Small-Burnham Conservation Area

These wooded trails provide a scenic and historic tour through the Small-Burnham Conservation Area; loop trails allow visitors to choose their ideal hike length. 
Trail Activity
Snowshoeing Cross-country-skiing Walking
Length
2.40 miles, Loop
Difficulty
Easy
Town
Litchfield
Surface
Dirt/Forest Floor
Pets
Permitted
Fees
No

Description

The Main Loop Trail is 1.4 miles and is divided into 3 subsections: the Valient Trail, the East Nile Trail, and Falcon Road. The Great Back Lots Trail is only 0.5 miles, but features a beautiful stream crossing. The Main Loop Trail can be accessed from the Great Back Lots Trail, and because both of these trails are loops, visitors can choose how lengthy they wish their hike to be.

As you hike the trails on the east side of the Pine Tree Road, look for these interesting natural and historical features: stone farm foundations and pasture walls; a unique black locust stand that was planted for field posts; a stone bridge built in the 1950s that provided access to the best farm soil; a glacial marine clay bank along a stream the family calls “The Nile,” where clay was dug for pottery; and the remnants of a sugar house where the family once boiled thousands of gallons of sap.

The Great Back Lots Trail begins at the Kennebec Land Trust sign and winds through a forest dominated by an impressive stand of eastern hemlocks (Tsuga canadensis). Scattered in this forest are sugar maples, yellow birch, and other northern hardwood species. For over two centuries, since settlers first arrived in Litchfield, pines and hardwoods in this woodland have been harvested for lumber and firewood, leaving hemlocks as the dominant tree species. Today, this forest provides valuable habitat for Blackburnian and black-throated green warblers, wood thrush, as well as other Maine wildlife that are associated with mature woodlands. As you hike the trail you will find many fascinating mushrooms that thrive in this shady forest, including Amanitas, Boletes, Polypores, Russulas, and Gomphus species.

Other Information

Snowmobiles are only permitted on clearly marked trails.

In August, 2010, Ina (Hutchins) Small, Delmar Dustin Small and Teague Morris granted a conservation easement to KLT on 250 acres of woodlands, wetlands, hay fields, and ponds on the Pine Tree Road in Litchfield. On the west side of the Pine Tree Road across from the KLT sign, there are ponds that were once gravel pits. Granville Small devoted years of his life to reclaiming these wetlands. As landowners with a conservation easement, they can continue to garden, raise hay, manage their woodlands, and enjoy the beauty they find in the natural world. The Smalls and the Burnhams have lived and worked on this land since the 1840s. 

Trail Manager

Visit Kennebec Land Trust online for more information and a printable map, or contact:

Kennebec Land Trust

Kennebec Land Trust
PO Box 261
Winthrop, ME 04364
Phone: (207) 377-2848
info@tklt.org
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Trail Tips

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Trailhead Information

From Monmouth: Take the South Monmouth Road to Days Corner; cross ME Route 126 and go over Oak Hill; cross the bridge, and at the stop sign, turn left. Almost immediately take the first right onto Libby Road. At the stop sign go straight onto Plains Road. Take Plains Road 1 mile to Pine Tree Road. Turn left on Pine Tree Road. After about 0.5 miles look for the Kennebec Land Trust (KLT) sign and parking area on the right.

From Augusta: Take the Maine Turnpike I-295 south to Exit 103. Just after the toll both, take Exit 51 (W. Gardiner). Turn left onto ME Route 126 East. Go 0.5 miles, then turn right onto Old Lewiston Road. Take the first right onto Pond Road (which becomes Plains Road in Litchfield). Black Crow Bakery will be on the right in 8.1 miles. Go past the bakery for another 0.4 miles and then turn right on Pine Tree Road. After about 0.5 miles look for the Kennebec Land Trust (KLT) sign and parking area on the right.

Click on a parking icon to get custom directions
Please Log In or Create Account to add comments.
wybar73
March 13, 2024
Enjoyable and easy hike. Surprisingly dry even after all the recent rain and thaw. Trail signs and blaze were fine, we could always see the well-maintained trail. Nice variety of terrain and several open fields. We will be going back.
mellottkd
April 30, 2020
Very lovely trail. Runs by a river. My problem was that the trails were not well marked. Yellow and blue blazes were on the trees, but had no idea what to do when we got to intersections. There were poles which I assume once marked the way. We got lost for a while. If you go, leave a trail of m&ms so you can find your way back!
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