Androscoggin Riverlands State Park — Attraction in Turner

My teenage daughter and I went for the first time to hike the River lands this morning. I picked the homestead trail because it appeared to follow the coast for the most part. I truly thought the views would be worth it. I was wrong. Obviously, I should have assumed being in a boggy place this early in spring, that the bugs would be ferocious. Oh well, bring plenty of bug spray! And if you walk fast enough you can kind of outrun them. No views of the water except when you finally come out by the picnic area. And the second reason I chose that trail was due to the historic homestead foundations that was mentioned. We did see one, and a partial one behind it which I did think was awesome. The homestead trail was well marked at the beginning of the hike, but once you’re farther in, it was a guess at times if you went this way or that. The blue paint on the trees was pretty faded and sparsely spaced... thankfully there was wooden bridges over the really wet spots, and for that I thank you. Trail heads do have wooden markers with the trail name on them. Overall, easy hike, glad I went,...

Lots and lots of walking trails here . Plus the ATV trails ! There is a north parking lot that has plenty of space and a smaller parking lot in the southern area.

Conditions were a little muddy since it had been raining so much recently, but I didn’t have any issues getting through the trails I walked.

I began on the north parking lot and you have to walk on ATV trail for a short distance at which point you’ll spot the “Homestead Trail” sign post. Sometimes the trail markers are not super easy to follow but you can sorta figure it out .

The Homestead trail will take you south for about 1.1 miles until you reach the first picnic area. Beautiful scenery here and overlook as well definitely worth the hike.

If you keep going south past that this other part of the trail is less paved out and you’ll be walking through a lot of vegetation around you. Got a few ticks on me during this part so definitely watch for those. Also ran into a lot frogs/tadpoles which was...

Beautiful hike through the forest, and ATV trail. Lots of old stone walls, and a few old stone foundations. Evidently we were in what used to be fields and old homesteads, but nature has reclaimed it. Trails are well marked, moderate to navigate with the rocks and roots in them but not too steep. Little less that 1 mile into a gorgeous picnic area, under a shelter, in a meadow on the river. There's also a composting toilet there that's in a shelter. Used the side by side ATV for getting those who didn't want to hike down to...