The wait is over! All the details, trail maps, and downloadable passports for the 2026 FSHT Trail Challenge are now available.
Starting tomorrow, July 17th, and running through August 31st, we invite you to explore the preserves of southern and western Maine. Whether you are taking on the family-friendly Explorer Challenge or stepping up to the Adventurer Challenge, everything you need to hit the trails and win great local prizes is ready for you.
Head over to our fully updated official challenge page to download your passports and view the exact plaque locations:
The coordinates are set, the plaques are installed, and it’s time to hit the trails. From today through August 31st, explore our preserves, find the hidden plaques, and complete your passport to win local prizes!
How to Participate:
Get a Passport: Download and print your double-sided passport using the links below, or pick up a physical copy at your local town hall or library.
Find the Plaques: Hike the trails listed on your passport. At the furthest point of each trail (or a designated history landmark), you will find a special raised animal plaque. NOTE: The maps are posted at the trailhead and directions for trail navigation is at the bottom of the trail map.
Make a Rubbing: Bring a pencil or crayon and use your passport page to make a physical rubbing of the animal plaque.
Claim Your Prize: Mail your completed passport to us (P.O. Box 414, Limerick, ME 04048) or bring it to Local Gear in Cornish on Saturday, September 12th between 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM to get your prize and enter the $50 gift card raffle!
Choose Your Challenge Tier:
Option A: The Explorer Challenge
Perfect for easy strolls, young children, and relaxed nature viewing. Complete all four to win a kiddie cone card for Route 160 Ice Cream.
We have some exciting updates to share regarding the Francis Small Heritage Trust website (fsht.org)! If you head over to our “Current Projects” section under the “News” menu item, you will find completely updated and redesigned project pages reflecting our incredible conservation progress in Porter, Maine.
Here is a breakdown of what has changed and what you can explore online:
1. Porter Hills Phase I – Celebration & Completion
Our updated Porter Hills Phase I page showcases the successful completion of this ambitious initiative. Originally launched in 2022, Phase I has matured into a thriving community resource.
What’s new on the page:
Four New Hiking Trails: Explore details on the Devils Den Trail, Gateway Trail, Devils Den Connector, and Colcord Trail—all developed and opened since 2023.
Two Paths to Bald Ledge: Learn about the newly completed Colcord Trail, providing a spectacular second route up to the breathtaking panoramic views at Bald Ledge.
Community & Connection: Read about our recent historical preservation milestone installing a new headstone for Revolutionary War soldier Samuel Brooks, and our winter recreation events.
Infrastructure & Safety: Details on our new parking areas, informational kiosks, and our volunteer-led blaze orange vest program for hunter safety education.
2. Porter Hills Phase II is now the “Norton Hill Property” Page
Reflecting our shifting milestones, the page formerly known as Porter Hills Phase II has been officially updated to the Norton Hill Property Progress page. This section details how we are successfully connecting isolated conservation lands to create a continuous, larger block of protected land.
Key highlights featured on the new page:
New Acquisitions: A look back at our April 2024 acquisition of approximately 100 acres on Moody Road, made possible through Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) funding.
Trail Network Updates: Current progress on the flagged and developed Devils Den Connector Trail (Moody Road South Trail) and upcoming trail plans for the 131-acre Norton Hill parcel—including a planned accessibility-enhanced trail to a scenic overlook.
Ecological Stewardship: Learn about the two significant vernal pools identified by DIFW biologists that FSHT is fully committed to protecting.
Innovative Land Care: Read about our exciting upcoming cooperative effort with the La Finca Farm Cooperative to use goats for natural brush and invasive plant management on the Moody Road North property.
Explore the New Pages Today!
We invite you to visit fsht.org, check out the new maps, view photos of the properties, and see firsthand how your support makes a permanent impact on conserving land and a way of life in Southern Maine.
