Horton Woods

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This 100 acre wildlife preserve was obtained by the City of Saco in 2007 under the Land for SacoÕs Future program. The sanctuary comprises a diverse confluence of ecological habitats including upland softwood and hardwood forest, marsh, stream, vernal pools, bog and fields. Due to the fragility of these natural systems, please do not litter or remove any plants or flowers. The preserve is surrounded by private property. Please respect that and stay on the marked trails and other delineated public areas. Beware that porcupines are common throughout the area. It is important to keep dogs on leads, and to use poop bags which will be provided at the parking lot.

The trails, built and maintained by Saco Bay Trails , will eventually visit, transect or border all of these habitats. By the summer of 2008 a few trail segments totaling about two miles will be completed.

Beginning in the parking lot the trail leads through a corridor bordered by private land, and then through mature oak, pine and hemlock forest and down a slope to the edge of the 10 acre marsh. The trail takes a sharp left along a rise, then a sharp right at the top of the rise. Look for trail signs that are placed at strategic locations to mark the course of the trail, as it does meander and switchback over the steeper slopes.

A short walk down to the crest of a rocky promontory overlooks the marsh. Stackpole Brook, a tributary of the Saco River, transects the marsh and flows through the preserve. The trail then traverses a used game trail to a woods road. Bear right then take a right at the fork in the road. The trail descends to the marsh and then borders the marsh to the site of a bridge crossing Stackpole brook. The bridge was constructed in 2007 by a crew from The Appalachian Mountain Club with funds provided by Saco Bay Trails.

Many species of birds may be seen in the marsh. In the spring and early summer look for woodcock, several species of duck (esp. mallards and black ducks), green, great blue and black crowned night herons. Look also for evidence of beaver and muskrat.

Future trails will be constructed on the other side of the bridge. Without crossing the bridge, the completed trail then runs along the stream for a short distance then up a rise through the woods. The trail then takes a sharp right onto an old logging road. Look for deer and moose sign (scat and hoof-prints ) especially along this area. The trail then bears to the right and down a slope to the stream. The trail continues left along the stream through shady woods and carpets of mosses and ferns to the end where the stream passes over a deep pool and riffle.

Eventually the trail will be extended to loop back by a different route, adjacent to a vernal pool, and then back to the bridge. In the future, another trail will cross the bridge and run along the general path of the stream. That trail will then skirt the small sphagnum bog through the balsam and hemlock dominated bottom land woodland to the upland ridge on the west side of the marsh. A new trail will then loop back to the bridge. When completed there should be approximately 5 miles of walking trail.

This preserve is rich in wildlife and plant assemblages because of the diversity of habitats. Be careful not to pick wildflowers or to unnecessarily disturb native fauna, particularly during breeding times in the spring and early summer.