Two New Snowshoe Trails for 2009
(click here for printable trail map)

Winter Trail – 0.5 mile

With the recent purchase of the Hancock Property by the Gray Community Endowment, new trail options are evolving.  For the winter 2009 we have flagged a winter trail near beginning of the Moose Odyssey trail that connects to the Harold Libbey trail. 

This new trail is flagged with bright green ribbons and quickly gets the winter hiker or snowshoer off the groomed ski trail system and into the woods.  The trail follows the boundary line of our property passing by several trees with old barbed wire fences (use caution) and several rock piles that are remnants of the old James Libby Farm and the pastures uses below it. 

Begin by taking the outer loop of the Moose Odyssey trail near the Middle School.  After crossing the snowmobile trail (SA4) you will see green ribbons on the left.  If you get to the connector you have gone too far (if you started on the inner loop of the Moose Odyssey, use the connector to get to the outer loop.  Follow the green survey ribbons up hill and watch how the landscape changes on the left to an open oak forest.  You are very likely to see deer in the distance when going through this section.  Look for animal tracks as you work through the snow, lots of deer and possibly fisher or pine martin tracks are commonly seen here.

The winter trail is about ½ mile long and as you reach the top of the hill you will cross the Harold Libbey Trail just below the memorial to him at the intersection of the Moose Odyssey trail.  You can make several loop hikes here by either taking the Harold Libbey inner loop or continue on to the second intersection about 400 feet down the trail where you come to the junction of the outer loop of the Harold Libbey trail. You can can go right and proceed about 400 feet on the Harold Libbey and take the new Ghost Trail Connector.  The trail begins between two large boulders and winds down hill to the Ghost Trail. 

Ghost Trail – 0.75 mile 

The Ghost Trail is what remains of some of the original trails of Libby Hill before we began construction of the trail system in 1999.  We call it Ghost because it represents the old system and still ‘haunts’ the hill and also we like to imagine the ghost of Daniel Libby walks his hill to see what has become of it.  The Trail runs ¾ of a mile from the Deer Run trail to Thayer Brook near the junction of the Outback trail.  It is a very fun hike or snowshoe because of its varied terrain, good views to wildlife areas in the wetlands, an old granite quarry, and a view of one of the oldest and rarest trees on the hill, the black gum tree.  There is one wetland crossing which can be negotiated year round, carefully follow the green ribbons to avoid getting wet feet in summer (not an issue in winter). 

The combination of these trails with the Harold Libbey and Outback trails, gives snowshoers and hikers several loop options to explore Libby Hill.  This makes Libby Hill one of the best places to snowshoe in southern Maine!