Perley Rd. to Grist Mill Stroll

The Holt Pond Preserve was created to educate people about the importance of wetlands and how they help protect water quality. However, Holt Pond is first and foremost a nature preserve and LEA has created use guidelines to ensure that the natural beauty and quality of the area is protected.

BRIDGTON. Maine - The Holt Pond Preserve was established in 1970 when LEA purchased 30 acres of woodland and stream next to Holt Pond in Bridgton. Over the years, through the dedicated efforts of many, the preserve has grown to include over 400 acres. A trip to Holt Pond is always a wonderful experience.

Starting at the parking area off Grist Mill Road, the path takes you through a mixed forest of birch, beech, hemlock, and pine. You cross over a stone wall into a red maple swamp. In the spring, listen for the sounds of returning neo-tropical migrant birds and in the winter, look for the flitting silhouettes of chickadees shivering for warmth.

Leaving the red maple swamp you find yourself on one of the several hummocks in the preserve, a nutrient rich glacial deposit where hemlocks have taken root. Venturing out to the Muddy River, a ripple in the water and a loud splash indicates the presence of a territorial beaver. MORE

Caroline and Miss Penny!