At the confluence of the Kennebec River and the Sebasticook River stands the Fort Halifax Blockhouse: a National Historic Landmark and the oldest surviving wooden blockhouse in the country. Augusta adds other places, including Old Fort Western and Capitol Park, where the river setting, historic uses, and designed public spaces offer different ways to connect with the past.
Rivers and Visible History
Old Fort Western is located on the Kennebec River in Augusta, the capital of Maine. Visitors can tour a reconstructed fort that includes the original 1754 garrison building. In 1775, the site served as a staging point and starting place for Benedict Arnold’s march to Québec. The combination of reconstructed sections and the original garrison building makes different layers of history tangible at one site.
Capitol Park lies between the Maine State House and the Kennebec River. Its layout was established in 1827; the park is the earliest known intentionally designed public space in Maine. Unlike the fort, the focus here is on the planning of a public space: the park’s layout dates back to 1827.
Trails Between Gardens, Woods, and Open Spaces
Viles Arboretum in Augusta is a free botanical garden covering 224 acres. Its grounds include recreational trails, landscaped gardens and orchards, wooded areas, research plots, and naturally occurring landscapes. The six-mile trail network passes through fields, woods, wetlands, and gardens. Along the trails, landscaped areas alternate with naturally occurring landscapes. Access to the hiking trails, walking paths, and botanical gardens is free to everyone. Check the arboretum’s notices before your visit.
Bond Brook Recreation Area in Augusta covers 270 acres and is an urban wilderness area. It has about six miles of singletrack trails and five miles of cross-country ski trails. Vaughan Woods in Hallowell has about three miles of hiking trails. When comparing trail distances, it is also worth looking at the types of trails: Bond Brook lists singletrack trails and ski trails separately, while Vaughan Woods is described by its approximate total length of hiking trails.
The Kennebec River Rail Trail runs between Gardiner and Augusta and offers year-round opportunities for biking, running, walking, and cross-country skiing. This is a trail route with several uses and an explicitly year-round character. The route details and activities provide a concrete point of reference when comparing different ways to get active outdoors.
Water, Art, and More to Discover
Many visitors paddle on Hutchinson Pond to explore the shoreline and aquatic wildlife. In Belgrade, in Kennebec County, a state boat launch on Messalonskee Lake is designated for boats launched by hand or using a fixed ramp. Both details show different ways to get out on the water: paddling to explore the shoreline and accessing the water by boat at a designated launch.
Waterville has two addresses for art, too: the Colby College Museum of Art has locations on the Colby College campus and downtown. This distinction can be useful when planning a visit to Waterville, since the museum is not limited to a single location.
Discover More Destinations
Waterville, Augusta, Gardiner, Manchester, Hallowell, Aroostook, Washington County, Hancock
For the main travel overview: Maine.
