The reason we decided to visit this trail/area, is because one of the news channels always shows…read morethe view from the camera at this location. We were always impressed with the view and put this on our list of interesting places. We finally made it this year! The views were beautiful! One of the things we loved about this place, is the fact there are plaques or narrative cards that show what you are looking at with a little history behind it. There are places for you to sit next to the ranger station. A few hikers were enjoying a snack break while we were there. They were commenting on how dusty and dry it was. (the drought of 2025 - for future readers reference) There's not a lot of shade, so prepare accordingly. There was plenty of parking and plenty of trails and views to enjoy! We loved it!

Beautiful! Good bathroom facilities (composting toilets and sanitizer, but clean). Maps…read moreavailable. Ample parking, must pay to park. Well-marked trails. Can hike or drive to summit. Educational center at the top (limited hours). Nice lookout points. Easy to low-moderate hike on the trails we took, in my opinion. Not a terrible distance to the summit, mostly shaded hike. Will go back for sure.

Absolutely stunning views as you walk along the trail. So many great spots to take pictures and…read morejust enjoy the the sights. Trail can be quite busy, make sure to move to the side for faster travelers. Pathway is pretty easy, just a few ups and downs... very doable. We loved this spot so much, we came back again before we headed home.

The walk is a must to view the gorgeous coast of York. Definitely wear good walking shoes and pay…read moreattention to the trail. This not a paved sidewalk. There are any areas of uneven rocks and no railing, but it is a must . There are plenty of areas to stop and enjoy the spectacular views. The walk is just over one half mile and ends, or begins at the public beach. There are many signs warning of poison ivy, so it is best not to touch any of the plants.

We revisited Vaughan Woods at a different time of the year, and it's still such a cool spot (though…read morefar busier than it was when we came in autumn a few years ago). It's a state park that's open year long -- during the shoulder season, you can park outside the closed gates and walk in. This time we came when the gates were open; but, there was no attendant to check our state parks pass. It looks like payment is on the honor system (please pay so we can preserve beautiful trails like this!). I'll reiterate what I said in my previous review: It's located along Salmon Falls River (which separates Maine and New Hampshire). And with 3+ miles of hiking trails, it's easy to choose-your-own-adventure. So, whether you're looking to walk a lot or little, spend the day here or just a quick half hour, or if you're a local looking for a new running trail, be sure to explore the "old growth forest" (I saw this used elsewhere and looked into it: did you know this is a term that essentially means it's an ancient woodland, or a natural place that has aged without disruption?)! And it's accessible too: the extremely well groomed, well marked, mostly widened walking paths are easy to navigate (there are some hilly areas; and if it's not winter you're DEFINITELY going to want to bring bug spray). Also, from here you can access the grounds of the restored Hamilton House (built by merchant Jonathan Hamilton in the late eighteenth century) which sits on a stunning grassy knoll among cleared open green space overlooking the river (we actually saw a beaver this most recent time!) on one side and a beautifully maintained garden on the other side.

Want to get away from the sweating masses over-crowding the beach? Not up for sitting on your buns,…read morebaking in the summer sun? Want some peace & quiet instead of screaming tots and squeaky playground swings? I did. Not that there's anything wrong with the typical midsummer Maine beach experience. It just was NOT my vibe for this getaway. And so we sought out land trusts and mountains and parks, including one of our favorite spots to hit some pretty trails: Vaughan Woods. First, even in the middle of the summer and several cars in the lots, we barely saw another person. On the river trail--which I particularly love for all the scenic views of the river and benches to sit and rest--we had two couples cross our path. Very quick, smiley "hellos" and off they went. So peaceful! I'm mobility-challenged but I had a recent treatment and felt a little more mobile and stable. I took my time and my husband was a great helper. I'd say the river trail can get a bit challenging for anyone with a knee/ankle/foot/balance issue. But if conditions aren't wet, you go slow, and rest at the benches, you might be able to do it! The toilet stall is a wooden structure that is open to the air at the top of the walls before the roof begins. It's a toilet set over a pit, and you could definitely get a wheelchair in, but I don't recall seeing any grab bars. There was plenty of toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Like other places (parks, beach), we noticed it was "carry in, carry out." There are several picnic tables surrounding the parking lot, and we enjoyed a post-hike snack. This place is worth the drive out to South Berwick. Give it a go!

Beautiful place to take a nice walk or see some amazing birds and other wildlife. You can take…read moreyour dog with you. Perfect place to do photography.

this is such a beautiful place for a walk. some parts of the path were a bit mushy but still…read morenavigable. would overall recommend!

