Mt Agamenticus by Patrice Hunt
Thanks to persistent work by a coalition of conservation groups and governmental entities, wildlife and human visitors can enjoy in perpetuity more than 9,500 acres of protected land on and around “Mount A,” a 691-foot monadnock that rises from the coastal plains of southern York County.
The Agamenticus area holds the greatest species diversity in Maine and helps to safeguard the water supply of an increasingly populous area. The mountain has long been popular among York County residents for picnicking, day hikes, and birdwatching (particularly witnessing annual hawk migrations).
Work to protect this important ecological haven, the largest intact coastal forest between Acadia National Park and the New Jersey Pine Barrens, began in 1978. The Town of York purchased 300 acres on the summit to forestall further development after the failure of a ski resort. A decade later, local citizens submitted their first proposal to the LMF Program and since then the LMF board — working in concert with The Nature Conservancy, York Land Trust, Great Works Regional Land Trust, and other nonprofit and governmental partners — has helped fund protection of more than a dozen parcels on and around Mt. Agamenticus. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife now manages much of these lands to preserve their wildlife value and scenic qualities while promoting responsible recreational use.
The initial projects inspired an expanded initiative in which ten groups worked to conserve lands stretching from Mt. Agamenticus to the wildlife-rich marshlands and uplands by the York River, Brave Boat Harbor, and Gerrish Island.
Closest Town
York
Activities
Bird & other wildlife watching, hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, dog walking (on leash), horseback riding, hunting, fishing, mountain biking, and snowmobiling
Region
Southern Maine – York, Cumberland
Acres
2700
Directions from nearest town
DeLorme Maine Atlas and Gazetteer, Map 1, A-4. By Exit 1 in York, go west over the turnpike and turn right onto Chases Pond Road. In 3.5 miles, bear left onto Mountain Road. Continue 2.7 miles to where the pavement ends. The summit path begins at a gravel parking lot and travels along an old woods road.
