ATV Use 

Most properties protected by the Kennebec Land Trust are not suitable or open for use by motorized vehicles such as ATV’s, four-wheelers, dirt bikes, four wheel drive vehicles or other motor driven machines designed or intended to be used in off-road situations, except for tracked vehicles and snowmobiles operated on frozen, snow-covered ground winter conditions on designated snowmobile trails.

State law provides that “A person may not operate an ATV on the land of another without the permission of the landowner or lessee. Permission is presumed on ATV trails that are conspicuously posted or in areas open to ATV’s by landowner policy.”  

Bicycling 

KLT manages many properties to allow for public access and has in the past constructed trails that were built for use primarily by foot traffic. Many of these trails are also conducive for mountain bike use and are open to trail users using mountain bikes. KLT staff have the authority to close trails to bikes due to donor wishes, impacts to the natural environment, and/or hazardous trail conditions.

Currently, KLT staff will direct the public to the Surry Hill Conservation Area. The trails at Surry Hill are purposely built for multiple uses including hiking and mountain biking using sustainable trail practices in partnership with the Central Maine Mountain Bike Club.

Commercial Harvesting of Natural Resources

Commercial foraging of mushrooms, fiddleheads, ginseng, blueberries, wildflowers, fir tips or other natural resources are prohibited on properties owned by the Kennebec Land Trust.

Dogs

Dogs are allowed on most KLT properties but need to be on LEASH or UNDER VOICE COMMAND.

Please clean up after your pet and carry out all dog droppings. Thank you!


Dogs must be leashed at:

  • Cobbossee Stream Conservation Area

  • Howard Hill and Effie L. Berry Conservation Area

  • Vaughan Woods


Due to the presence of sensitive wildlife habitats- including inland waterfowl and wading bird habitats, vernal pools and public blueberry fields,

dogs are NOT allowed on the following properties:

  • Baldwin Hill Conservation Area & Cemetery

  • Hales Pond Woodland Preserve

  • Davidson Nature Preserve

  • Gott Pasture Preserve

  • Mathews Wildlife Habitat

  • Webber-Rogers Farmstead Conservation Area

Geocaching

Many of our properties can accommodate geocaching, however a number of our conservation lands protect rare plant communities, or sensitive wildlife, and caching would negatively impact these habitats. Please contact the KLT office if you are interested in placing a cache on one of  our conservation lands.

Hunting and Trapping

KLT believes in allowing hunting on the properties that it owns, including those it acquires through donation, whenever possible. Note that this policy does not apply to lands on which KLT holds a conservation easement, since these lands are owned by other private parties who continue to exercise control over public uses, including hunting, consistent with the terms of the easement. Accordingly, the following policy provides guidance to the public on the issue of hunting on KLT fee-owned lands only.

For State of Maine hunting season dates and bag limits, click here.

Hunting:

KLT recognizes that its fee-owned lands contribute to the overall quality of life for inhabitants of and visitors to our communities. KLT is strongly committed to keeping its lands accessible to the public for traditional recreational activities including hunting, where appropriate. Hunting can help to maintain a healthy balance between a game species and the land’s ability to support it; this in turn contributes to ecological diversity and helps native plant and animal communities thrive.

Therefore, KLT allows hunting on most of the lands that it owns. In accordance with Maine law, visitors to these properties may presume that hunting is permitted in the absence of boundary postings or other warnings that state otherwise.

Hunters may not erect shelters, blinds, game cameras, or other structures on KLT-owned lands, other than approved hunting stands.

Temporary hunting stands are allowed with permission on certain KLT-owned lands during deer hunting seasons. Click here for more information.

A small number of properties are closed to hunting, either because KLT has determined that this activity may pose a risk to public safety or out of respect for the wishes of the donor of the land.

The following parcels are identified with signs or other warnings advising visitors that hunting is not permitted at:

  • Avery-Smith Shoreland, Readfield

  • Baldwin Hill Conservation Area, Fayette

  • Carter Pond, Litchfield

  • Reynolds Forest, Sidney

  • Mathews Wildlife Habitat, Fayette

  • East Side of Vassalboro Wildlife Habitat, Vassalboro

  • Wakefield Wildlife Sanctuary, West Gardiner

We allow only bow hunting and duck hunting at:

  • Cobbossee Lake Islands (Hodgdon Island, Horseshoe Island, and Perry Island)

Bow Hunting only, by permission only, at:

  • Judy Kane Preserve (Kennebec River Conservation Corridor). Please call KLT for permission: (207) 377-2848

  • Howard Hill, Augusta. Note: Howard Hill is owned by the city of Augusta, which places it outside the purview of these KLT fee-owned guidelines, but be advised that Permission is granted by the City of Augusta.

