Where Are Stanton Bird Club's Protected Lands and Trails?

Stanton Bird Club owns and protects more than 850 acres of land across Androscoggin and Kennebec County, Maine, and maintains trails that are open for public use. If you want to walk, bird, or simply see the habitat the club manages, the trails are the most direct way in. The club frames this work as stewardship: land preservation that supports birds, other wildlife, and public appreciation of the natural world.

What the Club Protects

The club's own description of its stewardship work is specific on two points:

• Scale: over 850 acres owned and protected.
• Location: Androscoggin and Kennebec County, Maine.

That acreage is managed alongside the club's other two pillars — natural science research and educational programs and events — with the stated goal of protecting birds and other wildlife. In practice, the protected land is also where many of the club's walks take place, so the trails double as both recreation space and birding habitat.

Trails and Public Access

The site lists trails as a public offering ("our trails"), which means you do not need to be a member to use them. The evidence does not specify individual trail names, lengths, surface conditions, parking, or hours, so treat any visit as a general outing rather than a mapped route until you confirm details with the club.

A practical approach:

1. Check the club's Upcoming Events section before you go — scheduled walks often name the exact property or trailhead.
2. Pick an event that matches your interest and experience level rather than navigating an unfamiliar property alone.
3. Bring standard birding gear (binoculars, water, layers) since the properties are natural areas, not developed parks.

Using Events to Find the Land

The clearest way to reach specific protected properties is through the club's scheduled walks, which name locations directly. Recent and upcoming listings include:

These listings show the range of places the club actively birds and manages access to — river trails, farms, ponds, and lake shorelines. If your goal is to visit protected land, joining one of these walks is the most reliable route, because the meeting point and time are published in advance.

What to Expect on a Club Walk

Recent trip notes give a sense of the format:

• Group sizes have ranged from about 10 to 20 people.
• Walks go out in most weather, with notes on temperature and sky conditions.
• The club also organizes larger efforts, such as the Lewiston Auburn Christmas Bird Count, which in 2025 fielded six teams and 20 birders.

For a first visit, a Wednesday morning bird walk is the lowest-commitment option. For families, the club runs separate youth programming, including Thorncrag Nature Week for ages 6–12, which is a different kind of activity from the trail walks.

Before You Go

The site does not publish trail maps, addresses, or access rules for each property. To avoid a wasted trip:

• Confirm the meeting location and time from the event listing.
• Ask the club directly about parking and trail conditions if you plan to visit outside a scheduled event.
• Treat the 850+ acres as working conservation land — stay on trails and follow leave-no-trace practice.

The bottom line: the protected lands sit in Androscoggin and Kennebec County, the trails are open to the public, and the easiest way to find and use them is to join a scheduled club walk that names the property.