PP

P

Yarmouth Reservoir

Cassidy Pit

WALNUT HILL PARKWAY

OAK HILL ROAD

SWEETSER ROAD

Toddy Brook

THE LANE

SLIGO ROAD

SLIGO ROAD EXT.

PARSONAGE ROAD

231

115

9

9

QUARRYSTEPPINGSTONES

OVER SEEP

VERNAL POOL

VERNALPOOL

GRANITE CULVERT

BARRICADEPrivate Property

PrivateProperty

QUARRY

BOG BRIDGES

BEAVER DAM & LODGE

SAM RISTICH LOOP TRAIL

OLD RAILROAD BED TRAIL

SAM RISTICH NATURE TRAIL

VETERANSMEMORIAL

PARK

NORTH YARMOUTHMEMORIAL SCHOOL

ELEANORE HAYESTOWN FOREST

BALL FIELDSTEPS

TOWNOFFICE

✪

s

s

✪

✪STEPS TO OLD RAILROAD BED TRAIL

TRAIL HEAD

FAIRY VILLAGE

F

U

▲

✖

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APPROXIMATE DISTANCES (IN MILES)

Kiosk to end of Railroad Bed Trailand back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.5

Kiosk to Sam Ristich Loop, around and back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.1

Kiosk to Oak Hill Road and back* . . . 1.2

Sam Ristich Loop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Railroad Bed Trail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

*Please note that there is no parking allowed on Oak Hill Road.

Why are Trails Important?by Sam Ristich

• Inexpensive method toget physical, mental, spiritual therapy.

• Inexpensive convenientway to enjoy companion-ship, community and family.

• Seasonal way to enjoynatural history.

• Additional way forschools to educate andinstill a sense of wonder-ment especially in youngchildren.

Function of trails

• Great way of having togetherness without traffic and noise.

• Great mental therapy.

• Learning process.

• Sense of wonderment.The forest is a combina-tion of producers and recyclers that produceoxygen, wood, food,leaves, lichens, ferns,fruits, seeds, condomini-ums for birds and rodents.Recyclers are fungi, birds,mammals and insects.

• Patterns.

Veteran’s Memorial Park TrailBegin at the trailhead at Village Square Roadnear the Town Office, and go through thewoods, past the fairy village. At the end, crossParsonage Road to access the Sam Ristich Nature Trail.

Sam Ristich Nature TrailThis trail was dedicated to Sam Ristich who didso much for the nature lovers in North Yar -mouth and beyond. A nationally recognized expert in wild mush rooms and other fungi, Samled many nature walks along this trail over theyears for both the general public and MemorialSchool students.The trail begins behind thesalt shed located at the drive - way to the town garage onParsonage Road (near thecrosswalk). Initially passingthrough a moderate ravine,the trail becomes an easylow-impact walk through avery clean open forest. Markedwith white marker posts every30–40 yards, the Nature Trailcan be a nice walk to Oak HillRoad and back, or you cancross and continue to theSam Ristich Loop Trail in theEleanor Hayes Town Forest. The Nature Trail isabout a 20–25 minute round trip. Great for aquick outing. To avoid the ravine, you can alsoaccess the trail by walking past the little leaguefield and turning left into the woods at the smallblue trail sign.

Sam Ristich Loop TrailTo access this trail, cross Oak Hill Road and fol-low the large blue trail sign. Bear right and fol-low the trail down through open forest whereit becomes easy walking. The trail is marked bywhite blazes. There are stepping stones over a“seep” and just past this, there is an old trail offto the left to an old granite quarry. After you

visit this, retrace your steps and continue onthe loop trail. Soon after, there is a series ofbog bridges over damp and uneven ground;nearby is a vernal pool. Past the bog bridges,the trail turns left (west). At this juncture, youcan either continue left on the trail, and followit back to the entrance (passing another vernalpool and larger quarry), or turn right, followinga small wooden trail sign for the Old RailroadBed Trail.

Old Railroad Bed TrailTo reach the Old Railroad Bed Trail, follow theblue flagging tape. The trail follows the edgeof a ridge, with a seasonal stream on your left.Continue down wooden steps to a bridge over

the stream, before a briefclimb up more steps to theOld Railroad Bed. This trail isa beautiful, flat, open wood -land walk, with ravines drop-ping off to the sides at thebeginning. If you walk forabout 10 minutes, you willcome to an old beaver pondon the left. This is a wonder-ful spot for bird watching.The Old Railroad Bed Trailends shortly after the beaverpond. Retrace your steps,following the trail sign to re-

connect with the remainder of the Sam RistichLoop Trail. This part of the trail meandersthrough a beautiful oak forest and returns youto the entrance on Oak Hill Road. Proceedacross the road to connect with the Sam RistichNature Trail and back to the trailhead.

TOW N O F N O R T H YA R M O U T H T R A I L G U I D E N O.1

Veteran’s Memorial Park Trail

Sam Ristich Nature Trail & Sam Ristich Loop Trail

Railroad Bed Trail

Photo by Paul Tukey

The trailhead/kiosk is located on Village Square Road, justoff Route 9 near the intersection of 115 in North Yarmouth.