Since its inception in 1991, Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust has conserved over 100,000 pristine acres in Western Maine. Most recently this summer, thanks to a gift from the Chodosh Family and the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, RLHT expanded conserved lands by 100+ acres by purchasing the Mingo Springs Lupine and Birding Trail. Thanks to the generosity of the Adelman and Rogers family, RLHT closed on a 3,300-acre conservation easement on the north side of Kennebago Lake. This easement completes the acquisition portion of the Kennebago Headwaters Project totaling over 10,000 acres!

Snowshoeing the Hatchery Brook Preserve Trail. (RLHT photo)

RLHT exists to conserve and preserve public access to Rangeley’s world-renowned outdoor recreation playground. Enjoy miles of publicly accessible trails on RLHT’s properties this winter. From motorized fun like snowmobiling to heart-pumping nordic skiing or snowshoeing adventure through the woods, there’s plenty to explore.

• Find recreational trails by visiting rlht.org/conservation-area/ and clicking the winter access button.

In a recent article by The Boston Globe, Rangeley and other rural parts of Maine were touted for unmatched dark skies and some of the best stargazing in the country. Turn off the lights and turn on the Milky Way on a cold, clear night this winter.

• Find dark sky hotspots sure to inspire at rlht.org/conservation-area/ and click the dark sky trail button.

The Milky Way overhead at Quill Hill. (Photo by Kyle Haley)

Restoration Projects

RLHT’s Kennebago Headwaters watershed restoration work continues. This project features shorefront, wetlands, and riparian areas of the Kennebago River and key tributaries. The Kennebago is one of the most important wild, native brook trout watersheds in the U.S. 

In partnership with M&H Construction, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, and US Fish & Wildlife Service, RLHT has replaced five undersized culvert crossings with open-bottom bridges, which reconnect habitat and provide passage for brook trout and other aquatic organisms. The completion of these projects brings the total of reconnected upstream habitat to over 10 miles in the Kennebago watershed. Learn more about the project in this story map.

Stewardship Highlights

Sadie Gray, RLHT’s Headwaters Intern, spent the summer and fall compiling comprehensive reports on the condition of each of our lakes and ponds, one at a time. You can find completed water quality reports on the following lakes and ponds: Rangeley Lake, Mooselookmeguntic Lake, Loon Lake, Quimby Pond, Dodge Pond, Round Pond, Saddleback Lake, Haley Pond, and Richardson Lake. Check out the full reports at: rlht.org/watershed-health

On The Horizon

RLHT has been quietly working with three Maine-based partner organizations on our next large-scale conservation project in the northern forest of Western Maine. This project will effectively connect over half a million acres of conserved lands. This will be a historic effort for Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust and our region. Stay tuned for an announcement sometime in early 2025. 

Connect with RLHT on social media: Instagram @rangeleyheritagetrust and Facebook.com/rlht.org. Join our newsletter list to get the latest updates on conservation projects, restoration work, dark sky programming, and climate good news at rlht.org.