Loon Echo Land Trust’s 2026 Trek for the Trails Fundraiser starts Sept. 1

Do you enjoy spending time outside in the Lakes Region of Maine? Have you hiked Pleasant Mountain, Bald Pate Mountain, or Pismire Mountain? Or watched the sunset from Hacker’s Hill or strolled the trails at Peabody-Fitch Woods?

The 2026 Trek for Trails is sponsored by Norway Savings
Bank and runs Sept. 1 through Oct. 31 with proceeds
to benefit Loon Echo Land Trust. FILE PHOTO 

These special places (and many more!) are owned and managed by Loon Echo Land Trust (LELT), a Bridgton-based nonprofit that ensures public access to these outdoor spaces is guaranteed forever.

This fall, you can give back to the trails you love by joining the 2026 Trek for the Trails, presented by Norway Savings Bank. The Trek is LELT’s largest annual fundraising event, running Sept. 1 through Oct. 31, 2026. Registration is free and open to all ages and 100 percent of proceeds from the event directly support trail maintenance, stewardship, and new trail building across the Lakes Region.

To participate, simply register online at LELT.org/trek, then log any miles you hike, walk, paddle, run, roll, or bike. Participants can also choose to raise funds individually or as a team, rallying friends and family to support their Trek.

Everyone who takes part will be automatically entered into a raffle for prizes from local businesses, including ski tickets to Pleasant Mountain Ski Area.

Money raised from the Trek help Loon Echo Land Trust steward more than 9,300 acres of land and more than 35 miles of recreational trails, ensuring they remain open, safe, and accessible year-round. This year’s fundraising goal is $15,000, which represents a quarter of LELT’s annual trail stewardship costs.

The 2026 Trek for the Trails is made possible thanks to the generous support of Norway Savings Bank, Good Life Market, Warren Excavation, Flycatcher LLC, Pleasant Mountain Ski Area, Squeaky Clean Laundromat, Wild North Counseling, Jones & Matthews P.A., Ski Hot Ski Shop and Bridgton Books.

Loon Echo Land Trust is a community-supported nonprofit working to protect the land and natural resources of the northern Sebago Lake region for future generations. Learn more at LELT.org or by following Loon Echo Land Trust on Facebook. <