Popple Hill Preserve

Description and Access

The 729-acre Popple Hill Preserve in Cherryfield, Maine contains over 400 acres of older-growth oak and maple hardwood forest, remnants of an old red pine plantation, and 2.25 miles of frontage on the Narraguagus River. There is a DSF preserve sign at the entrance with parking for a couple of vehicles.

Popple Hill view to the Narraguagus River

Visitors will find a picnic table along the River Canoe Trail leading from the main Popple Hill Trail. There are no amenities or facilities at this location, and visitors should follow the “Pack-it-in, Pack-it-out” policy when visiting this preserve.

Old camp at Popple Hill Preserve

Access to the Popple Hill Preserve from Cherryfield, Maine is by driving north on Route 193 approximately 9.5 miles. Turn left onto blueberry barrens (just before blue field housing on right). Follow the main track of the gravel road. Bear left at first major fork, continue straight through any other forks or bends, keeping to the main track. At about 1.25 miles, enter some woods, then skirt the edge of a pond on the right. Continue around the pond. After the blue pump house, the road climbs back up to the barrens. Follow the road along a ridgeline looking southwest toward Tunk Mountain in the distance, with wind turbines to the west (on the right). The total distance from Route 193 will be 2.3 miles, at this point turn left onto a smaller gravel road that drops down abruptly from the barrens towards the woods again. From that turnoff it is 650 feet to the DSF preserve sign and parking area, just past the edgeline for the woods. Pull off to the side and do not block the road.

Visitors should be respectful of blueberry farming activity while transiting through the commercial blueberry land abutting the preserve, which is privately-owned.