There are 7 miles of trails at the reserve. After reviewing with the kids the trail map available at the trailhead kiosk, we decided to begin on the Knight Trail and head toward the ocean.
We'd seen several sets of animal tracks in the snow during recent hikes and decided to bring along our animal tracking book to see if we could identify any we discovered on this hike. We did find some deer tracks and droppings, but all the mud and the general lack of snow made conditions unsuitable for our amateur tracking abilities.
From the Knight Trail we turned onto the Barrier Beach Road Trail, which led us to the ocean. It was a struggle to keep my 6-year-old out of the water, so I just let her go and splash around in it after a while. She was already covered in mud, so I figured it couldn't get much worse. Some of the mud washed off, but was replaced with sticky sand. I'm not sure which is worse to wash off, but sand feels like summer and that made it not so bad.
The beach felt like a long-lost friend, and the kids did everything they would do in warmer weather — except swim. They made small sand castles with their hands, walked along the rocks looking for seashells and watched the gulls. They also made lots of sand drawings. The kids thought they saw a seal pop its head out of the water in the distance and that added an additional element of excitement for all of us.
After spending more than an hour by the water, we chose to hike back to the car by way of the Laird-Norton Trail. That trail had a long, wooden boardwalk and was a good way to avoid some of the mud.
Along that trail we saw a bunch of flags indicating a research project under way. There are actually several information panels throughout the reserve explaining current research projects, as well as the types of animals and birds that visitors might encounter. There were also plenty of benches scattered along the trails for rest stops.
Because these trails are at the coast, hikers should always be cautious of poison ivy and ticks. It may be a little early to worry about these nuisances in late winter, but, as spring approaches, so do these pesky issues. It's best to stay to the middle of the trail and avoid brushing up against plants and bushes.
It's been full year since we did an early-spring hike and I forgot how messy it is to be out on the trail at this time. Mud-season hiking with kids is not for the faint of heart, but you can minimize the mess with some preparation. Even if it seems too warm for snow pants and boots, have the kids wear them anyway. And don't forget to wear some rubber boots yourself. You'll be glad you did.
Update
During last month's hike on the Mountain Division Trail, my 7-year-old found a sign about a missing dog. She tried to look for him while we were hiking on the trail but was disappointed not to find him. After reading the column, Barbara Corriveau of Gorham e-mailed to let my daughter know that she had found her dog, Mel, and that he was back home safe and sound. My daughter was thrilled to know the dog was back home and I appreciate that Mel's owner took the time to let us know.
Trail Name: Wells Reserve at Laudholm Farm
Nearest Town: Wells
Region: York County
Length: 7 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Directions: From Exit 2 (Wells) off the Maine Turnpike follow signs to Route 1 in Wells. Follow Route 1 north 1.5 miles to Laudholm Farm Road (just north of the Lighthouse Depot and south of the Maine Diner, at the second flashing traffic signal). Turn right and follow signs to the reserve.
Terrain: The trail is dirt with some boardwalks on several trails.
Bathrooms: Yes
Parking: Ample parking at the trailhead.
Hours: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily, with extended hours during summer.
Other: There are ticks and poison ivy in the area. There are also research projects being conducted near the trails, so visitors are asked not to disturb markers and flags.
More Info: Visit www.wellsreserve.org or call (207)646-1555.
Kid's Review
Listen to the 7-year old describe her
experience on this trail...(50 seconds, 480k mp3 format)
Listen to the 6-year old describe her
experience on this trail...(20 seconds, 260k mp3 format)
Video
Drawing in Sand(23 seconds, 624k)
Throwing Sand(30 seconds, 880k)
Looking for Sea Shells(18 seconds, 452k)
Originally published in the Maine Sunday Telegram March 14, 2004
