Kezar River Forest

Completed in January 2025, The Greater Lovell Land Trust (GLLT) expanded its Kezar River focus area with the conservation of an additional 1,411 acres, bringing the total conserved area to over 2,700 contiguous acres in Lovell and Sweden, Maine. This latest acquisition, made possible by the purchase of land from a local family deeply connected to the region’s forests, builds on the 1,315 acres GLLT conserved along the Kezar River in 2022 and 2023. Together, these protected lands conserve seven miles of the Kezar River, a mostly forested corridor that also features steep riverside bluffs, hilltop vistas, beaver ponds, and nearly 100 acres of wetlands, creating vital, unbroken wildlife habitat.

This conservation achievement marks the largest land purchase in GLLT’s history. A $1,035,000 grant from the Land for Maine’s Future Program in the early stages of fundraising was instrumental in realizing this project. Established in 1987, the program is Maine’s primary funding mechanism for conserving lands with ecological and recreational value.

Additional key support came from a $200,000 contribution by the Open Space Institute’s Appalachian Landscapes Protection Fund (ALPF), which helped transform this vision into reality. “OSI is thrilled to support this project, which beautifully integrates biodiversity protection with sustainable forest management and thoughtful community access for recreation,” said Sarah Wells, OSI’s Conservation Strategies New England Project Manager. The ALPF is made possible with a lead grant from the Doris Duke Foundation and with significant support from the Lyndhurst Foundation, the Richard King Mellon Foundation, Riverview Foundation, Tucker Foundation, Lookout Foundation, Footprint Foundation, Anonymous Foundation (2), as well as other foundations and individuals who understand the critical role that land protection plays in addressing the threats of climate change.

Further funding came from The Nature Conservancy in Maine, the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, the Maine Community Foundation, private foundations, and, most notably, generous contributions from community members.

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Access

Parking lots for the Kezar River Forest are located off of Fern Drive and Grovers Bridge Road. Keep in mind that these are dirt roads which can be easily damaged during mud season, and that these roads are generally not plowed in the winter. When parking along the roadside, please do not block the roadway, turn-outs for snow plows, or fire hydrants. Ellis Road, marked on the map above, is generally only passable by ATV/UTV.

The property is most easily accessed via the two existing ATV/snowmobile trails shown on the map above. Various other unmapped woods roads and game trails traverse the property and can also be explored. GLLT will begin building other trails in 2026 as we develop the recreation plan for this property.

Directions to Parking Lots

Grovers Bridge Road Parking Lot: From the GLLT office in Lovell Village: Head north on Route 5 for approximately 1 mile, then turn right onto Old Waterford Road. Soon, you will arrive at a 4-way intersection. Eastman Hill Road will be on your left, and a dirt road (Grovers Bridge Road) will be on your right. Turn right onto Grovers Bridge Road. Follow Grovers Bridge Road until you arrive at a “T” intersection. Turn right to stay on Grovers Bridge Road (turning left puts you on Shoestring Road, and takes you back to Old Waterford Road). Follow Grovers Bridge Road for approximately 1/3 of a mile to an intersection with an ATV trail, which will be on your right. Stay straight on Grovers Bridge Road, the GLLT parking area is on your right shortly after the intersection with the ATV trail.

Fern Drive Lot: From the GLLT office in Lovell Village: Head south on Route 5 for approximately 150 feet, then turn left onto Route 93 (Lovell Road). Head south on Route 93 for 2 miles, then turn left onto Fern Drive, which is a small dirt road. Follow Fern Drive for approximately 1/2 mile, then the GLLT parking lot will be on your right. Note that Fern Drive becomes a narrow single track road after the last house, but don’t let that discourage you. Keep going a bit further and you will reach GLLT’s parking area, which is clearly marked by a sign and kiosk.

Alternatively, the Fern Drive parking area can be accessed via Old Waterford Road in Lovell, which Fern Drive connects to. The washed out Fern Drive Bridge was repaired by the Town of Lovell in 2025 and is currently open to vehicle traffic.

Activity Guidelines

The Reserve is open to public use for these:

  • Hunting, fishing, and trapping in accordance with Maine Law

  • Non-commercial foraging of berries and mushrooms

  • Hiking and picnicking

  • Horseback riding on dirt roads/ATV trails

  • Cross-country skiing

  • Snowshoeing

  • Snowmobiling on designated snowmobile trails

  • ATV riding on designated ATV trails

    These activities are not allowed: 

  • Unauthorized cutting/removal of vegetation

  • Operating motorized vehicles off of designated motorized trails

  • Mineral extraction/prospecting

  • Camping


    Please help us care for this place by using the land responsibly and leaving a beautiful trace.
    Carry out all waste, and we prefer pets to be kept on a leash.