This 121-acre preserve offers beautiful views of the St. George River from a trail that meanders along its banks. From here, the trail takes hikers along mossy and pine needle-covered paths through hemlock and oak groves and over seasonal, trickling streams. This property was conserved for its extensive river frontage and important wetland and marsh habitats. It hosts a variety of wildlife including beavers, minks, porcupines, owls, ducks, and many other critters you may be lucky enough to spot. 
Depending on the water level, there may be spots for fishing or paddling from the preserve, and users can also access Magog Falls Trail from the preserve, which continues for another 1.6 miles along the St. George River. 

Conservation History
Appleton Preserve was purchased by GRLT in 2006 for its valuable wildlife habitat, sensitive wetlands, proximity to the Saint George River, and historic significance. The preserve contains a 700-meter section of the Georges River Canal, a waterway that was created in the 1800s to bring supplies upriver. Today, trail users can see a large berm in the woods that was at one point part of the canal. 

Trails
Fisherman's Trail  

The entrance to this trail begins with a short downslope section that quickly levels out to a relatively flat hike. The first section goes along a floodplain next to the river that can be wet seasonally. The majority of the trail is an old logging road that is mowed regularly throughout the growing season. It is a “lollipop” style loop trail, about a mile one-way, with a small loop at the end providing river views. The trail corridor is wide, clear, and marked with blue blazes.

Length: 1 mile  

Width: 5 ft  

Surface: Packed earth/grass  

Obstacles: Bridge crossing just beyond entrance to forestry trail. Seasonally wet areas in the first quarter mile from the parking lot. 

Forestry Trail

The entrance to this trail is just under a half mile from the parking lot via the Fisherman's Trail. This is a more difficult section of trail that goes off the old logging road and weaves through the landscape, bending with the natural elements and looping around to exit back onto Fisherman's Trail about 500 feet down from the entrance. Part of this trail crosses over a private landowner’s property and we remind users to please respect the land and stay on the trail marked with blue blazes.

Length: 0.8 miles  

Width: 3 ft  

Surface: Packed earth/grass  

Obstacles: Uneven footing, roots, rocks, bog bridging 

River Access

On the southern side of the parking lot, there is a short unmarked trail down to the bank where paddlers have easy access to launch or pull out their boats. This put-in is part of the Saint George River Trail, which extends from Gibson Preserve in Searsmont down to the Thomaston Boat Launch, with various access points along the way. Paddlers can visit our River Trail page (coming soon) for more information or call our office (207-594-5166) with questions.