Get ready to combine a love of reading with a love for the outdoors! We are thrilled to announce that from June 13 to July 12, the Francis Small Heritage Trust will be hosting a summer Story Walk at the Jagolinzer Preserve.
This season, our featured book is “The Moon Over Malibu Maine,” a wonderful story written by Tonya Shevenell with beautiful illustrations by Laura Winslow. As an all-volunteer organization based right here in Limington, we are always looking for ways to foster community connections and make our local natural spaces engaging for all ages.
What is a Story Walk? If you haven’t participated in one before, a Story Walk takes the pages of a children’s book and spaces them out along a walking path. As you hike through the Jagolinzer Preserve—navigating the Loop Trail, the Bypass, and the River Trail alongside the scenic Saco River and the Pease Brook—you’ll read the story sequentially. It’s the perfect excuse to unplug, get some fresh air in southern Maine, and keep young minds active during the summer break.
Planning Your Visit The event is entirely self-guided and free to the public, running daily from June 13 through July 12.
Getting There: Trail-head parking is located on Olives Way, directly off State Route 25. You will find the turnoff just a short distance southeast of the Cornish-Limington town line.
Grab your walking shoes, pack some water and bug spray, and come enjoy a great story in the woods. See you on the trail!
The Spring 2026 edition of our newsletter, Tidings of the Turtle, has just been posted to the website!
This issue is packed with exciting updates on our recent conservation efforts, community collaborations, and an absolute lineup of summer events you won’t want to miss.
What’s Inside This Issue:
The Great Oaks Wilderness Sanctuary: A deep dive into the 553.65-acre “forever wild” parcel in Parsonsfield, now protected under a conservation easement held by FSHT.
Accessible Trail Updates: Highlights and community feedback from our April listening sessions regarding the proposed “All Persons” trails at Outlet Park (Waterboro) and Norton Hill (Porter).
Summer 2026 Event Calendar: Registration details for upcoming forage walks, moonlight hikes, the FSHT Trail Challenge, and youth activities partnered with Sacopee Valley Adult & Community Education.
Winter Reflections: A thank-you to the hardy volunteers and community members who braved the single digits for our January snowshoe trek on Sawyer Mountain.
How to Read
You can view or download the complete PDF directly from the Newsletter section of our website.
Whether you have been walking our trails for decades or you signed up to join our newsletter list just today at the trailhead—thank you. Today, the Francis Small Heritage Trust hosted an Open House at our beloved Devils Den property. The cool spring air made for perfect hiking weather, keeping the bugs at bay and setting the stage for an unforgettable morning. Up near the historic cabin, visitors were treated to a beautiful display of local photos and a pristine view of wild pink lady’s slippers blooming right on cue.
The real highlight of the day, however, was the people.
We had a steady flow of foot traffic all morning. We shared stories with neighbors from around Bickford and Colcord Ponds, swapped trail tips with local rock climbers exploring the Devil’s Cartway, and introduced eager newcomers to our newly opened Connector Trail.
We also want to congratulate our raffle winners today! A visitor from Biddeford walked away with a brand-new FSHT tote bag, and a dedicated regular from the Healthy Sacopee hiking group won a copy of Robin Wall Kimmerer’s book, The Serviceberry.
A Moment of Profound Generosity As an organization run entirely by passionate neighbors and volunteers, we pour our hearts into keeping these lands accessible, protected, and beautiful. Today, we were completely blown away when a local couple stepped forward with a commitment to the Trust to support our ongoing stewardship work. Words cannot adequately express how grateful we are for this level of trust and support. It ensures we can keep blazing new trails and protecting watersheds for generations to come.
To our long-time subscribers: thank you for your ongoing support. To our 14 new subscribers who joined us today: welcome to the family! We are so excited to have you on this journey with us.
Keep an eye out for our upcoming summer trail walks and events (and next time, we promise to put a lawn sign at the turn for Norton Hill Road so your GPS doesn’t have to guess!).
See you out on the trails,
The Board & VolunteersFrancis Small Heritage Trust
