Hit the trails

Outdoor
National Trails Day is a chance to take a walk and do some work

In northern New England, we like to walk in the woods. There are more than 4,000 miles of hiking trails in New Hampshire, plus tens of thousands more in Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont. They run along riverbanks, overlook harbors and lakes, traverse mountain peaks, and cut through fields and meadows, offering pristine glimpses of diverse habitats and spectacular wildlife species.

But all those trails require maintenance, most of which is carried out by volunteer clubs and organizations. The need for stewardship is especially strong in spring, when winter’s wreckage is still fresh on the ground. Fallen trees and branches block paths, winter storms damage drainages, and flooding from snowmelt erodes trails.

National Trails Day, taking place this year on Saturday, June 6, is a chance to celebrate trails and the people who maintain them, and to get outside and enjoy the woods. Organized by the American Hiking Society, the event includes activities in all 50 states. Some feature short hikes and educational programs, while others ask volunteers to put on some gloves, pick up a shovel, and pitch in.

Here is a roundup of events taking place in the greater Seacoast area on Saturday for National Trails Day.

Mount Agamenticus (9 a.m.-1 p.m.): During a Community Workday at Mount A, volunteers will help with spring maintenance work, including cleaning and repairing drainages along nearby trails, removing fallen brush, and closing spider trails. Mountain Road, Cape Neddick, Maine. Register at 207-361-1102 or [email protected].

Maudsley State Park (10 a.m.-12 p.m.): Hosted by Kurgo Products, volunteers will walk the trails and do maintenance work on a portion along the Merrimack River. 74 Curzon Mill Road, Newburyport, Mass. Contact 877-847-3868 or [email protected].

Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge (10-11 a.m.): Refuge volunteers will offer a guided nature program along the Carson Trail, a National Recreation Trail. Meet at the Carson Trailhead, 321 Port Road, Wells, Maine. Contact 207-646-9226 or [email protected].

Vaughan Woods Memorial State Park (10 a.m. & 2 p.m.): An environmental steward will lead a nature walk and talk along the River Run Trail by the Salmon Falls River at 10 a.m. A second walk on the Bridal Path takes place at 2 p.m., with stops at several historic sites. 28 Oldfields Road, South Berwick, Maine.

Southeast Land Trust (10:30 a.m.): SELT’s annual conservation celebration takes place at Madbury Town Hall, with presentations followed by a locavore lunch and field trips. 13 Town Hall Road, Madbury. $10 ($5 for children, free for kids under 6). Register at 603-778-6088 or [email protected], or visit seltnh.org.

Fort McClary State Historic Site (11 a.m. & 2 p.m.): Walk the Barters Creek Trail at 11 a.m. and learn what fish and wildlife visit the nearby waterway. Tours of the Blockhouse and a short walk on the Harbor Trail take place at 2 p.m. Route 103, Kittery Point, Maine.

Great Works Regional Land Trust: Volunteers will participate in trail work with stewardship coordinator Darrel Detour. Contact the GWRLT for exact times and locations. Pre-registration is required at 207-646-3604 or [email protected].

To find more events, visit nationaltrailsday.org.