Dodge Point Preserve - Newcastle, ME
Dodge Point Preserve in Newcastle, ME is a fantastic dog park offering pet-friendly trails and scenic dog-friendly hiking opportunities along the Damariscotta River. With 5 miles of varied trails including the Farm Road Trail, Timber Trail, Ravine Trail, and Shoreline Trail, this preserve provides a peaceful and enjoyable outdoor experience for dog owners and their pets. The terrain is generally easy and kid-friendly, making it a great spot for families with children to explore nature together.
What makes Dodge Point Preserve unique is its combination of wooded trails, coastal views, and a public dock, perfect for dogs who love water adventures. Visitors appreciate the leisurely terrain, diverse scenery, and the chance to walk along the shore during low tide. The park’s moderate hills and well-maintained paths ensure a comfortable hike for all skill levels, while the smaller parking lots encourage a quiet, uncrowded atmosphere. This hidden gem is a must-visit dog park in Newcastle, ME for those seeking a blend of hiking, nature, and pet-friendly fun.
FAQ for Dodge Point Preserve in Newcastle Maine:
- Is there a playground or activities for kids nearby? Yes, Dodge Point Preserve is good for kids and has kid-friendly hikes.
- Where is the best place to park? The main parking lot can get full on weekends, so a good option is to park in the other lot a half mile south on River Road and then cross the road to head up to the Timber Trail.
- How busy does the park get on weekends? The main parking lot gets full on weekends, but the trails generally do not feel busy as you only see a few other hikers.
- Are there walking or hiking trails connected to the park? Yes, there are about 5 miles of trails including the Farm Road Trail, Timber Trail, Ravine Trail, and Shoreline Trail offering a variety of scenery.
- Is there a swimming area or pond for dogs? There is an ice pond and brickyard beach along the trails, and a small pond near the trail areas; some parts walk along the shore at low tide.
- Is there shade or shelter available? The trails go through heavily forested areas which provide shade along the hike.
Reviews
Peaceful, relatively easy (287 ft gain) trail that loops down to the Damariscotta River. Small parking lot, which was full, but we only saw a few other hikers, so it didn’t feel “busy” at all! No bugs when we were there!
Beautiful hidden gem. I’ve lived here for years but I’ve missed it. Not far from pemaquid. Took a couple of good to complete but we went through every side trail. This walk has everything and it’s a leisurely terrain as well. A little pond the ocean. A lookout punt and plenty of forest
Dodge Point Preserve is one of the best in the Midcoast. 5 miles of trails. The Farm Road Trail is wide and moderate hills. The Timber Trail, Ravine Trail and Shoreline Trail offer a variety of scenery. There is even a public dock! Pro tip – on weekends the main parking lot can get full. Park in the other lot a half mile south on River Road on the other side of cross the road and head up to the Timber Trail.
This is a delightful little gem of a hike! I generally like to take the entire loop trail up to the parking lot, but decided to spice it up a bit by hiking the ravine trail. Ravine trail didn’t have anything of note, just a standard hike through some woods on some minor incline. The ravine itself was heavily forested and did not provide much of a view. The old farm rd is your best bet for some scenic views, which gradually leads up to the ice pond and brickyard beach (shore trail).
Beautiful hike!!! Love the hikes through wooded trails that lead to the water. Part of this hike is along the shore. We hiked during low tide, so we walked the entire coastal section along the water. Just be careful because there are some spots you must traverse algae which can be slippery. But there are several spots get some respite.