Conserving and Exploring Together

RRCT's conserved properties offer a diversity of ecosystems and activities. Find the one that's right for you.

Explore all trailsDownload a watershed map

Trails, preserves, and farms

Plan your visit and explore the Royal River

PLAN YOUR VISIT

Best Nature Walks

The Royal River watershed features many wonderful places to walk through nature including these remarkable locations.

Best Birding in the Royal River Watershed

The Royal River watershed is home to many amazing natural wonders including a whole host of birds. Derek Lovitch of Freeport Wild Bird Supply and author of How to Be A Better Birder (March 2012, Princeton University Press) and Birdwatching In Maine: A Site Guide (April 2017, University Press of New England) has helped us compile the best birding in the Royal River watershed.

Best Ice Skating in the Royal River Watershed

While the ice skating season isn't nearly as long as it once was, the Royal River watershed is full of interesting and exciting places to skate - including many locations on RRCT conserved land. Please always be attentive to safety and especially to ice thickness. For a list of the best ice skating locations in the Royal River watershed, click here.

Best Mountain Biking in the Royal River Watershed

The Royal River watershed has a rapidly growing network of mountain biking destinations with a wide variety of trails and terrain.

Best Family-Friendly Paddles in the Royal River Watershed

These seven easy, flatwater, portage-free, and free public access paddling trips are perfect places to start exploring the Royal River watershed. They are great for families and beginner paddlers and all are round-trip adventures, so you won’t have to arrange a car-drop or shuttle. See Royal River Water Trail for more information about any or all of these spots.

RRCT 400-Footer Club

The RRCT 400-Footer Club introduces people to RRCT’s favorite high-elevation outdoor destinations. Complete all ten and you become a RRCT 400-Footer Club Member.

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Get Out! Nature Walks

Get Out! Nature Walks are volunteer-led regular trips with trained master naturalists and other skilled volunteer leaders. The outings are well-planned, no-cost, guided adventures held once-per-month on Wednesdays at 2 pm. They are always free and held rain, snow, or shine. Check our detailed schedule below for specifics or updates.

Jointly offered by Chebeague and Cumberland Land Trust and Royal River Conservation Trust, our nature walks are at preserves in the Towns of Chebeague Island, Cumberland, Yarmouth, North Yarmouth, Pownal, Gray, New Gloucester, and anywhere else we decide to roam.

Be mindful of the weather, and dress accordingly. Bring appropriate gear, snacks, and a thermos or water bottle. Nature walks typically involve getting on our knees with a hand lens, or standing still for ten minutes craning up at a treetop. Trips are great for kids 6+. Our curriculum is targeted at adults and engaged youth. Because the purpose is nature observation, we ask that dogs please stay at home.

Questions can be directed to info@ccltmaine.org.

Upcoming Get Out! Nature Walks
Location
Date
Get Out! Nature Walk: Winter Wildlife Tracking
Feb 26, 2025

Wednesday, February 26, 2024 | 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Location: Farwell Forest, Cumberland. Please park at the very end of Greely Road Extension if there is room and be sure not to block driveways to houses. Since parking is limited, please carpool if possible. If this small parking area fills, we can shuttle some people from the main Knight’s Pond parking lot.

Curriculum: Animal signs and tracking/trailing

Have you been seeing animal tracks in the snow and been curious about what critter made them? Join us and a Maine Master Naturalist to explore this property adjacent to Knight’s Pond to learn how to identify signs of wildlife in our local forests. The snow should give us good opportunities to investigate animal tracks, trails, burrows, and other indicators of wild creatures.

“Never forget the trail, look ever for the track in the snow; it is the priceless, unimpeachable record of the creature’s life and thought, in the oldest writing known on the earth.” ~Ernest Thompson Seton

Naturalist: Karen Bruder

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.

Get Out! Nature Walk: Signs of Spring

Spear Farm Estuary Preserve

445 Bayview Street, Yarmouth

Mar 26, 2025

Wednesday, March 26, 2025 | 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Location: Spear Farm Estuary Preserve, 445 Bayview Street, Yarmouth

Curriculum: Join us to search for signs of life after a long period of dormancy and hibernation.

Naturalist: Karen Massey

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.

Get Out! Nature Walk: Vernal Pools

Riverfront Woods Preserve

At the end of Riverfront Drive, Yarmouth

Apr 23, 2025

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.

Get Out! Nature Walk: Horseshoe Crabs

Broad Cove Reserve

Cumberland Foreside, parking lot on right side of Beach Drive

May 28, 2025

May 28, 2025 | 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Location: Broad Cove Reserve, Cumberland Foreside

Curriculum: Join us at Broad Cove Reserve to learn fascinating facts about horseshoe crabs who have emerged from the ocean to lay their eggs on sandy beaches like this one for 445 million years. You will likely be able to see these harmless arthropods up close! Meet at the parking lot at 2:00 p.m. for the 15-minute walk down to the beach.

Naturalist: Karen Massey

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.

Get Out! Nature Walk: Coastal Habitats

Littlejohn Island Preserve

Pemasong Lane, Yarmouth

Jun 25, 2025

June 25, 2025 | 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Location: Littlejohn Island Preserve, Yarmouth

SPECIAL PARKING: For this event only, drive to the very end of Pemasong Lane in Yarmouth. The service gate will be open. Go through the gate and park on the right in the grass. RRCT staff will be there to direct you.

Curriculum: We’ll walk through the pine-oak forest to the shore of this stunning 23-acre preserve on Casco Bay. We’ll investigate the tidal mudflats and sandy beaches along the coastline while keeping an eye out for common eiders, black guillemots, ospreys, and bald eagles.

Naturalists: Karen Massey

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.