The Bremen Town Forest, located on Route 32 behind the Bremen Town House office and fire station, was dedicated on Oct. 28, 2012. A 1.5 mile trail meanders through the 47 acre forest, past a babbling brook, and down to a salt water marsh.
The trail was dedicated to long time Bremen Conservation Commission member Diane Hilton O’Connor, who passed away from cancer on Nov. 24, 2011.
The trail can be accessed from the Town House Walkway and picnic area located in the woods between the Town House and the salt shed, or from a small field located off Route 32 just south of the Town House. Parking is at the Town House, but be sure not to block the fire station doors.
The entrance to the blue blazed trail is at the back of the field, by a kiosk. Enter the woods and one is instantly consumed in comforting silence. The only sounds are an occasional woodpecker, bird, bubbling of a small brook, or the cry of a distant coyote.
Be sure to bring a tree field guide to identify the numerous species in the forest, including pine, fir, spruce, red oak, white oak, birch, maple, ash, beach and others. Mature trees are sprinkled throughout the property, with young trees filling the gaps, making for a shaded and cool walk.
The trail travels up and down a small hill and winds its way along an old stone wall, before coming out to a small field, located behind the town sand and salt shed. For a short walk, follow the contour of the field on the right back to the parking area. For a longer hike, turn left and follow an orange blazed trail, which goes down to a small ravine. You can hear the trickle of the brook long before arriving at wooden steps and a small bridge across the ravine.
The orange trail ends at a small salt marsh, where, if you venture in, you’ll be sure to get your feet wet. Return by the same trail to the field, where you can hike through the field to the parking area at the Town House, or return on the blue blazed trail.
Hiking down to the blue trail and orange trail to the salt marsh and back takes 20 to 30 minutes.