2026 Summer Trail Challenge

July 1 - August 31

DIscover New Adventures Close to home

 
 

  1. Register for the Challenge

  2. Pick up Your PAssport

  3. Use the resources below to plan your visits

  4. visit all the locations, earn a prize!

  5. BONUS: Enter the Photo Contest

Sponsored by:

 
 

InStructions for The Challenge:

Get ready for a summer of adventure with the 2026 Trail Challenge! This community-wide challenge invites you to explore six sites at different PRLT preserves (and we reward you for doing it).

HOW IT WORKS: This year’s challenge is all about exploring and learning more about our natural world. Register now using the form above. Pick up your passport starting in late June (each person participating—kids and adults alike—should have their own passport). Visit the trails & record your journey. Each of the six featured sites will have a clearly marked sign featuring a fun fact about the natural world at play at that preserve. Record something you learned from the sign in your passport. You must collect a fact from all six locations to complete the challenge and be eligible for the prize.

PASSPORTS: You can pick up your passport at any of the following locations during their regular business hours:

  • PRLT Office – Unit 2153 in the Dana Warp Mill; 90 Bridge Street, Westbrook, ME 04092

  • REI – 90 Rock Row Suite 100, Westbrook, ME 04092

  • Gorham Parks & Recreation – 75 South Street, Gorham, ME 04038

  • Standish Town Hall – 175 Northeast Road [Route 35], Standish, ME 04084

  • Westbrook City Hall, Planning Department – 2 York Street, Westbrook, ME 04092

  • Westbrook Community Center – 426 Bridge St, Westbrook, ME 04092

  • Windham Parks & Recreation – 8 School Road, Windham, ME 04062

The passport is also available for download here, if you would prefer to print it at home. Note that it is designed to be printed double-sided (either in color or in black & white) and then folded into quarters.

REGISTRATION: Registration is required by all participants; please use the above form.

LOCATIONS:

  1. Black Brook Preserve, Windham | Cover board on Field Loop

  2. Mill Brook Preserve, Westbrook | Southern Viewing Pool

  3. Cummings Preserve, Gorham | River Access Point

  4. Steep Falls Village Preserve, Standish | Corner of Field

  5. East Windham Conservation Area, Windham | Little Duck Pond

  6. Rivermeadow Nature Preserve, Westbrook | Far Loop Trail

PRIZE: Once you’ve completed your passport, bring it to REI in early September to receive your exclusive 2026 Trail Challenge embroidered patch—a badge of honor for your summer adventure. Registrants will be notified via email when prize pick up officially begins.

  • In past years the prize has been a Trail Challenge-branded Nalgene water bottle. We’ve heard feedback that people don’t want or need more water bottles, so we are making a swap to patches to generate less plastic. Patches will still let you showcase your intrepid adventures by ironing them on to a backpack, vest, or anything else you can imagine!

PHOTO RAFFLE: Submit your best photos from this year’s Trail Challenge to outreach@prlt.org to be entered into a raffle to win PRLT-branded merch! Make sure you tell us at which preserve you took the photo. By submitting, you consent to allowing PRLT to use your image in our marketing and event promotion.

KEY DATES:

  • Passport Pick-Up Begins: June 25, 2026 at Summer Trail Challenge Kick-Off with REI Westbrook

  • Challenge Runs: July 1 – August 31, 2026

  • Tuesday Trail Treks: Every Tuesday from July 7-August 11 (Rain dates: August 18 + 25)

  • Prize Pick-Up Begins: Early September. 2026 (exact date TBA)

PARTNERS: REI Co-op of Westbrook, Gorham Parks & Recreation, Standish Parks & Recreation, City of Westbrook, and Windham Parks & Recreation.

Trail Challenge Landmark Locations:

INDIVIDUAL SITE LOCATION MAPS + TRAIL DESCRIPTIONS:

  1. Black Brook Preserve, Windham – Trails are flat or low in elevation through most of the preserve, though there are many roots and occasional wet spots. There are some steep hills approximately halfway along the Diamond Trail, but these can be avoided if you take the Hawkes Trail to the Field Loop instead.

  2. Mill Brook Preserve, Westbrook – Depending on the trailhead where you begin, the difficulty varies. Entering from Allen Knight provides a short, steeper distance. Entering from Perry Court is a longer hike with variable land. Entering from the MAGAN or Northern Trailheads requires a longer hike through narrow and steep terrain.

  3. Cummings Preserve, Gorham – Relatively clear trail. Mostly flat, besides one steep area that is slippery when wet.

  4. Steep Falls Village Preserve, Standish – Flat terrain on a wide grass path.

  5. East Windham Conservation Area, Windham – The southern leg of the Purple Trail (the most direct route to the clue) from the parking area is an old road that is graveled and wide but with a steep initial incline. The beginning of the route can be taken on the new ADA trail before rejoining the Purple Trail where it descends to the pond and becomes narrower and more rooty.

  6. Rivermeadow Nature Preserve, Westbrook – Flat trail with no elevation gain. All wood chips and wooden boardwalk.

 

2025 SUMMER Trail Challenge Participants

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