The 120 acre Kezar River Reserve in Lovell Village is one of GLLT’s best known conserved lands. It features a hand carry canoe/kayak launch (including one canoe available for public use), picnic areas, and three short trails including a seasonally updated children’s book along the Storybook Trail. in 2024 the Storybook Trail was converted to an all-persons trail featuring a 6 foot wide, obstacle-free stone dust path with gentle grades and an improved parking area. This trail project was made possible thanks to generous support from the Morton Kelly Foundation, Dorr Family Foundation, the Robert and Dorothy Goldberg Charitable Trust, Fields Pond Foundation, Quimby Family Foundation, L.L. Bean, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Norway Savings Bank, and Stephens Memorial Hospital.

In 2025 the first 250ft of the Slide Trail was also converted to be all-persons spec, and leads to a nature play space. The nature play space is the newest addition to the property and features tunnels to crawl through, logs to climb on, a mud kitchen, an outdoor classroom, and more! The play space is intended to be an area dedicated to nature-based play that engages people (young and old) with the outdoors.

Directions

Located across from the Wicked Good gas station just north of Lovell Village. From the GLLT office at 208 Main Street in Lovell, head north on Route 5 for approximately 1 mile. Turn right onto the access road marked by the property sign, then follow the access road for approximately 0.25 mile and arrive at the parking area.

Property Features

The property was purchased in the early 1970’s by Bear Paw Timber Corp. as timberland for hardwood and softwood timber products. In 1999 the property was donated to The Nature Conservancy to serve as a working forest, and in 2003 the land was transferred to GLLT to be managed as a natural area for public access. The property includes over 3,000 feet of frontage on the Kezar River, a black spruce swamp, steep ravines, and towering white pine stands.

Access

Canoe Launch: The launch is located at the end of the woods road which begins at the chain gate in the parking area. Unload your boats at the gate, and use the provided boat carts (located in a plastic tote next to the gate) to transport your boats and gear down to the launch. If walking your boat down to the launch is difficult for your, please call 207-925-1056 for permission to drive down the woods road.

Publicly Available Canoe: There is currently one canoe available for free public use. Two life jackets and paddles are included. We ask that you please return the canoe to its storage spot when you are done, report any issues with the canoe or paddling gear to GLLT, and remember that you use any of our public canoes at your own risk.

Trails: The property features three trails, all loops under 1 mile round-trip. The 0.2 mile Slide Trail starts as 250 feet of all-persons trail to a Nature Play Space. It is a short, flat trail that leaves from the parking area and takes you past a small “slide” waterfall. The 0.4 mile Storybook Trail begins at the parking area and is a 6 foot wide, obstacle-free stone dust path with gentle grades which meanders atop a bluff overlooking the Kezar River, is lined with storyboards displaying a children’s book, and features a picnic area. This trail was built to be accessible to as many people as possible. The 0.6 mile Bev’s Loop Trail begins on the woods road and takes you atop and through some steep ravines. To get to it, walk around the chain gate in the parking area and walk down the woods road towards the canoe launch.

Species observed to date

Please forward any new observations to Dennis Smith, GLLT Database Administrator.