Riverfront Woods Preserve

Description

The 50-acre Riverfront Woods Preserve, protected by conservation easements held by Royal River Conservation Trust and owned and managed by the Town of Yarmouth, represents one of the last remaining pieces of unfragmented habitat and shoreline along the Royal in Yarmouth. The preserve supports beavers, otters, deer and a variety of bird species and distinct flora, creating a surprisingly remote experience for paddling in the summer and skating, snowshoeing, and skiing in the winter. The trails are designed for wheelchairs, baby carriages, and comfortable walking. Dogs and bikes are not permitted, increasing the remote experience of the preserve.

Location

At the end of Riverfront Drive (off East Elm Street near the East Elm and North Road Intersection), Yarmouth

Length

Permitted activities
Hiking
Snowshoeing
Backcountry skiing
Skating
Fishing
Canoeing

More information

Maps
Adjacencies
Trails, Trailhead, + Accessibility

A paved trailhead parking lot with an informational kiosk is located at the end of Riverfront Drive in Yarmouth.

The Carriage Trail begins from the parking lot and extends along the powerline corridor to the Royal River. The Carriage Trail has been graded to have minimal slopes.

Stewardship and Conservation History
Rules +  regulations

Hunting and trapping are significantly restricted by municipal ordinances, and noting nearby residences. Please review kiosk postings, the management plan, or call Town Hall before hunting. Regardless, all hikers should wear orange during all hunting seasons.

Bikes are not allowed.

Dogs are not allowed at Riverfront Woods Preserve; please consider one of the many other local trail systems where dogs are welcome.

Interpretation

In recognition of the preserve’s location in the traditional home of the Wabanaki people, the Yarmouth Parks and Lands Committee unveiled its land acknowledgement on September 23, 2023:

“The current stewards of open space in what is now known as Yarmouth, Maine  recognize that the lands and waters we inhabit and enjoy are places from which Wabanaki peoples were forcefully removed. The Abenaki and other tribes of the modern  Wabanaki Confederacy lived here and are still present. They stewarded these lands and  waters as part of an interconnected ecosystem for thousands of years prior to European  colonization. Let us respectfully acknowledge and learn from this significant history, while also  appreciating the current beauty that exists here and recognizing the social, health, and  other benefits we now derive from these unceded ancestral lands of indigenous people.”

Notable details
Property

For more information about the preserve, visit Yarmouth Community Services' Riverfront Woods Preserve website.

Riverfront Woods Preserve

The 50-acre Riverfront Woods Preserve, protected by conservation easements held by Royal River Conservation Trust and owned and managed by the Town of Yarmouth, represents one of the last remaining pieces of unfragmented habitat and shoreline along the Royal in Yarmouth. The preserve supports beavers, otters, deer and a variety of bird species and distinct flora, creating a surprisingly remote experience for paddling in the summer and skating, snowshoeing, and skiing in the winter. The trails are designed for wheelchairs, baby carriages, and comfortable walking. Dogs and bikes are not permitted, increasing the remote experience of the preserve.