Just fifteen minutes north of South Portland, the Maine Audubon Gilsland Farm Audubon Center is in Falmouth, Maine. It offers a network of scenic walking trails, an educational center, places to sit and enjoy the wildlife, and a community garden.
An afternoon can be spent watching wildlife and learning about native Maine plants at no cost!
A Brief History of Maine Audubon Gilsland Farm
The land that Maine Audubon sits on was once home to the Wabanakis. In 1843, Silas Noyes bought the land and turned it into Gilsland Farm, where he built a house that still stands at the entrance to the sanctuary.
Between 1974 and 1994, Maine Audubon acquired the land through the generosity of the Freeman family after David Moulton (Ruth Moulton Freemans’s father) bought the farm in 1911 and named it Gilsland Farm.
Since 1843, the land where Maine Audubon sits has been working on conserving Maine’s flora and fauna. It is the largest conservation organization in Maine, with eight centers around the state and about 30,000 people involved. They provide hands-on nature programs for students and adults, lead expeditions, develop policy tools, and many other efforts across the state.
Why You Should Visit Audubon
Spending the day at Maine Audubon’s headquarters in Falmouth at Gilsland Farm is a great way to learn about and enjoy Maine’s landscape and wildlife. Near the Presumpscot River estuary, the sanctuary offers 65 acres with over two miles of walking trails around an education center.
With plenty to do, visitors can enjoy one of their many scheduled programs, visit the nature store, walk the trail to the pond, or visit the orchard. There’s even a Children’s Discovery Room!
Walking Trails
The walking trails, with gentle grades, are easy for most ages and abilities. Pick from three routes: West Meadow Trail (0.7 miles), Pond Meadow Trail (0.6 miles), or North Meadow Trail (1.2 miles). West Meadow trail gives views of the Presumpscot Estuary from the West Meadow. Lucky visitors can see waterfowl and shorebirds on the mudflats.
Pond Meadow trail offers a wide variety of trees to explore, from red oaks to Ash, White Birch, and Aspen. The trail is below the apple orchard and pond where wetland birds reside.
The North Meadow Trail goes through oak and hemlock groves into the North Meadow. Look for a variety of native birds.
Picnics
Gilsland Farm Audubon Center is an excellent location for a picnic, with a few tables scattered around the property. Just down the road from the Audubon Center is Rosemont Market. With seven locations all over Southern Maine, they pack a big punch in their small Falmouth shop.
Committed to stocking locally sourced goods, a fantastic selection of beer, wine, sandwiches, pre-made meals, groceries, seafood, deli, and fresh bread. Snag a grab-and-go meal for a scenic lunch, or get all the fixings for a charcuterie plate.
Mackworth Island Park
If you’ve still got the walking bug, across the road from Maine Audubon is Mackworth Island State Park, accessed by the short but scenic Andrews Ave Causeway. Mackworth Island is home to the Baxter School for The Deaf, serving deaf and hard-of-hearing students in Maine.
However, after parking in the designated lot on the island, visitors can explore along the perimeter of Mackworth island on a 1.5-mile loop, walking around the nearly 100-acre island. The trail is scenic, winding through the woods, with frequent ocean views and access to the shore at various spots. Visitors can observe the many creative fairy houses built along the trail in certain places, and a dog cemetery sits on the island’s north end.
Presumpscot Falls Park and Walton Park
Head to Presumpscot Falls Park and Walton Park in Falmouth for more scenic walking adventures. This short network of trails follows the Presumpscot River, giving views of Presumpscot Falls. This is a popular fishing spot for striped bass, so don’t forget to pack your fishing pole. Walton Park, adjacent to Presumpscot Falls Park, has an easy trail that leads to a public dock.
In 2001, this land was commissioned by Portland Trails and the City of Portland Landbank Commission, in partnership with the Land for Maine’s Future program, allotting 68 acres of land on the Presumpscot River. Thus, the Presumpscot River Preserve was born.
Falmouth Town Landing
If you’re ready to enjoy saltwater access, head down to the Falmouth Town Landing off Foreside Road. You’ll find a public beach, a boat launch, and plenty of benches to observe beautiful Casco Bay.
What to Eat
If the ocean views make you hungry for a seafood lunch or dinner, head to Dockside Grill on the harbor at Handy Boat Marina. They offer traditional New England dishes with a contemporary flair. The downstairs dining area features a mahogany bar and outdoor patio. The upstairs dining room features a bar, lounge, dining room, and cocktail deck.
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Their menu will satisfy any seafood lover. It offers seafood or lobster chowder, fried calamari, crab cakes, Bangs Island mussels, a raw bar with oysters and more, and fish or steak entrées.
If you happen to be there on a Sunday, they serve a succulent brunch from 11 to 3, with classic seafood offerings and sweeter fare like brioche doughnuts and French toast with local maple syrup.
Though not the food hub of its neighbor, Portland, Falmouth finds home to some special eateries and plenty of quiet and serene nature spots to explore. As always, be mindful of your surroundings. Pack out any trash or debris you pack in, and stay on marked trails.
Conclusion
At the Maine Audubon Center, employees and nature experts can answer any questions about land access, but signs are always your friend if you’re on a trail and unsure.
Maine’s wildlife and flora have been meticulously preserved through the care, direction, and education of many wonderful organizations in Maine, making this state a hot destination for “getting away from it all.”
