2022 Trail Update!
As trail users of the Knight’s Pond Preserve may have seen, the white trail along the shoreline has been relocated farther inland. The decision to move the trail was made by the Town of Cumberland’s Lands & Conservation Commission in consultation with the staff and board of Chebeague & Cumberland Land Trust.
The old location of the trail was very challenging to maintain and the proximity to the pond resulted in too much sediment, and too many dogs, entering the pond.
The new trail location improves and protects the pond’s shoreline wildlife habitat, eliminates soil erosion close to the pond, and provides a more user-friendly and sustainable trail surface. Several “spur” trails will still allow access to the pond.
The trail work to move the trail was accomplished in partnership between the Lands & Conservation Commission and staff and volunteers of CCLT.
Location
The trailhead for Knight’s Pond Preserve is located on Greely Road Extension, roughly ¼ mile before the dead end on the north side of the road. There is a parking area that can accommodate up to 20 vehicles. A second access point for Blueberry Hill can be found at the end of Greely Road Extension where there is parking on the road for a few vehicles.
Date Protected
October 2015
OWNERSHIP
Town of Cumberland (CCLT easement)
Size
163 acres in Cumberland (plus another 50 acres in North Yarmouth)
Public Access
The preserve is open to the public during daylight hours only for low impact recreation including hiking, biking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, ice skating, horseback riding, hunting, fishing, trapping, kayaking, canoeing, and snowmobiling on designated trails.
Conservation Purposes
To protect the high quality habitat of the forest and the pond while providing opportunities for public outdoor recreation and scenic enjoyment.
Description & History
At 163 acres, Knight’s Pond Preserve is the largest undeveloped parcel in Cumberland. It consists of forested upland, a 46-acre pond with two smaller ponds, emergent wetlands, streams, and many vernal pools. It abuts 50 additional acres in North Yarmouth conserved by the Town of North Yarmouth and the Royal River Conservation Trust. The terrain is sloping with a ridgeline and elevation of approximately 500 feet that affords views of Casco Bay and Mount Washington. Recreational opportunities abound on the property, which has traditionally been used for hunting, bird watching, and ice skating as well as for hiking, mountain biking, cross country skiing, and snowmobiling on its extensive trail network. The trails along Blueberry Hill pass through an oak/hickory forest community which is rare for this region. For more information, see the town of Cumberland’s Knight’s Pond Preserve website.
