Directions: From Rt. 130 in Bristol take the Old County Road (by Bristol Library) past the Carpenter’s Boat Shop 1.5 miles. After the road turns to dirt, Ross Pond and preserve sign will be visible on the right. There is a small parking area off the road on the left. The preserve is located on both sides of the road.
There are currently no hiking trails on the 50-acre John and Peg Sproul Preserve in Bristol. Laura Sproul Stubbs donated the preserve to the Damariscotta River Association in 2008 by in honor of her parents, John and Peg.
The Sproul’s were both conservationists, who believed in preserving the environment and they loved the land the way it was. Peg served three terms in the state senate, and John was a businessman, who started Sproul’s Furniture in Newcastle in 1939, and served for more than a dozen years as a Bristol selectman.
The preserve, which is bisected by Old County Road, adds to neighboring protected land, provides wildlife habitat and maintains public access to two bodies of water, Boyd and Ross Ponds A good way to experience the preserve is by canoe or kayak. The preserve borders Boyd Pond and wraps halfway around Ross Pond. It also borders the Pemaquid River.
Ross Pond is about 20 acres in size and is located close to the Old County Road and is an easy carry in portage for canoes and kayaks. The Ross Pond site is a popular picnic area, although there are no picnic tables. The small pond is a great site for youngsters learning to canoe and kayak, as the entire pond is visible from the launch area.
From a kayak or canoe, paddlers can enjoy white and yellow pond lilies, and flowering shrubs along the banks of the pond. In a recent paddle, Ross Pond appeared to be a field of white, as the pond lilies were in full bloom. The preserve supports an active wildlife habitat.
Boyd Pond is located to the left of Old County Rd. Old woods roads have grown up making it difficult to navigate. Future plans for the property include hiking trails out to Boyd Pond and Pemaquid River.
