About the Trails

Trail Descriptions: Benton-Winslow Rotary Trail | North Street Recreational Area Trail | South End Island Trail | Mill Island Park

Messalonskee Stream Trail, Oakland

Distance and Difficulty: 3 miles down and 3 miles back. This is a hiking trail. There are many hills to climb.
Status: Trail was planned in 2005, constructed in 2006, and opened in 2007.

Description: Walk through a gap in a chain link fence, checking out the penstock pipe leading to CMP’s first hydroelectric power station. Proceed into the woods and see the former Cascade Woolen Mill from across the Messalonskee Stream gorge. Cross the power line easement (which has a nice mountain bike trail), and keep on the path. It is mostly single track, crosses several footbridges and passes through beautiful hemlock woods to where the Stream broadens out into a lake. Keep going down, around a peninsula, then up to the power line and along it until you reach the dam access road. Turn left, and proceed towards steel steps which take you over the wood and creosote penstock and along an access road to Rice Rips Road.
Parking: Within a chain link fence on the Waterville side of Messalonskee Stream opposite from the Oakland Town Office (about a dozen cars). There is also limited parking at the other end, north of Rice Rips Road close to the penstock.
Connections: This trail will be extended across Rice Rips Road along a power line easement to the County Road, and from there around to Quarry Road and North Street. Or turn right on Rice Rips Road to reach the Colby College campus trails.

Maintained by: Trail users and the Town of Oakland.
Special Thanks to: Town of Oakland, FPL, Synergics Energy Services, Maine Recreational Trail Program and Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund. The trail was constructed by the Maine Conservation Corps.

Benton-Winslow Rotary Trail

View Trail Map
Distance: 1.9 miles each way. 1.5 to 3 hours.
Status: Completed in 2004-05, with a “superhumus” surface of bark mulch, very easy to walk or run on. Superb for cross-country skiing in winter. Trail amenities consist of three benches, including the granite seat at the far end. KMTrails is currently negotiating the construction of parking facilities and handicapped-accessible access on Crummett Street.

Description: This is a very level trail, constructed along an old rail bed. It leads through beautiful hardwoods, with occasional views of the river, to a former rail bridge abutment. From there one can look up and down river for a mile each way. Expect to see turkeys, deer, ducks, beaver, turtles, and an occasional heron and bald eagle - this is a nature trail. The trail is wheelchair friendly, though initial access for wheelchairs is currently by special permission only with parking on the private driveway of Melody Guptil and Chris Whipple off Crummett Street in Benton.
Parking and Access: At Mill Island Park or Fairfield downtown parking, then walk across Route 139 bridge. Or, with permission, at Aquarium Store on Crummett Street. There is no safe parking on Crummett Street itself. Alternatively, drive down through Asher Farms mobile home park off Benton Avenue, then walk down the construction access to the trail.
Connections: For now, back the same way you came. In the future we are planning to extend the trail across the river to the rail yard in Waterville.

Maintained by: Trail users, with annual brush clearing by the Kennebec County Sheriff and Town of Winslow.
Special Thanks to: The Waterville Rotary Club, for which this was their Centennial Project in 2005. The State's Recreational Trails Fund. The Town of Benton. Paul Newman. Kennebec Messalonskee Trails membership. For access to Melody Guptil and Chris Whipple, Len Poulin and Gladys Booker.

North Street Recreational Area Trail, Waterville

View Trail Map
Distance: ½ mile (handicapped accessible), 1 mile, or 2 miles. 20 minutes to 1 hour.
Status: First part cleared and graded in 2004, partly paved in 2005. North Street sidewalk widened in 2004/5. Extension to Edgemont Street cleared in 2004 with plans for full trail construction in 2007.

Description: Follow the shoreline of Messalonskee Stream around the North Street Recreational Area. You can walk several loops, each one returning on the widened North Street sidewalk.
Parking: Anywhere along North Street.
Connections: The paved trail will be extended all the way to Edgemont Street, and from there linked through City streets to Head of Falls. To the north this trail will connect to another trail at the end of Quarry Road, and to the Colby College trails.

Maintained by: Trail users and the City of Waterville.
Special Thanks to: Waterville Sunrise Rotary Club, for which this was their 2005 Centennial Project, City of Waterville, State Recreational Trail Fund. For access, to the Kennebec Water District and Kennebec Sewer District.

South End Island Trail, Waterville

View Trail Map
Distance: 1 mile for the loop. 20 minutes to 1 hour.
Status: Pathway cleared in 2004.

Description: A rustic pathway through beautiful river bottom woodlands. This island is flooded and/or inaccessible in springtime. Natural log benches only.
Parking: Hathaway Building Parking Lot.
Connections: In the future this trail will continue to the stairs leading to Water Street. Future trail routes through Waterville’s South End are being planned.

Maintained by: You or your group?
Special Thanks to: Mario Fossa, who completed the trail clearing as an Eagle Scout Project, and to FPL, Inc. for access.

Mill Island Park, Fairfield

View Trail Map
Distance: ½ mile. 15 to 30 minutes.
Status: This trail was cleared and constructed in 2003. Public restrooms, park benches, playground equipment and signs make this a very pleasant park for recreation.

Description: The trail follows the perimeter of the park, which uses land that was once abuzz with lumber mills. It features historical markers and great views up and across the river.
Parking: Just beyond the railroad overpass. This is the northern Head of Trails along the Kennebec.
Connections: This trail connects south through Water Street in Fairfield, and across the bridge to the Rotary Centennial Trail in Benton.

Special Thanks to: Town of Fairfield, State's Recreational Trail Fund, and Pike Industries.