Directions: Hidden Valley Nature Center is located off Egypt Road in Jefferson. From Rt. 194 in Newcastle, drive 4.4 miles and turn left onto Egypt Road. The center is located .55 miles on the right. From Rt. 126 in Jefferson, take Rt. 215 (South Clary Road) and drive 4.4 miles and Egypt Road will be on the right.
The Hidden Valley Nature Center (HVNC) in Jefferson is a hiker’s paradise with 25 miles of trails on 800 acres. The center is open year ’round for hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, mountain biking, equestrian use, and camping. There are numerous ponds and vernal pools dotted throughout the HVNC.
On a recent July hike, a vernal pool on the way to the kiosk sounded and appeared to be boiling, as hundreds of tadpoles surfaced to breathe.
HVNC is community-supported, membership based, non-profit education and recreation organization. Individual, family and equestrian memberships are available. Non-members may also use the facility for a suggested donation of $5 per day. Members receive discounts on classes and rentals and a professionally made map.
The center is located in the 5000-acre state designated Jefferson-Whitefield Wildlife Sanctuary established in the 1950s or early 1960s.
During that period of time, the state identified large un-fragmented blocks of land and designated them as wildlife sanctuaries. There are 36 so designated sanctuaries in Maine, with the Jefferson-Whitefield, and Hog Island in Bremen the only ones in Lincoln County.
HVNC and the Jefferson-Whitefield Wildlife Sanctuary are on privately owned land. “It is only by sheer coincidence and the intent of many landowners that this Jefferson-Whitefield Sanctuary is so undeveloped,” Gary Hayward HVNC director stated.
Hunting and trapping are not allowed in the sanctuary, but fishing is. HVNC is operated as a sustainable forest (Forest Stewardship Council certified green). Trees designated for selective cutting are blazed in blue. Hikers need to be advised that none of the trails in HVNC are blazed in blue.
Trails are marked by green signs and plastic streamers. Do not follow blue blazed trees, they are not part of the extensive trail system at HVNC.
Tent campsites are available as well as primitive camp rentals at the Yurt, Two Dog Hut and Hermit Hut. All camping areas are walk-in sites. Canoes are available for rent on Little Dyer Pond.
HVNC sponsors educational and recreational events year ’round, including group guided nature walks, night hikes, snowshoe walks, astronomy night, women’s chainsaw classes, chowder night, the stump-to-hut program, yoga, creative writing, art shows, GPS workshops, map and compass instruction, winter tracking and numerous other programs. For current tours, programs and workshop information, visit www.hvnc.org, or call Hayward at 586-6752.
HVNC recently partnered with the Chewonki Foundation, which allows all donations to HVNC to be tax deductible.
Kiosk and trails
From the parking area, walk .3 miles past the gate on a wide gravel road to the kiosk. Maps of HVNC are available to members only. Non-members should bring paper and pencil and sketch their own map from the kiosk, making sure to include all the smaller trails to keep oneself oriented.
Taking 10-15 minutes before the hike to draw a map could save precious time and prevent backtracking. A compass and GPS are also useful tools to use in this large and diverse wilderness area. Numerous woods roads crisscross the property, so extra attention is needed to stay on the flagged trails.
For a scenic hike over mixed terrain, take Little Dyer Loop, which encompasses Dyer, Slick Rock and Bowl trails.
From the main trail, turn right at the kiosk and stay to the right at a ‘Y’ in the road and walk down to Little Dyer Pond. Follow the trail along the pond, past the rental canoes. Turn left to go to Hermit Hut, or hike straight ahead on Bambi’s Trail.
Bambi’s Trail follows the pond and comes out on Stearn Brook, the boundary of HVNC. Bambi’s Trail meets an old woods road.
Turn right for a scenic vista of a small pond and Stearn Brook, but do not cross what remains of an old wooden bridge, which leads to private property not part of HVNC. Turn left off Bambi’s Trail and follow the woods road to Hermit Hut.
From Hermit Hut, take the Hermit Thrush Trail, or hike southeast and take the Slick Rock Trail. Both lead to the Bowl Trail.
The Slick Trail is fairly steep and passes a couple of ledge formations, and crosses a wooden bridge. Turn left on the Bowl Trail to go back to the Dyer Trail and back to the kiosk, or for a longer hike, turn right and follow Bowl Trail.
The Bowl Trail comes to a ‘T’ with another woods road and is marked by a large rock outcropping on the right. Turn left, and be prepared to get your feet wet as the trail is flooded with recent rains. Tree boughs and branches have been laid down across several wet areas to aid in crossing.
Bowl Trail meets Fisher Trail on the left, which is an easier, less hilly trail back to the kiosk.
Shortly after the Fisher Trail intersection, the Bowl Trail goes left at a ‘Y’ in the woods road and is marked by yellow diamond shaped signs, indicating the right branch goes out to Jewett Road. Bear left and head uphill over steep ledges.
The trail flattens out, heads downhill and comes to another ‘Y.’ Take the right branch and the kiosk is located about 200 yards ahead. The left branch goes to Stove Road and Reed Meadow Trail.
For a shorter scenic hike, take the Kidney Pond Trail, which is two miles in length. From the kiosk, walk back toward the parking area on the main road and turn right.
The trail leads to a small kidney shaped pond with a large beaver house in the middle. There are numerous signs of deer and moose in the area.
When the pond comes into view, there is a pile of rocks to the left, which mark the beginning of Kidney Pond loop. Turn left and hike around the back side of the pond, or continue straight and hike counterclockwise and the Hay Bale Pond Trail comes up quickly on the right.
For a shortcut and closer view of the pond, take Willy’s Way, but be prepared to bushwhack through ferns.
Lose the trail, then cross the beaver dam and follow the pond around until you come back to the Kidney Pond Loop Trail. This is a nice little hike and quiet walkers may have the opportunity to view wildlife.
For a longer loop hike off the Kidney Pond Trial, take the Couch Hill Loop Trail at the “Halfway House,” a yellow birdhouse in a small grove of pines.
With 25 miles of trail, visitors to HVNC can hike a different combination of trails on every visit to make up their own loop. Established loop trails range in distance from 1.5 miles (Two Dog Pond Trail) to 10-12 mile loops, depending on the length of hike desired. The Bowl Loop is three miles, Reed Meadow Trail is 1.5, Slick Rock Trail is 22, Dyer Pond two, Hermit Thrush Trail two, and Kidney Pond Trail is also two in hike length.
