Grafton Forest Wilderness Preserve

In the Western Maine Mountains, Northeast Wilderness Trust initially set out to conserve 1,388 acres of high-elevation land adjacent to the Appalachian Trail. Had the story ended with conserving just that rugged ridgeline, it would have been a wild success worth celebrating. However, with support from project partner Forest Society of Maine and seller, Wagner Forest Management, an additional 4,657 acres of lowlands were added to what is now Grafton Forest Wilderness Preserve.

All types of land are important to protect as wilderness; however low-elevation forests are often underrepresented as such despite being rich in biodiversity. The lowlands here include a remarkable 700-acre wetland/peatland complex that feeds into the Swift Cambridge River and ultimately into Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge. Throughout the seasons, a diverse array of avian characters flit and flutter throughout the forest, including the elusive Bicknell’s Thrush, the captivating Spruce Grouse, and a multitude of warblers who fill the woods with a symphony of birdsong. Meanwhile, a host of furry creatures make their home here such as the agile American marten and the mysterious Canada lynx. Towering over them all is the mighty moose, whose numbers here rival anywhere in the Lower 48.

For those looking to explore, the Speck Pond Trail welcomes visitors on a steep climb up to the Appalachian Trail. Grafton is the third wildland safeguarded by Northeast Wilderness Trust in the Western Maine Mountains, together totaling 10,345 acres.

6,045 acres

34 northern woodland songbirds

Buffers 2 miles of the Appalachian Trail