Meteorologist Mallory Brooke, middle, interviews Western Foothills Land Trust Executive Director Lee Dassler at a new trailhead opening. Photo by Ben Tucker

NORWAY — The Western Foothills Land Trust celebrated the opening of two new recreational trails, connecting downtown Norway to the extensive trail system at Roberts Farm Preserve, on Jan. 22.

The new non-motorized trails, each approximately two miles long, run roughly parallel to each other and to Lake Pennesseewassee, terminating at a trailhead across from a public parking on Water Street.

The Lunch Trail featuring Maine Beer Company’s IPA. Photo by Andy Gagne

The Lunch Trail, named after Maine Beer Company’s IPA, is a 14-foot wide groomed Nordic way that branches off the Stephens Trail at the Preserve. The new single track trail for snowshoeing, hiking and dog walking is named Janet’s Trail, in memory of Janet Nicholas. It branches off from the preserve’s single track Walker Trail.

Both Lunch and Janet’s trails provide serene outdoor experiences through the mature forested hillside, with stream crossings and occasional views of the lake or of the village of Norway and Streaked and Singepole mountains, according to a news release from Kelli Shedd, trust community engagement director.

The idea of a trail connecting Roberts Farm to the downtown began as soon as the preserve trails started to take shape in 2010. The board started to look at maps in 2013 when the potential of acquiring a trailhead lot on Water Street arose. In 2018 a 47-acre parcel adjacent to Roberts Farm along Lake Road was acquired, helping to bridge the gap between the preserve and town. The trust built an initial mile of ski trail on the new land with a grant from the Northern Forest Center.

Throughout those years the trust worked to negotiate trail easements with private landowners along Pikes Hill Road that would allow the trust to build a recreational trail within a defined corridor to the trailhead on Water Street.

Last spring one of the potential easement donors died, and the trust was faced with purchasing the parcel to complete the trail. Donors, charitable foundations and Maine Beer Company stepped forward for a portion of the funding, with Norway Savings Bank providing a mortgage for the balance.

Once the land was secured, volunteer sawyers worked to open ski and singletrack trail corridors. Bethel’s Alex Graves was contracted to build the final mile of the Lunch Trail with funding from the Recreational Trails Program. J. Pratt Construction and Double T Fence were also involved onsite.

Volunteers prepared Janet’s Trail by hand during the fall and constructed the bridges in early December. In January Black Dog Timberworks erected a timber frame kiosk at the trailhead, with roofing donated by Everlast Roofing in Bridgton.

With 64 buildings of historic significance and 46 on the National Register, Norway is a unique gem in western Maine, Shedd notes. Access to ski, snowshoe, and bike trails from downtown will add to Norway’s attraction as a healthy, creative, and economically resilient community. The groomed Nordic ski trails and warming hut at Roberts Farm Preserve are part of the fabric of the Oxford Hills region, and have become a popular destination for tourists and skiers alike.

The trust annually hosts more than 3,000 skiers and snowshoers on the preserve’s trail systems, maintained by volunteers. Those visitors frequent Norway’s Main Street restaurants, shops and services while in town. And now they will be able to ski, snowshoe, hike or bike directly from town.

For more information, visit wfltmaine.org.

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