Trapping:

Many KLT properties have hiking trails and are visited by individuals and families of all ages. KLT believes that the use of traps on many of its lands may conflict with other recreational activities.

Trapping is permitted on the Parker Pond Headland Preserve under the following condition: Anyone wishing to trap on this property must follow rules established by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. These trapping laws, with some exceptions, require prior written permission from the landowner (KLT) before setting traps.

Trapping on other KLT properties is generally not permitted. However, KLT may consider written requests to use traps on its properties on a case by case basis. Permission may be granted only in writing. This policy includes trapping conducted for research or to control animals that pose a nuisance or threaten endangered species.

Metal Detecting Policy

The Kennebec Land Trust (KLT) does not permit recreational metal detecting activities on KLT fee lands. Other recreational excavation activities and removal of found items are also not permitted. Such activities are difficult to monitor and may pose ecological concerns and/or archeological and historical concerns.

Metal detecting activities may be allowed, at KLT’s discretion, for research purposes by qualified entities with prior written approval from KLT.

Use of metal detectors on lands where KLT holds a conservation easement can only occur in accordance with the conditions in the easement and with approval from the landowner.

Mud Season Etiquette

Please note: During Mud Season (March - April /May) Parker Pond Headland is closed to hikers.

The Fellows Cove Road is only open to homeowners during this time to minimize impacts to the road.

During mud season please limit motorized vehicle access to Kennebec Land Trust’s properties located on unpaved roads listed below. 

Maintenance costs associated with mud season are expensive. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation. 

Please walk carefully and minimize travel on wet and muddy trails until trail surfaces have had a chance to dry and harden.  

KLT Properties on unpaved roads. 

  • Peter Miller Woodland, Vienna

  • Judy Kane Preserve, Augusta

  • Gott Pasture, Wayne

  • Helen Holman Conservation Easement, Litchfield

  • Echo Lake III, Fayette

  • Nancy’s Bog, Winthrop

  • Eastern River, Pittston

  • Parker Pond Headland, Fayette

  • Wakefield Wildlife Sanctuary, West Gardiner

  • Surry Hill, Fayette

Parking

  • Please be courteous of our neighbors. Never block driveways or roadways.

  • Leave No Trace, always, even in parking areas.

  • Most of our conservation areas have limited available parking. Please plan your outing during a time when the property may have fewer visitors (early morning, weekdays). If the parking lot is full, move on to another location.

  • Overcrowded parking lots can create safety hazards, particularly if they are on high-speed roads.

Please check individual property pages for specific information about parking.

Parking - Please respect our neighbors - use designated parking areas and do not turn around in neighbor’s driveways.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Drones

The Kennebec Land Trust prohibits the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, drones, radio-controlled model airplanes and/ or any other equipment of this type on or above its property unless approved by KLT in writing in advance. This policy supports our commitment to the protection of wildlife and the safety and well-being of our visitors. This prohibition includes, but is not limited to, any and all use of drones for purposes of aerial photography, videography and entertainment or recreational use. The Kennebec Land Trust may approve applications for the operation of unmanned aerial systems for purposes such as search and rescue, scientific research, mapping, authorized photo/film shoots, or Land Trust projects. Applications will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. If approved, KLT will issue written permission for the use of unmanned aerial systems for the specific project and a limited time period.

Winter Access

When Maine’s beautiful winter days are here, it’s time to pick up your snowshoes or cross country skis and explore snow covered fields, forests, and trails on Kennebec Land Trust properties.

Please note: Not all of the below listed properties are sanded. Please use caution. Additionally, some parking areas may not be plowed promptly after every storm as they are cleared by volunteers.

KLT Properties with plowed parking winter access (see note above)

  • Curtis Homestead Conservation Area, Leeds

  • Echo Lake Watershed Preserve I and II, Readfield (adjacent to Torsey Pond Nature Preserve)

  • Ezra Smith Wildlife Conservation Area, Mount Vernon

  • Oak Hill Conservation Area, Fayette

  • Surry Hill Conservation, Fayette (please don’t park in the town turn around during snow storms— town plows need this to turn around)

  • Weston Woods, East Winthrop

KLT Conservation Easements with plowed winter access (KLT holds the developments rights, but the property is under separate ownership):

  • Mount Pisgah Community Conservation Area, Winthrop

  • Torsey Pond Nature Preserve, Readfield

  • Effie L. Berry Conservation Area, Hallowell (includes access to Howard Hill historic Conservation Area in Augusta)