RANGELEY – Visitors to Rangeley Lake will have a new trail to explore come summer, according to Shelby Rousseau of Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust.

The trust partnered with the Maine Conservation Corps in 1994 to establish about 12 miles of recreational trails and six camping and picnic sites on conservation land throughout the Rangeley Lakes region, according to a news release.

The corps broke ground on one of the trust’s newest projects the beginning of the month. A crew of six cut a 1.7-mile loop trail on Bonney Point between Smith and Oquossoc Coves on the northwest end of the lake. They spent about 60 hours one week cutting and clipping trees, preparing Bonney Point Trail on 280 acres acquired by the trust four years ago.

Additional work will need before the trail will open, including placing rocks to stabilize the trail, placing trail markers and building bog bridges, particularly along the water’s edge. This work will be done in spring, according to Rousseau.

The trail promises to be educational, she said, adding that she recently saw a bear there. Beaver live in the area as well, evidenced by their dams.

“There’s lots of critters out there,” she said.

The trail will open for hiking, skiing and snowshoeing when it is complete.