Knight's Pond Preserve
Description
The 334-acre Knight’s Pond Preserve includes critical wildlife habitat, a 46-acre pond, a large block of forestland, and multiple recreational opportunities including a 6.5 mile trail network. The preserve is protected by conservation easements held by Royal River Conservation Trust and the Chebeague and Cumberland Land Trust and owned by the Towns of North Yarmouth and Cumberland.
477 Greely Road Extension, Cumberland Center (primary access); End of Greely Road Extension, Cumberland Center (secondary access)
6.5 miles
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The trailhead at 477 Greely Road Extension includes a large gravel parking area and a portable toilet (no wheelchair access). The trail between the parking area and the pond is an old gravel road ideal for baby carriages and gentle strolls. Most other trails on the preserve (color-blazed white, blue, red, and yellow) are primitive with rocks and roots that wind through oak-hickory forests and alongside vernal pools. The snowmobile trail on the power line is not improved for summer use. Expect long stretches of muddy ruts if you attempt to circumnavigate the pond.
The summits of Bruce Hill, Blueberry Hill, and Bobcat Mountain – all part of the RRCT 400 Footer Club – provide limited seasonal views of Cousins Island, Casco Bay, and Mount Washington.
The preserve was established in 2015 with subsequent additions in 2016, 2018, and 2022. Future expansion is planned.
The Town of Cumberland’s preserve website includes some regulatory content https://www.cumberlandmaine.com/knights-pond-preserve.
Permitted: Biking, hiking, horses, hunting, ice skating, skiing, snowshoeing. Dogs on leash or under voice control, leaving no evidence of their visit.
Required: Wearing of orange during all hunting seasons and adherence to postings on private abutting land.
Note: An increasing number of events and trail races on the preserve make us strongly ask that event planners contact land managers for permissions and awareness of issues. Use of full-loop trails for events can require permissions of multiple land managers.
For more information about the preserve, visit https://www.northyarmouth.org/parks-recreation-committee/pages/knights-pond-preserve
and https://www.cumberlandmaine.com/knights-pond-preserve
Habitat
The preserve has a rich variety of habitat, including a rare Oak-Shagbark Hickory Forest and many significant vernal pools which provide breeding habitat for a wide variety of amphibians including salamanders and frogs. While Oak-Shagbark Hickory forests are common on the eastern seaboard to our south, Knight’s Pond Preserve hosts one of the northernmost examples of this type of forest with blueberry undergrowth, scarlet tanagers, habitat for flying squirrels at bats (under the shagbark) and other delightful features. Beginning in early spring you can see ring-necked ducks, mallards, and Canada geese on the shores of Knight’s Pond. There are also yellow-rumped and palm warblers starting at the end of April and the beginning of May. Knight’s Pond is considered an eBird “hotspot” with 80 species identified. For more information, visit eBird’s website and Best Birding in the Royal River watershed.
Management Plan
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Knight's Pond Preserve
The 334-acre Knight’s Pond Preserve includes critical wildlife habitat, a 46-acre pond, a large block of forestland, and multiple recreational opportunities including a 6.5 mile trail network. The preserve is protected by conservation easements held by Royal River Conservation Trust and the Chebeague and Cumberland Land Trust and owned by the Towns of North Yarmouth and Cumberland.