Try this easy winter hike with the family.  Get out and explore Cooper Farm and Caterpillar Trail, a Blue Hill Heritage Trust Property. You will love the scenic qualities of this historic farmstead and forest.  There are roughly  1.5 miles of trails. The middle and lower loops (farthest from the trailhead) wind through winter coastal forest  before returning to the dormant fields and trailhead.   Visitors can walk or ski the loop trails and experience the beautiful landscape firsthand. Just a reminder that the trails are ungroomed in the winter, but still enjoyable for skiers. Remember to come back in July and August for blueberry picking in the fields.

Guided Hike with Blue Hill Heritage Trust

Why not sign up for a guided hike of the property? An added bonus is that the Blue Hill Heritage Trust is offering a guided hike at the farm on February 13th at 10:00 AM until noon(snow date is February 14).Your hiking guides that morning are Merrie Eley and Barbara Kourajian, who will share their naturalist knowledge with you. Register by clicking here. 

Books and Tools 

Books can enhance your hiking experience whether it is a field guide or a story told in the wilderness or a picture book about the joy of winter. For a picture book you might enjoy Cozy by Jan Brett or Blizzard by John Rocco.  A few children’s novels with winter settings also come to mind, I Survived True Stories : Five Epic Disasters  by Lauren Tarshis or Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu or a novel by a Maine author, The Journey of the Pale Bear by Susan Fletcher. All of these suggestions are available at our library.  For a complete listing of books for children on the subject please go to our Catalog tab and search using one of the words winter, hiking or survival. You might also consider borrowing one of the library’s adventure packs: seashore, hiking and/or birding depending on your hike’s focus.

Tips

• Bring your children and dogs on a leash. Great for all ages!
• Take a look at the tips for Winter Hiking on our website for a complete listing of tips.
• Print the farm’s map by going to the Blue Hill Heritage Site. A map always helps and is a great tool for children to learn how to use.  
• Take binoculars if you have them. You will see some amazing birds and possibly even some mammals in the winter.

Image: Courtesy of Blue Hill Heritage Trust