Coastal Rivers Opens ADA Accessible Trail At Castner Brook Community Forest

by The Lincoln County News

The new Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible trail at Castner Brook Community Forest winds through hemlock-shaded woods near downtown Damariscotta

Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust is excited to announce the opening of a brand new 950-foot Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible trail at Castner Brook Community Forest in Damariscotta. Constructed this fall, the trail begins at Piper Mill Road and offers an inviting shaded pathway through the woods to Castner Brook.

The project was made possible with support from Athletic Brewing Co. through its Two for the Trails grant program, which contributes up to $2 million annually to protect, preserve, and maintain local trails.

Thanks to a family gift in 2024 that enabled Coastal Rivers to purchase three pieces of trail-building equipment, the organization can now do most of the work of creating accessible trails in house. The new equipment made it possible to build up a durable, firm-packed trail with very little disturbance to the area.

Coastal Rivers expects the Castner Brook Community Forest Trail system will provide year-round recreational opportunities for a wide range of users, from walkers and strollers to wheelchair users and, eventually, mountain bikers.