Bijhouwer Forest

The Bijhouwer Forest includes a rare northern stand of mountain laurel and interesting geologic features along the loop trail.
Trail Activity
Snowshoeing Walking Hiking
Length
1.30 miles, Loop
Difficulty
Easy, Moderate
Town
Phippsburg
Surface
Dirt/Forest Floor
Pets
Permitted
Fees
No

Description

The 73-acre Bijhouwer (pronounced Bye-how-er) Forest is beautifully maintained and includes one of the northernmost stand of mountain laurel in New England. The laurel blooms in late June and early July. The forest also includes a lovely seasonal waterfall and the “Hundred Foot Rock,” a massive bedrock outcrop used as a description point in old deeds for the property.

 

The trail begins on an old woods road. Upon entering a field (maintained by the Bijhouwer family, the loop trail begins. To the left is the mountain laurel stand; ahead is a farm pond created from a spring. Several unusual plants thrive in this field, and the blue flag iris are especially lovely when in bloom.

 

Most walkers follow the loop to the left, through the mountain laurel and into an conifer forest (including hemlock and pines). Shortly after passing the “Hundred Foot Rock,” an unusual exposure of the Christmas Cove Dike (a basalt intrusion into the local bedrock) can be seen. The trail continue through the low lands before rising again through a mixed wood stand and then descending into conifers to Bijhouwer Falls. From the falls, the trail reenters the field from below the farm pond, returning to the woods road and back to the parking area.

Trail Manager

Visit Phippsburg Land Trust online for more information or contact:

Phippsburg Land Trust

Phippsburg Land Trust
PO Box 123
Phippsburg, ME 04562
Phone: (207) 443-5993
information@phippsburglandtrust.org
View website

Nearby Events

VIEW EVENTS CALENDAR

Trail Tips

Respect Wildlife
Keep wildlife wild: do not feed, follow, approach, or otherwise harass wild animals. Doing so may alter their natural behaviors.
Legend
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Trailhead Information

Follow Route 209 into Phippsburg, if coming from out of town. At the Stony Brook Road, turn right (the Stony Brook Road is about 3.5 miles from the causeway at the Phippsburg/Bath town line). Devil’s Highway is a left hand turn about .6 miles from the start of the Stony Brook Road. It is not always well-signed, but it is a dirt road with a fairly wide opening onto the Stony Brook Road with mailboxes. The left turn comes just as the Stony Brook Road is making a noticeable turn. If you've come to the Fuller Mountain Road, a similar left hand turn, you've gone too far.

The parking area is on the left as you travel Devil’s Highway (about .4 miles onto Devil’s Highway), just past the third house on the right. You can’t see it on the Google Earth map, because it is a small wooded parking area (perhaps 4 cars can park there). If you come to the the area where there is a side road off to the left with houses, you've gone too far. There is a small PLT sign in the parking area.

Click on a parking icon to get custom directions
Please Log In or Create Account to add comments.
pookie
July 03, 2020
Great undisturbed easy trail. For a shorter hike of highlights go to the right first for waterfall then double back and head back to where the trail divided to the 100ft Rock Trail for the example of Mountain Laurel and then the rock. A small "cave" is up just past the rock. Intact huge examples of rock tripe and moss edged creeks. Unique dragonflies in meadow area and reindeer lichen abound.
judy mac
May 16, 2020
Gorgeous waterfall! The 100 foot rock was just incredible, as was the beautifully groomed wooded trails. Enjoyable for adults and children.
hodgkins
May 15, 2017
beautiful spot easy trails great adventure day
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