Macdonald Conservation Area & Readfield Town Farm Forest

The 210 jointly managed acres of the Town of Readfield and the Kennebec Land Trust include four miles of hiking trails that feature stone walls and cellar holes, Jones Brook’s seasonal flowage, and a small nutrient-rich floodplain providing diverse habitats for many birds and mammals.
Trail Activity
Snowshoeing Cross-country-skiing Walking Hiking
Length
3.80 miles, Network
Difficulty
Easy, Moderate
Towns
Readfield, Wayne
Surface
Dirt/Forest Floor
Pets
Permitted
Fees
No

Description

Together these 210 acres include four miles of interconnected trails for those who enjoy an extended hike. The trails feature a beautiful beech forest, several small bridge crossings over tributaries of Jones Brook, old farm foundations and the remnants of 19th century livestock lanes. These conservation lands are part of a much larger undeveloped landscape of forests and wetlands which are critical habitat for black bear and moose – wildlife species with extensive home ranges.

The Jones Brook Loop Trail (1.7 miles) begins at the KLT trailhead on Kents Hill Road. It follows the northern loop of the Town Forest trail to the Town Farm Road and the Selden Smith Farm foundations.

The Huntoon Cemetery Trail (0.4 miles) begins at the Cemetery and connects to the Town Farm Road near the Smith Homestead foundation.

In the Town Forest, there are two loop trails. The inner Loop A Trail is 0.7 miles, the outer Loop B Trail is 1 mile. A 0.2 connector trail connects Loop A with the Huntoon Cemetery trail.

The Town Forest was formerly the Readfield Town Farm which provided a home for residents with financial or mentalf health needs in the 19thf and 20th centuries. Today the Town Forest fis sustainably managed as a town woodlot.

In the 1800s the Selden Smith family farmed what is today’s Macdonald Woods. A town road, part of today’s trail network, linked the Smith farm to neighbors in Wayne and Readfield and to markets in larger communities. The Smith house and barn foundations are reminders of a time when orchards, pastures, and fields would have surrounded this farmhouse. 

Other Information

Some or all of the Readfield Town Farm Forest/Jones Brook trails are often closed during bird nesting season. From April through July, check the posting at the entrances or call the Kennebec Land Trust and please respect the closed trails.

Trail Manager

Visit Kennebec Land Trust (Macdonald Conservation Area) and Town of Readfield (Readfield Town Farm Forest) online for more information or contact:

Kennebec Land Trust

Kennebec Land Trust
PO Box 261
Winthrop, ME 04364
Phone: (207) 377-2848
info@tklt.org
View website
Town of Readfield
8 Old Kents Hill Road
Readfield, ME 04355
Phone: (207) 685-4939
readfield@roadrunner.com
View website

Nearby Events

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Trail Tips

Dispose of Waste Properly
Pack it in, pack it out. This goes for trash, leftover food, toilet paper, and hygiene products. If you brought it into nature, please bring it out.
Legend
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Trailhead Information

Directions to Macdonald Conservation Area trailhead: From ME-133 turn north on North Wayne Road for 3 miles to the T; turn right (east) on Kents Hill Road; go about 1 mile uphill (you will pass the Innes Ridge Road on your left); look for a Kennebec Land Trust parking sign, parking is available on the left side of the road at the sign. Please do not block the road or driveways.

Directions to Readfield Town Farm Forest trailhead: From ME-133 near Berry Pond in Winthrop, turn north onto North Wayne Road. Go 1.3 miles and turn right onto the Hathaway Road, and then go 0.7 miles and turn left onto the Belz Road. Park on the left along the road. Just before the gate at the end of the road there is parking for a couple cars on the left along the road. Please do not block driveway or the turnaround. Proceed on foot past the gate about 0.5 miles.

Click on a parking icon to get custom directions
Please Log In or Create Account to add comments.
hello beautiful
December 29, 2020
12/27 12-2:00
Well worth the hike and bring your dog(s). Trail easy terrain and clearly marked. No snow with the recent rain. Trails do have water running through and areas of frozen ice - just walk around Very quiet, no birds or other wildlife seen/heard. 1800 cemetery was special to come upon.
ajmorgan82014
July 10, 2020
The you are here maps are junctions are very helpful. Thank you.
lisalucas
June 15, 2019
Snake scardies beware! I know that being in the woods you are bound to cross paths with a snake here and there, however in all the hiking I have done in Maine, I came across several snakes today! Yikes! The ticks are pretty thick there too. I found 3 on my hiking buddy and 3 on me. Beware of ticks and snakes!
mainetrailfinder
August 16, 2016
We just got word that the trails reopened today. Happy hiking! -MTF Team
mainetrailfinder
June 14, 2016
Our friends at the Kennebec Land Trust have let us know that the trails at Macdonald Woods and the Readfield Town Forest are temporarily closed until a pair of Goshawks are done nesting. Please check back in a month or two for notice that the trails have reopened. Thank you for your patience. -MTF Team
jwheeler78
June 13, 2016
These trails are apparently closed at this time due to nesting aggressive birds...?
cgriswold
October 24, 2015
This is one of the nicest hikes we had in the area. Good trails, very well marked with nice 'you are here' maps at junctions.Interesting things to see.
kimpye
September 20, 2014
A favorite place to get away to for a quiet hike
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