Local Natural Wonders - Day 21

Local Natural Wonders Day 20 - Runaround Pond in Durham, Maine

Runaround Pond, located at 315 Runaround Pond Road in Durham, Maine is part of a larger, 374-acre conservation area that also includes Chesley Meadows Preserve. The pond is perfect for any type of paddling and fishing, ice-skating and ice-fishing in winter, and it is surrounded by trails to walk or mountain bike on. Park at the Runaround Pond recreation area and go for a paddle, enjoy the scenery from a spot on the rocks or picnic table on the shore, or follow the marked trails.

The Royal River Conservation Trust offers a lot of information here on this land and its use, including this:

“The trail and boating-skating network at the eastern end of Runaround Pond begins and ends at the 133-acre town recreation area with an accessible bathroom, picnic tables, hand-carry boat access, fishing ledges, and good parking plowed year-round. The walking trail is wide and flat and generally suitable for baby carriages and gentle walking. Small and large loop trails allow exploration of the shoreline of the pond and the shoreline of Chandler Brook. The trails pass near historic cellar holes, the retaining walls of the old mill, the historic granite dam, and quarries. The large loop marked by blue blazes is 0.6 miles in length, looping both north and south from the parking area. Paddling and skating begins at the recreation area, or scroll to tabs below for paddling Chander Brook from its Runaround Pond outlet.  

To get to the parking area at Runaround Pond Recreation Area from I-295, take Exit 22 in Freeport/Durham. Turn right onto ME-136 North and drive 6.2 miles. Turn left onto Rabbit Road and continue onto Runaround Pond Road for 1.1 miles. Look for the entrance to the parking area and boat launch on the right. The blue blazed trails leave from both ends of the recreation area’s parking lot.”