Pleasant Hill Preserve on Pleasant Hill Road is a rare open space in one of Scarborough’s largest neighborhoods. It includes headwaters of the Spurwink River, and abuts Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge.
Trails: 2.4 miles, including a Universal Access/ADA trail
Land: 187 acres
Open year round, dawn to dusk.
Leave no trace.
The Trails
Currently 2.4 miles of trails.
Eleanor’s Trail 0.4 mi
Monty’s Trail 1.2 mi
Swallows Field Trail 0.2 mi
Oak Loop 0.07 mi
Northern Wildlife Loop 0.5 mi
Eleanor’s Trail is a Universal Access/ADA Trail, designed to accommodate wheelchairs, walkers and other assistive devices. It is a lovely 0.40 mile trail with views across the property.
Monty’s Trail is a 1.25 mile loop beginning and ending at the Swallow Barn, winding through fields and forest, with narrow and steep areas, boardwalks, stairs with railings, roots and rocks.
Swallows Field Trail is mowed grass and boardwalk, with a short incline where it departs the barn.
Oak Loop is short and steep trail through an oak stand with roots and rocks.
Northern Wildlife Loop has many narrow areas, inclines, a 1.5 foot step with no railing, and roots and rocks. Please wear traction in winter as this trail can be very icy.
How to get there
Get directions to the trailhead location.
Activities
- All persons’ accessible trail, wheelchair and stroller friendly.
- Hiking, wildlife-watching, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing.
- Dogs must be leashed at all times on Eleanor’s Trail.
- No bicycles.
- For the benefit of visitors and wildlife, no drones.
- Hunting is allowed in designated areas with SLT notification. Visitors are encouraged to wear blaze orange during hunting season. No hunting is permitted on Sundays in Maine.
- Any collecting, foraging or commercial activity requires a permit from SLT. No exceptions.
Want to join others who help maintain these trails for the community?
The Land
187 acres
Natural Features
Open fields, woods, wetlands, wildlife, and headwaters of the Spurwink River. More than 100 bird species recorded, including barn swallows that make use of the old metal barn. The Preserve is part of a wildlife and wetlands corridor that reaches from the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge to the Scarborough Marsh.
History & Current Use
SLT purchased this land from the children of Jerrerd Benjamin in 2014. The land has a long farming history, and the metal barn is a remnant of days gone by. Mr. Benjamin owned the property for 40 years, and raised beef cattle and other animals. Previous owners included the Robinson family, who built a farmhouse and brick barn on the northwest side of the property, and the Johnson family, who had a house and farmed the southwest side of the property.
Support for the purchase and stewardship of this property came from individuals, foundations, and Scarborough’s Land Bond Fund.
Other Info
Detailed natural history information can be found here (14MB pdf download).
