Wells Reserve at Laudholm

Enjoy seven miles of easy to moderate trails to experience the beauty of south coastal Maine's diverse landscape including salt marsh, farmland, forest, and beach. Trails are available year round for hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.
Trail Activity
Snowshoeing Cross-country-skiing Walking Hiking
Length
7.00 miles, Network
Difficulty
Easy, Moderate
Town
Wells
Surface
Boardwalk/Bog Bridging, Dirt/Forest Floor, Gravel/Crushed Stone, Woodchips, Grass
Pets
Not Permitted
Fees
Yes

Description

The extensive network of trails at the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve headquarters at historic Laudholm Farm offers a chance to explore the diverse landscapes and ecosystems of south coastal Maine. There are three recommended routes that each highlight different aspects of the reserve and landscape.

Visitors following the Salt Marsh Loop will learn how rain and snowmelt move through a watershed and into an estuary, where fresh water mixes with salt water from the Gulf of Maine. The Forest Interpretive Trail provides an opportunity to find out how landscape vegetation shifts over time, succeeding from open space to mature forest, and how water and wildlife are influenced by that change. A walk along the length of Laudholm Beach to stand at the Little River mouth highlights barrier beaches which protect a mud flat supporting shellfish and shorebirds.

Other Information

Trails are available year-round 7:00 am to sunset for hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. Please no pets or smoking.

Wells Reserve at Laudholm offers dozens of public guided activitives that utilize the trails year-round including nature walks, research demonstrations, and workshops. Make sure to check out the list of upcoming events available on the Wells Reserve at Laudholm website.

A small admission fee, which includes parking, is charged from Memorial Day weekend to Indigenous Peoples Day. Members of Laudholm Trust enjoy free admission all year with the exception of  some special events. See details at trail manager links below.

Trail Manager

Visit the Wells Reserve at Laudholm online for more information and a printable map or contact:

Wells Reserve at Laudholm

Wells Reserve at Laudholm
342 Laudholm Farm Road
Wells, Maine 04090
Phone: (207) 646-1555
View website

Nearby Events

VIEW EVENTS CALENDAR

Trail Tips

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Use common sense. If it seems like a bad idea, it probably is.
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Trailhead Information

The public parking lot is located off of Skinner Mill Road in Wells. From US Route 1/ME Route 9 in Wells, follow Laudholm Farm Road a little less than half a mile to take the first road on the left, Skinner Mill Road. There will be signs for the Wells Reserve. The entrance will be in a tenth a mile on the right. A kiosk at the parking lot will direct you to the trails.

Click on a parking icon to get custom directions
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tonerspill
May 15, 2014
There's so much bird life here right now, I ran into three different Catbirds singing away on one trail alone.
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