Part of the adventure of the Raymond & Simone Savage Wildlife Preserve is simply finding where it…read moreis. Every website I looked it up on mentioned that it was on the Eliot/South Berwick town line - but the official address will NOT help you on Google. Go farther down Dover Rd than you think: you'll see a small wooden fence and an old wooden barely noticeable sign just behind. THIS is where you're going. The trail itself is alright - now that I've done it once I'm not sure I would necessarily come back and do it again. It's a big loop that starts and ends through woodlands, meanders through some open space, and brings you down alongside parts of the Salmon Falls River and Shoreys Brook (quite murky when we came), but because of the lack of trail markers and the paths people have (seemingly intentionally) made from trample-grooming across the fields, it can become confusing as to where you should be going. It's not particularly difficult to navigate, though the trail bit through the forested areas were narrow and root-covered so be careful where you walk. Also, apparently this particular spot is great for bird watching (I've seen others mention sightings of bald eagles! how cool!), and it's amazing the work that the Great Works Regional Land Trust has made to preserve this 26+ acre property given to the community by Simone Savage; it really is in meticulous condition. Please note there are no dogs allowed.

Awesome little hidden gem of a wildlife refuge!! There are two hiking trails here - I did the…read morelonger of the two - the William Furber Ferry Way Trail. It has a very unique starting point - next to an abandoned weapons storage facility for an old military base!! But once you get past this, you find yourself wandering through lovely, peaceful New Hampshire woodland with a huge meadow along the way to the Great Bay viewing area! The trail is very well maintained but can definitely get muddy. We had storms the night before my hike and there were some very muddy spots that got a tad slippery - even with my excellent hiking shoes - but there were enough fallen leaves on the ground to provide plenty of pathways to avoid the super muddy and wet areas. And while this trail is wide and well maintained, it's not paved and I wouldn't consider it handicap accessible- although it might be doable if you have some pretty serious trail tires on a wheelchair! Because the trail is mostly flat and not rocky at all. One thing I really enjoyed on this trail were all the adorable American Red Squirrels, the Black Capped Chickadees, and all the fall colors - even in November! The forest was also just full of these absolutely beautiful, ghostly white and pink trees too that were very dramatic! I have no idea what they are, but they are just gorgeous!! I actually came here in search of Wild Turkeys but had no luck this day. It's a very peaceful trail - it was a weekday and I pretty much had it to myself - I only saw two other hikers pass by. The trail maps say it's 2 miles but I ended up with 2.5 miles on my AllTrails tracker for this trail. There's very minimal elevation gain. The halfway point on this loop takes you to a viewing platform of Great Bay with those binoculars on a stand that let you see across the water! There's benches there to rest, as well as benches spaced out along the trail too - just lovely! Another thing that makes this trail fun is that is has "numbered stops" along the way - and the FWS has an info pdf you can view on their website that gives you history and cool info about each stop. The guide to these numbered stops can be found here: https://www.fws.gov/uploadedFiles/Furber_Trail_Guide_FINAL_Aug2014(1).pdf The smaller trail is called the Peverly Pond Trail and is about 1/2 mile long with the trailhead right off the parking lot- but I didn't do this one so can't speak to it. There's plenty of parking in a paved lot and there are decent bathrooms at the parking lot as well - very clean and well stocked! No pets are allowed on these trails - but they do provide an extensive list of pet friendly trails nearby at the information kiosk in the parking lot.

I enjoyed my walk around the lake. There are 2 hiking trails. One is very short but well maintained…read moreand picturesque. The other one is about 2 miles. We saw wild turkey and muskrat. It was mostly in the shade.

this is a rly nice place to go on a walk! the scenery is great with the flowing water and there's a…read morecouple benches. would recommend!

this is a pretty nice place for a walk! some parts of the path are mushy. great views of the water…read more would overall recommend stopping by.

amazing place to bring dogs, off leash year around between 10 AM I bring my dogs to a lot of…read more"Offleash" places that don't end up really being that. wagon hill was amazing, also looks like a great place to paddle board

This is just a patch of woods behind the John F Hill Grange Hall. Just a patch of woods that…read moresomehow feels like the ever so charming, whimsical, and enchanting Hundred Acre Wood AND a creepy horror film set where some ominous presence looms just beyond (beyond what? you're imagination? an actual tree? you'll never know until it's too late) at the same time! In all seriousness this is a fantastic quick walk (less than a mile and almost entirely flat) in a patch of forest and wetland that has very, very, very tall trees (when its overcast, it feels like they're looming; but when sun streams through them it feels almost fairytale like). In sections, the trees are also PERFECTLY in a row with each other. Was this extreme linear placement intentional? I don't know but it's fascinating. The trail features a variety of habitats, streams, and wooden planks/bog bridges. If you're passing through the area, and wanna stretch your legs and get some fresh air I'd highly encourage you check this spot out. I know it sounds like just another stroll through the woods, but honestly there's just something different happening here. Something palpable in the atmosphere, some secret the trees themselves only know, but I'll be making this a regular haunt during late October.

You have to cross the Wiggle Bridge to get to Stedman Woods…read more It's a short walk in the woods which is surrounded by water

Easy winter stroll across the mill pond dam/causeway to the Wiggly Bridge and an easy loop around…read moreSteedman Woods surrounded by tidal river views. Add Fisherman's Walk for a longer outing. Parking can be a challenge.