Nature lovers visiting Bath, ME will enjoy exploring the quiet beauty of Thorne Head Preserve. The 96-acre nature preserve is a must-visit destination teeming with wildlife, scenic vistas, and peaceful trails – and all just a short drive from downtown and The Inn at Bath!
Bath is home to all manner of fun and attractions: museums, shops, galleries, theater, dining, and more. Those looking to explore Maine’s great outdoors will also find plenty of options. Popular pastimes like kayaking the Kennebec River, day-trips to the beach, birdwatching, biking, and hiking trails in places like Thorne Head Preserve.
Thorne Head’s history stretches back to the Abenaki, who traded and gathered wild rice along these water. Over the centuries, the land was logged and farmed. In fact, you can still find old stone walls winding through the woods today. In 2000, the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust, with support from community, conserved the property, ensuring the space would remain natural and open to the public.
Exploring Thorne Head Preserve
Thorne Head offers 3.5 miles of interconnected trails leading trough the tidal wetlands, marshes, and mixed forests across the 96 acre preserve. The wide and gentle Overlook Trail leads to a scenic views while the Whiskeag Trail leads through the preserve and all the way out to the Bath YMCA! Visitors can also explore the shore-side paths that wind along Whiskeag Creek and the Kennebec River. Plenty of outdoor adventure for walkers, runners, and mountain bikers alike.
The preserve’s location at the edge of the estuary also makes it a fantastic spot for wildlife and birdwatching. Depending on the season, visitors may spot various species of warblers and waterfowl, wood frogs, spotted salamanders, bald eagles, and many others. The preserve’s diverse habitat supports a remarkable variety of animals; making it a magnet for photographers and nature lovers.
Thorne Head Preserve is located at the convergence of Whiskeag Creek and the Kennebec River estuary, about 5 minutes drive from downtown and The Inn at Bath. Free public parking is available at the end of High Street, though spaces are somewhat limited. Avoid the parking dilemma altogether when you bike or walk the 1.9 miles to the Preserve on the Whiskeag Trail.
The Preserve is free and open to the public daily from dawn until dusk. Trail maps and an information kiosk are available to help you plan your explorations. Learn more at www.kennebecestuary.org.
Whether you’re seeking a quiet walk, a vigorous hike, wildlife photography, or just a chance to take in some nature, Thorne Head Preserve is a perfect choice – and just minutes from The Inn at Bath.
See you soon!