Talking Brook Public Land

Upstream from the public land is both the upper Meadow Brook watershed and the upper Talking Brook watershed, both of which are nearly entirely undeveloped. Downstream of the preserve are the Irving Thurston Wildlife Marsh (Maine Department of Fish and Wildlife) and RRCT’s Intervale Preserve at the confluence with the Royal River. For decades what is now Talking Brook Public Land was managed for trails and traditional public access by neighbors in private ownership.

There is one existing, and a second planned, parking areas for trail users:

1. Existing Parking Area: The parking area at 402 Woodman Road, New Gloucester can fit around 7 cars, with excess parking available along road shoulders. Please respect neighbors’ parking signs: “No parking beyond this point.” The parking area is owned by the Town of New Gloucester and maintained entirely at the expense of RRCT-BPL and neighbors.
2. Planned Parking Lot: Norumbega Cidery has transferred to BPL one-half acre of land near the corner of Woodman Road & Meadow Lane (with access by the existing Norumbega Cidery driveway off Woodman Road), for a new 28-space parking lot. Hikers would proceed from this parking area down Woodman Road to reach hiking trails further along Woodman Road.

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There are several trails branching off of Woodman Road accessing Talking Brook and Meadow Brook. Some trails follow the streams, while other trails wander over hills through forested landscapes. The trail systems on either side of Woodman Road can be linked to allow hikers and runners options to accumulate mileage. All trails are blazed with color-coded plastic blazes, with each trail section having a different color. There are maps at most intersections.

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On the west side of the road, there is a stream loop that passes by Little Falls on Talking Brook, a beaver pond, and interesting rock formations. On the east side of Woodman Road, the blue trail travels the brook to Big Falls on Meadow Brook. This parcel was previously known as "Big Falls Preserve". All trails loop back to Woodman Road.

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Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands and Royal River Conservation Trust are working to improve and realign trails with a goal to build relatively primitive, rustic trails that provide experiences of solitude. The soils and topography of the area will likely prevent the construction of trails that meet ADA standards or that meet the expectations of mountain bikers. The trails can be wet and muddy seasonally, especially near the brooks. There are occasional bog bridges, foot bridges, and stone steps across some of these sections, but hikers should be prepared for wet and muddy conditions. Exercise caution if exploring the waterfall; the rocks are exceptionally slippery.

Talking Brook Public Land was created in late December 2023, combining 156 acres from New Gloucester residents Michael and Julie Fralich and 44 acres formerly known as Big Falls Preserve from Royal River Conservation Trust. The Fralichs donated the Big Falls parcel to RRCT in 2018.

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The Maine Bureau of Parks & Lands (BPL) now owns this public land and key decisions are made through formal state management planning processes, with coordinated early efforts by BPL and RRCT to address any issues.

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For decades, the Fralichs welcomed the public onto the miles of trails they created—with lots of local help—on their Woodman Road parcels. Their land is now protected for conservation, forever.  Michael died in 2024. His legacy lives on through Talking Brook Public Land.

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“I could hear someone laughing and talking during the night only to realize that it was only the brook babbling as it played over its rocky bed. It was then that we gave the stream the name Talking Brook.” - Michael Fralich

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Read more about the conservation history of Talking Brook Public Land here.

• Walking, snowshoeing, backcountry skiing are welcome.
• Dogs but must be on leash at all times.

• Please adhere to ‘leave no trace’ and ‘carry-in/carry-out’ practices. This includes dog waste!

• Safe and responsible hunting is allowed but not within 300 feet of the trails. All trail users should wear blaze orange during hunting season.

• To protect the area, bicycles, vehicles and camping are not permitted.

The section of Woodman Road hikers start on is used to access a private residence. Given the density of private residences around this public land unit, please respect private property by staying on trail, walk your dogs with a leash, and clean up pet waste.

On the town/city line on the edge of abandoned Woodman Road is an historic granite boundary monument, with a small interpretive kiosk explaining the historic boundary of New Gloucester and Danville (now Auburn).