Raymond Community Forest a 'hidden gem'

Raymond Community Forest is a treasure for hikers and
nature lovers. It has about four miles of trails that can be
hiked individually or strung together for a longer trek in
a scenic setting. PHOTO BY BRIANA BIZIER 

By Briana Bizier

When you think of Maine’s famous hikes, what comes to mind? Perhaps you’re picturing the rugged slopes of Mount Katahdin in Baxter State Park or the dramatic rocky coastline of Acadia National Park. However, as fall approaches, bringing its legendary foliage, cooler temperatures, and blissful reprise from biting insects, it’s worth visiting some of the  rugged slopes and dramatic views that we can find in our own backyard.

The Raymond Community Forest, a 356-acre permanently conserved preserve nestled between Crescent Lake and Raymond Pond, is a true hidden gem for hikers and nature lovers of all ages. The preserve holds roughly four miles of trails that can be hiked individually or strung together for a longer adventure.

The trails to the east of Conesca Road, also known as the “upper” trails, contain steeper sections and are limited to pedestrians only, while the “lower" trails by the parking lot are also open to mountain bikers, snowshoers, and cross-country skiers. All four of the trails in the Raymond Community Forest begin and end in one parking area off Conesca Road.

The trails are very clearly marked and well maintained; maps are usually available in the kiosk by the parking lot, and they can also be downloaded from the Loon Echo Land Trust’s website: https://www.loonecholandtrust.org.

Exploring each of the four trails in the Raymond Community Forest is worthwhile.

The Spiller Homestead Loop was a favorite with both children when they were learning to read as the gentle mile-long trail features signs pointing out interesting plants and landscape features. This trail is also where my children learned the phrase “glacial erratics,” a term that’s surprisingly useful when living in Maine. The Spiller Loop contains the remnants of several old stone walls that are slowly being reclaimed by the forest, as well as many chatty chipmunks who will let you know on no uncertain terms when you trespass into their part of the forest.

Grape Expectations, a second mile-long loop trail in the “lower” section, branches off the Spiller Homestead Loop. This trail opened in 2019, and its name comes from the abundant wild grapes in this section of the forest. The gentle, bike-friendly trail winds through several boggy sections of forest and past a large vernal pool, so bug spray is highly recommended, especially if you are visiting in early summer.

The Raymond Community Forest straddles Conesca Road, which provides the dividing line between the “lower” trails and the “upper” trails. Spiller Homestead and Grape Expectations both begin in the wildflower meadow surrounding the parking lot while Pismire Bluff and the Highlands Loop, the “upper” trails, require following the Spiller Loop trail for 0.1 mile and then carefully crossing Conesca Road.

The Pismire Bluff trail is easily one of my top ten hikes in Maine. This trail, a 0.7 mile in-and-out climb, begins in a raspberry field on the far side of Conesca Road and then winds through beech and oak trees, passing the occasional glacial erratic, until it makes a short and steep climb to the top of the bluff.

The views of Rattlesnake Mountain, Crescent Lake, Panther Pond, and Jordan Bay from the top of Pismire Bluff are simply unrivaled. This hike is one of my favorite places to bring out-of-town visitors, especially if they happen to be visiting during fall foliage seasons, and the spectacular view from the top might be responsible for quite a few of the new residents who have decided to make a permanent move to Raymond.

The Highlands Loop, the fourth and least trafficked trail in the Raymond Community Forest, takes off where the Pismire Bluff trail ends and makes a gentle 0.7-mile loop through the elegant beech forest at the top of the bluff. It’s a lovely and private-feeling trail that adds a bit of gentle exploration to the climb up Pismire.

Our family first hiked Pismire Bluff when my son was 4 years old. Back then, the climb took us all afternoon and required the use of all of my emergency M&M candies. Our family climbed Pismire Bluff again less than a month ago, this time with family members visiting from Colorado.

We finished the hike in less than an hour and with far fewer meltdowns, a visceral reminder of how quickly the children are racing through childhood and toward adolescence. The view from the top, however, was just as spectacular as ever.

To find Raymond Community Forest, head north from Route 85 on Raymond Hill Road. Turn north on Conesca Road. The trailhead for Raymond Community Forest is just past Hancock Road. <