KITTERY LAND TRUST PROPERTIES

Overview of KLT Properties

Kittery Land Trust manages nearly 400 acres of conservation lands across Kittery through fee ownership and easements. 

Fee ownership parcels are owned outright by the Kittery Land Trust (KLT). In this case the owner either donated or sold the property directly to KLT.

KLT holds conservation easements on the remaining properties. A conservation easement is a legal agreement that runs with the land in perpetuity and limits certain uses of the land, i.e. development, in order to protect its conservation features. An owner can either donate or sell an easement to KLT. In either case the property title remains with the owner.

A donation of land or a conservation easement can offer significant tax advantages to the donor since it is considered a charitable donation. Similar, though lesser tax advantages may be obtained from a bargain sale. In this situation the selling price of the land or easement is less than the appraised market value.

Not all conservation lands are the same, and the overview below describes the range of public access.  KLT is working to publish more comprehensive information about these lands in the coming months.  If you have any questions about KLT lands please email us at stewardship@kitterylandtrust.org.  

To view a map of land conserved in Kittery, click here.  The lands that KLT stewards are highlighted in green and described below. 

The following properties have public trails and visitors are welcome. Please review and respect our visitor guidelines whenever you are enjoying KLT lands.  

Norton Preserve: Encompassing 177 acres at the north end of Norton Road this preserve is KLT's largest with three trails through rolling hemlock, beech, oak, and maple woodlands, containing large and small wetlands, vernal pools, and many stone walls.  Limited parking is available on Norton Road.

Remick Preserve: Over 70 acres between Routes 236 and 103 may be accessed via a central trail connecting hemlock stands, wetlands, and diverse wildlife habitats. Limited roadside parking is available at the Fernald Road entrance.

Seapoint: This popular, rocky point between Seapoint and Crescent beaches on Cutts Island protects over two acres of grass and shrub habitats while providing walking trails and breathtaking views to Nubble Light, Isles of Shoals, and Cape Ann.  Parking is available at the town lots which are limited to Kittery residents with a valid sticker in season.  It is a beautiful destination for a bicycle ride.

Fairchild: A small portion of this protected shorefront along navigable Chauncey Creek is open to the public via a short path off Pocahontas Road that leads down to an overlook on the creek.  There is limited parking along the public road.  

Visiting the following conservation lands is limited due to poor or non-existent trails, parking, and access from a public right-of-way.  Visitors are encouraged to contact KLT for guidance on access and use via our e-mail: stewardship@kitterylandtrust.org.

Furbish: 30 acres in the heart of the Brave Boat Harbor watershed conserve oak and hemlock forests on either side of the old York Beach railroad bed.  The old railroad is the only walking path on this property and access is across private property.

Cutts: 22 acres of upland forest, wetlands, and part of an old mill pond are conserved. Limited roadside parking and access from Foyes Lane.

Hubbard: Two acres of shorefront wooded lands are conserved on Cutts Island with limited pedestrian access via a private road.

Lynch South: Over 10 acres in the Lynch Lane neighborhood are conserved, primarily around a wetland habitat.  There are no trails or parking on this private road.

Cooks: Five acres of wetland habitat are protected next to the busy Route 1 corridor.  There are no trails or parking. Access is across private property.  

Thompson 18 acres of oak-maple forest and salt marshes adjacent to Admiralty Village provide an oasis of habitats and beautiful views in the heart of Kittery. There are no trails or parking.

These privately-owned lands have no public access.  However, conservation easements held by KLT still provide numerous benefits to our community such as wildlife and plant habitats, water conservation, and scenic views.

Batchelder-Paly: A four acre easement on Cutts Island enhances the views from Seapoint Beach.

Hall: Measuring 200 feet to a side, this pocket greenspace in the Bowen Road neighborhood is surrounded by an old stonewall and protected as a beautiful open space.

Moulton Farm: This historic 12 acre saltwater farmland along Spruce Creek on Haley Road is protected from further development.  The old farm house and barn frame a rolling landscape of mowed fields and a large pond.

The Trust is indebted to the Rosamond Thaxter Foundation for support of this web site and for annual support since 1997.