, large boulders, and beautiful views of the western edge of the fen.
There is also a small, off-level parking pull-off at the top of the hill on Route 41 that accesses the trail system near the south end of the Deer Loop.
Note: Watch your footing - some portions of the trail are uneven.
