Steep Falls Village Preserve
Standish, 25 acres
Steep Falls Village Preserve opened in fall 2021 and offers easy walks through beautiful meadows and forests. There is about a mile of trails in the network, which includes several loop options and a spur trail to a scenic wetland view. It is adjacent to 4,000 acres that are conserved by the State of Maine in the Steep Falls Wildlife Management Area.
This land represents an interesting and important part of the history of Steep Falls, as it was the site of a working lumberyard from late 1800s through about 1980. What you see today is the result of 40 years of regenerated meadow and forest. Within the forest, there are a number of tree species not commonly seen at our other Preserves, including red pine, black locust, and a stately “survivor” elm near the trailhead.
This preserve is in the homeland of the Wabanaki People. We respectfully acknowledge these People of the Dawn–past, present and future–and their connection to these lands and waters.
TRAIL FACTS
Activities: hiking, running, biking snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, wildlife viewing, snowmobiling on designated trails
Hunting is not permitted in the preserve (due to proximity to houses) but it is allowed on the adjacent state land
Leave No Trace: please take out whatever you bring in
Difficulty: easy to moderate
Length: .75 miles in network
Click for directions to trailhead.
Trail Map (click to expand)
About the STEEP FALLS VILLAGE PRESERVE Trails
The trailhead for Steep Falls Village Preserve is located at the end of Mill Street, which is off of Route 113 in Standish. If the trailhead parking is full, there is additional parking on the side of Mill Street or at the nearby Mill Street Park.
The main trail area consists of three loops through meadow and woods. The smallest is about a quarter mile and the largest is a half mile. There is also a quarter-mile spur trail that goes through evergreen woods to a scenic lookout at Tucker Brook and the surrounding wetlands. Most of the trail is quite flat and easy, though the wooded sections have some uneven terrain.
Even though the preserve itself is fairly small, it is part of a very large conservation area. This makes it feel very remote when you are out on the trails and means there are good opportunities to see relatively uncommon wildlife.
Steep Falls Village Preserve is owned in fee by the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust. Special thanks to the Anderson family for donating this land, and to the 65 supporters who generously donated to the land trust to make its conservation possible.