
Protecting the Royal River for current and future generations

who we are
Royal River Conservation Trust (RRCT) is a Southern Maine land trust focused on conserving land across the communities of the watershed.
Founded in 1988, the Trust protects and stewards land through acquisition, conservation easements and other legal agreements, and collaboration with a wide range of conservation partners. RRCT's work is made possible almost exclusively by charitable gifts.
Learn moreMAKE A GIFTMake a gift
Make a gift to protect our watershed
Your gift to Royal River Conservation Trust protects and stewards fields, forests, farmland, wetlands, and trails throughout the Royal River watershed.
Learn moreEXPLORE
Explore our watershed
All Royal River Conservation Trust preserves possess their own unique characteristics and are open to the public free of charge year-round.
Learn moreVOLUNTEER
Volunteer to protect our watershed
Volunteers established Royal River Conservation Trust in 1988 and continue to be vital to our operations. We are always looking for talented people to help advance our mission.
Learn more.jpg)
Photo Credit Kristel Hayes
Interested in becoming a volunteer?
Volunteers established RRCT in 1988 and continue to be vital to its operations. From trail stewards and committee members, to special event supporters and Board Directors, the Trust welcomes community involvement and wants to hear from you.

.webp)
Upcoming Events

April 23, 2025 | 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Location: Riverfront Woods Preserve, Yarmouth
Curriculum: Explore the magic of vernal pools—temporary bodies of water in the woods that provide critical habitat for a wealth of amphibian life. We will get a close-up look at egg masses and other evidence of frogs and salamanders.
Naturalist: Beth Sturtevant
Get Out! Nature Walks
These Get Out! Nature Walks are volunteer-led regular trips with trained master naturalists. Join us for a well-planned, no-cost, guided adventure. Monthly on the fourth Wednesday; always free; rain, snow, or shine. Jointly offered by both RRCT and the Chebeague and Cumberland Land Trust, the walks take place at preserves in the towns of Chebeague Island, Cumberland, Yarmouth, North Yarmouth, Pownal, New Gloucester, and Durham. Our curriculum is targeted at adults and engaged youth. Because the purpose is nature observation, we ask that dogs do not join us. Email CCLT with any questions.
*Photography and Filming Note: Your attendance at RRCT events may be photographed or filmed and your attendance indicates consent to have any images or footage featuring you at the event to be used for RRCT-related materials and outreach. Should images or footage appear in marketing materials that you don’t wish to be featured in, you must notify RRCT at Info@RRCT.org and RRCT will cease to further use your image or footage for any new materials going forward.
Help Build a New Trail on the Royal River!
📍 Location: New Gloucester, Maine. Address will be provided to registrants. (Parking lot and road shoulder parking available)
📅 Date: Saturday, May 3 (Rain Date: Sunday, May 4)
🛠 Hosted by: AMC Maine Chapter Trail Committee & Royal River Conservation Trust
Join us for a hands-on Trail Skills Workshop this spring as we help establish a brand-new 1.5-mile primitive loop trail on RRCT's recently conserved 150-acre property along the Royal River in New Gloucester! This exciting project, in partnership with the AMC Maine Chapter, will provide public hiking and fishing access once complete.
Choose Your Session:
📅 Three options available:
• Morning Session: 10:00 am to 12 pm
• Afternoon Session: 12:30 to 2:30 pm
• Full-Day Session: 10:00 am to 2:30 pm (Lunch: 12 pm to 12:30 pm)
What You’ll Learn & Do:
Led by experienced AMC volunteer trail crew leaders, this workshop will cover essential trail-building skills, including:
✔️ Defining trail corridor dimensions and proper layout
✔️ Pruning techniques for sustainable trail maintenance
✔️ Trail placement (discussion-based)
✔️ Hands-on trail work – clearing brush, improving tread, and defining the new route
Project Details:
• The trail route will be pre-flagged before the workday.
• Volunteers will help clear and establish the trail, which crosses an open field, loops through the woods, and includes a spur trail to the river.
• RRCT Stewardship Director, Hanae Garrison will be on-site all day to provide a walkthrough before we begin.
• This is a large project, but RRCT’s volunteer Trail Crew will continue the work after our session.
Who Can Join?
✅ No prior trail work experience is needed!
✅ Tools and guidance will be provided.
What to Bring:
🔹 PPE Required – Work clothes, sturdy boots, eye protection, sunblock, and bug repellent (for ticks & mosquitoes).
🔹 Water Snacks, bag lunch (if doing the full day session)
📩 Registration required. Sign up now!
🔹 Be a part of building a brand-new trail for the community!
Trip Leaders
Phillip Coyne, Rota Knott, Hanae Garrison
Join us for the Third Annual Wescustogo Paddle in May! We will depart from Wescustogo Park (Route 231) in North Yarmouth and paddle 8 miles to Royal River Park (East Elm Street) in Yarmouth. This two- to three-hour trip will begin with a brief program at 2 p.m. Stay tuned for more details!
