Marsh River Bog, Newcastle

Something's missing here...

It's tough to hike through a bog if the front section of boardwalk is still piled up in the parking lot.

Instead we walked a loop trail through the woods at the Marsh River Bog Preserve. We had no idea where we were going, because (1) the DRA doesn't make downloadable trail maps available and (2) there was no kiosk at the entrance lot. No map, no place to sign in, no handouts. Maybe we've gotten spoiled, but maps seem like a fairly basic amenity in a preserve that's open to the public.

Trusting we would eventually find our way out, we plunged ahead and found the trail to be quite lovely. Wide and full of light, with varied terrain, and much more interesting than I had been led to believe by a fellow hiker. The warm, sunny morning already had us in a good mood; the pleasant 45-minute circuit through the woods just made it better.

We'd been warned that this site is extra-endowed with ticks. Despite our having checked each other afterwards, I found a tick crawling up my sleeve as I drove to Brunswick.

Today I learned: wear light-colored clothing and a hat.

The Marsh River Bog features three loop trails and a boardwalk that extends more than 150 feet into the bog, opening up to exploration a natural community that few visitors ever have a chance to see. 1 mile, Newcastle.