Highland Research Forest

The Highland Research Forest is 420 acres of streams, wetlands, and woodland in Bridgton, Maine, located on the northern end of Highland Lake. The preserve is open year-round and has 4.5 miles of trails. LEA owns and manages these trails. Please observe our use guidelines and follow Leave No Trace practices when visiting. Contact sam@mainelakes.org with any questions.

History

In 2016, the Hancock Family Foundation donated 340 acres to LEA. Another 80 acres were added by the Hatch Family in 2018. Before establishing trails, we worked to determine ecologically sensitive areas and other zones of interest with support from ecological consultant Dr. Rick Van de Poll. The trails, privy, and parking lot were installed between 2018 and 2019 with support from grant funding, Dyer Excavation, volunteer Jim Kelley, and trail intern Addie Casali.

LEA has an active forest management plan for Highland Research Forest that focuses on ongoing stewardship, which we update as needed with support from forester Paul Larrivee. We envision the research forest as a place that offers visitors a glimpse into sustainable harvesting, the importance of a forested watershed, and a space for long-term research projects related to woods, wildlife, soil, and water.

Use Guidelines

The privy is located a few hundred feet down the trail from the parking lot. It is lovingly maintained and restocked by volunteer Laura Cleveland. We ask that you clean up after yourself and don’t leave trash behind.

Please observe the following guidelines during your visit:

Take only memories, leave only footprints. Please do not remove any natural objects from the preserve, and remember to carry out everything you bring in.
Hunting is allowed; plan accordingly during hunting season and wear at least 2 articles of blaze orange. Not sure on dates? FMI: Season Dates and Bag Limits: Hunting Laws & Rules: Hunting & Trapping: Maine Dept of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
No overnight camping
No motorized vehicles
Dogs must be on a leash

Trails Info & Maps

4.5 miles of trails
Highest Elevation: 640ft
Lowest Elevation: 423ft

Click below to download the trail map

Trail Conditions:

Expect muddy conditions with remaining small patches of snow. Some areas of trails with lower points of elevation are extra muddy and wet so be careful and watch your footing especially on the Carsley Brook Trail, the Wetland Connector, and the bottom of Hatch’s Hollow and Hatch’s Hurdle. As spring ramps up, remember to bring bugspray!

Last updated 4/9/26

Directions

Heading north on Rt. 117 from Bridgton: Take a left onto Middle Ridge Road and continue straight at the crossroad to Upper Ridge Road. Note the stop sign; traffic crossing Chadbourne Hill Road does not stop. After heading down a steep hill with a power line clearing, take a left onto Commons Drive. The trailhead parking area is on the left after one mile.

Trailheads:

Parking Area Entrance: The parking area accommodates roughly 6-8 mid sized cars and directly accesses the Lake Trail and the Loop Trail. From here you can connect onto any trail at Highland Research Forest.

Hatch’s Hollow Entrance: This entrance is accessible on Commons Drive before you reach the main parking area. It’s posted with signs but is only a clearing along the road which restricts parking to whatever can fit on the side.

Highland Ridge Ski Trails

The Highland Research Forest trails connect to the network of cross-country ski trails at Highland Ridge. Ski trails are maintained by Roger Lowell and many volunteers. Map created by Steve Bushey. Access the ski trail map here.