Hawkes Property on Maine Trail Finder

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Trailhead

From South: From the rotary at the intersection of US Route 202/ME Route 4 with ME Route 237, follow US Route 202/ME Route 4 northerly for about 400 yards (less than a quarter mile if you are reading the odometer). Make a soft left onto Tow Path Lane, which will also be marked with a small green sign for the Windham Rod & Gun Club. Park in the Windham Rod & Gun Club's gravel parking lot, which is less than 100 yards from US Route 202/ME Route 4 on the left.

From North: From the rotary at the intersection of US Route 202/ME Route 4 with US Route 302 in Windham, follow US Route 202/ME Route 4 southerly about 5.1 miles. Just past the bridge crossing the Presumpscot River, make a hard right onto Tow Path Road, which will also be marked with a small green sign for the Windham Rod & Gun Club. Park in the Windham Rod & Gun Club's gravel parking lot, which is less than 100 yards from US Route 202/ME Route 4 on the left.

The actual trailhead is about 400 yards past the Windham Rod & Gun Club's parking lot on Tow Path Road. Parking, however, is not available closer to the trailhead.

Description

There are two trails on the Hawkes Towpath that create a loop system. Starting on the Canal Towpath Trail, the loop follows the towpath for the historic Cumberland and Oxford Canal. The old canal prism is still well defined and clearly visible on the left side of the trail. Most sections of the canal are now dry, and several well-built bridges cross over where the ancient towpath has been washed away. Several canal sections, however, still do contain water, and when combined with the immediately adjacent Presumpscot River on the right and the dense hemlock forest throughout, this is a very cool and shady summer hike.

The Hawkes Loop Trail follows an old wood harvesting trail, connecting the far end of the Canal Towpath Trail with the midsection. The Hawkes loop climbs up the low ridge along the Presumpscot River, and follows that ridge through a more isolated mixed hardwood forest. It returns to the Canal Towpath immediately before a flooded section of the canal which forms a large pond.

Other Information

The Hawkes Property trail system will link to a new public school under construction on adjacent property. The Great Falls Elementary School link trails will add a new mile-long trail loop to the Hawkes Trail network.

There is no hunting allowed on the Hawkes Property and motorized vehicles are not allowed (excluding snowmobiles).

The Presumpscot Regional Land Trust (PRLT) is a non-profit conservation stewardship organization founded in 1986, whose mission is to conserve and protect natural lands and historic landscapes for posterity in the Presumpscot River watershed and western shore area of Sebago Lake. Thanks to a cooperative and collaborative relationship with landowners, town officials and developers, PRLT properties currently include more than 530 acres forever protected on 16 properties in Gorham, Standish, Gray, Sebago, and Windham.

Included in these parcels are many public access properties with recreational trails such as the historic Gambo property with original powder mill foundations; the 41-acre Hawkes-Towpath property with 2,000 feet of river frontage; and the 28-acre Little River Property consisting of a 28-acre wildlife area and trails along the Little River. On all PRLT public access properties- no fires, overnight camping, structures or cutting, and please do not litter. Thank you for helping to care for this protected land!