Photo By: Marie Ring
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Hales Pond Woodland Preserve
Location and Description:
Location: Fayette, Maine
Property Description: This beautiful and topographically varied property features 2,700 feet of undeveloped stream and pond frontage, vernal pools, and biologically rich woodland and wetland habitats. Remote Hales Pond, with a maximum depth of 50 feet and an average depth of 14 feet, supports a warm water fishery and a diversity of emergent and aquatic plant species. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) has mapped much of Hales Pond as Inland Waterfowl and Wading Bird Habitat.
A small wetland cove along the southeastern portion of the property has excellent plant diversity despite its small size. An intermittent stream flows into this cove and its edges support good fern diversity, as well as habitat for amphibians. On the northwestern property edge is a small, pocket swamp with stunted Black ash, abundant ferns and sedges, and shrubs such as highbush blueberry, and mountain holly. Both of these diverse wetlands provide opportunities for viewing the foraging behaviors of many species of dragonflies and birds.
Directions: From Wayne, take Pond Road north to the four-way intersection with the Berry, Walton, and Richmond Mills Roads. Continue north on Richmond Mills Road for approximately 1.3 miles, and turn right onto Bamford Pond Road. Continue 0.3 miles to a parking area and sign on the right.
Public Uses:
KLT manages this Preserve to protect wildlife habitat and water quality as well as for low-impact outdoor recreation, including nature observation, hiking, hunting, and fishing.
Please do not access this KLT property through the private Paddleford Road.
DOGS are not allowed.
Protecting MDIFW inland-wading bird and wildlife and vernal pool habitats is a priority management goal. Service dogs as stated in Maine law are allowed.
Hunting is permitted.
Parking: Future parking lot off of Bamford Pond Road -expected completion of Fall 2023.
Trails: The 0.45 mile Hales Pond Trail winds through wooded uplands, crossing rock walls indicative of 19th-century farming and pasturing. The trail briefly follows an old woods road near the pond before crossing a stream via footbridge. After the crossing, the 0.4-mile Fisher loop takes you along the beautiful shore of Hales Pond and atop an impressive bedrock spine perched above a long narrow gully. Total out and back distance, including the loop, is 1.3 miles.
History:
Albert Ferguson and John Moore purchased this land in 1960. At the time of their donation to KLT (Summer 2022), Albert Ferguson, and John Moore’s companion, Marilyn Donnelly, noted: “In memory of John Moore, it gives us great satisfaction to gift this land to the KLT for preservation. The beauty this land exhibits with the gorgeous pond and tall trees will forever be a peaceful place for the public to enjoy.”
Map:
