Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park
| Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park | |
|---|---|
 Looking northeast to Googins Island from the park | |
  Location in Maine | |
| Location | Freeport, Maine, United States |
| Coordinates | 43°49′33″N 70°05′08″W / 43.825823°N 70.085570°W[1] |
| Area | 244 acres (99 ha)[2] |
| Elevation | 98 ft (30 m) |
| Established | 1969[1] |
| Administrator | Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry |
| Website | Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park |
| Maine State Parks | |
Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park is a public recreation area located on Casco Bay on the southeastern side of Freeport, Maine. The state park occupies 244 acres (99 ha) on a narrow peninsula, Wolfe's Neck, that runs between Casco Bay and the Harraseeket River.[1] It includes white pine and hemlock forests, salt marsh estuary, and rocky shore.[3] The park is managed by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.
History
[edit]Wolfe's Neck takes its name from Henry and Rachel Woolfe, the area's first permanent European settlers who took up residence in 1733.[3] During the 20th century, the land was the site of an organic beef-raising operation owned by Lawrence M.C. Smith and Eleanor Houston Smith.[4] The state park was created when the Smiths donated a portion of their holdings to the state in 1969. The park opened to the public in 1972.[3]
Activities and amenities
[edit]The park offers hiking, birdwatching, picnicking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Park trails traverse both forested lands and rocky shoreline, offering views of the river and bay.[5] Osprey can be observed nesting on Googins Island, which lies just off shore.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park". Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
- ^ "Outdoors in Maine: State Parks, Public Lands, and Historic Sites" (PDF). Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
- ^ a b c d "Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park Guide & Map" (PDF). Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
- ^ "Eleanor Houston and Lawrence M.C. Smith". Freeport Historical Society. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
- ^ "Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park". Maine Trail Finder. Center for Community GIS. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
External links
[edit]
- Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
- Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park Map Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry