Roberts Farm Snowshoe Scouting

The Roberts Farm Preserve offers an intricate trail system designed to support many outdoor activities year round. Much of the 165-acre piece of land is covered with both hard and soft woods and is situated above Lake Pennesseewassee, allowing expansive views of the lake and mountains beyond. The property and the parking area are conveniently located off of ME-117/118 offering easy access for residents and visitors of the Oxford Hills Region. The trail system includes three types of trails: a universally accessible, ADA compliant loop, two cross-country ski trails of differing widths, and a hiking trail. With the exception of the hiking trail, all trails are open to multiple non-motorized uses.

The ADA compliant trail offers a loop with a hike to a scenic viewpoint. The loop is suitable for young children on skis or foot and is user-friendly for the elderly and handicapped. The scenic view trail, also wheelchair accessible, takes visitors to a scenic overlook of Lake Pennesseewassee. The trail has a width of 8 feet and has a smooth and stable surface of 1.5 inch screened gravel. In the spring, summer, and fall, this trail supports stroller and wheelchair users along with runners, and walkers. In the winter, one set of classic ski tracks is set. This trail offers people of all ages and abilities access to the outdoors.

Roberts Farm Preserve currently provides skiers and runners with 6.5 km of intermediate trails with a width of 12 feet that will be groomed for an 8-foot wide skate lane and a 4-foot wide classic set of tracks for skiing. The trail offers numerous loops of moderate difficulty and options for skiing on sections of trail with the most difficult ratings. All trails take advantage of the wooded forest, which allows for shade in the summer and wind protection in the winter. The trails also follow streams, old road beds, and stonewalls with three significant stream crossings over 14-foot wide bridges.

The hiking trail has two access points: at the Roberts Farm parking lot and at the rest area across from Lake Pennesseewassee on ME-117/118. The 2-kilometer trail from the rest area climbs to the wider ski trail and follows it to the scenic point where it continues to weave around and through the trail system to the parking lot at Roberts Farm. The hiking trail is a primitive footpath that is also enjoyable for snowshoers in the winter months.