A Maine landowner has pledged to donate his 50% share of a 5-acre private inholding within the Bigelow Preserve, setting in motion an effort to permanently protect a scenic stretch of Stratton Brook and eliminate a private motorized right-of-way in the preserve. The parcel — a 5-acre lot surrounded on all sides by lands managed by the Maine Bureau of Parks & Lands (BPL) — includes over 1,000 feet of frontage on Stratton Brook and sits within one of western Maine’s most celebrated wild landscapes. The Bigelow Preserve encompasses more than 36,000 acres and includes seven summits of the Bigelow Range, with the Appalachian Trail traversing its ridgelines and peaks.
“This acquisition strengthens the long-term protection of the Bigelow Preserve by closing a key inholding and safeguarding a sensitive area near the Appalachian Trail. Just as importantly, this bargain sale reflects the extraordinary generosity of the landowners, whose willingness to give back ensures this landscape remains part of Maine’s shared natural heritage, open and unspoiled for generations to come,” said Rex Turner, Director of Planning & Acquisition, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands – Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry.
The remaining 50% interest and associated project costs were paid for with funds from Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s Wild East Action Fund and the High Peaks Initiative. “Every acre within the Appalachian Trail landscape plays an important role in safeguarding the beauty and character of the Trail,” said Dan Ryan, the ATC’s Vice President of Conservation and Government Relations. “We’re honored to support the protection of this property in Bigelow Preserve with a grant from Wild East Action Fund.”
“The Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust values the partnerships that are committed to protecting the trail in Maine, and the acquisition of this parcel within the Bigelow Preserve is an example of this collaboration in action,” said MATLT’s Board President, David Kallin. “Our work with partners like the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands and Appalachian Trail Conservancy will ensure that this remains one of Maine’s most special natural areas and one of the Appalachian Trail’s most treasured sections.”
The parcel carries a legal right-of-way which crosses near the Appalachian Trail at Stratton Brook and currently serves as a public corridor for hiking, biking, and snowmobiling, as well as providing access to the Jones Pond ski trail on National Park Service land. Inholdings of this kind can create user and resource conflicts, and if the parcel were developed with a camp or house, structures would likely be visible from sections of the Appalachian Trail between The Horns and Route 27. This acquisition ensures that the wild, remote nature of this portion of the Bigelow Preserve remains intact.
Located in western Maine about 40 miles north of Farmington, the Bigelow Preserve encompasses over 36,000 acres of public land managed by the Maine Bureau of Parks & Lands. The Bigelow Range includes seven summits, with West Peak at 4,150 feet — one of only 10 Maine summits above 4,000 feet. The Appalachian Trail traverses the Preserve along its ridgelines and peaks, including Avery Peak.