Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust is planning a series of free, guided outdoor activities throughout February and March on conservation lands across the Rangeley region.

Fresh Tracks Winter Event Series is designed to encourage year-round use of conserved properties while offering opportunities for outdoor recreation, environmental education and community connection. All programs are open to the public, with advance registration required for some events.

“The Fresh Tracks series is primarily about encouraging and promoting the use of RLHT’s network of public access trails and conservation areas throughout the region,” said Molly Shaw, director of communications for the trust. “At RLHT, we believe everyone should be able to experience and access the outdoors.”

Upcoming Fresh Tracks events include a Snowmobile Trailside Rest Stop on Feb. 14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hunter Cove Uplands parking area. Held in partnership with the Rangeley Lakes Snowmobile Club, the event will offer trail riders a place to warm up by the fire, sip hot cocoa and coffee, nibble on cookies and hot dogs, and learn about ongoing efforts to preserve snowmobile access in the region.

On Feb. 17, participants are invited to explore the Mingo Springs Conservation Area through daytime and lantern-lit evening snowshoe walks. The guided outings will include opportunities to learn about winter wildlife, ecology and conservation, along with a warming fire, hot cocoa and s’mores.

Shaw said the activities are designed to be welcoming for people with varying levels of experience.

“We’ve designed the tracking walks and snowshoe tours to be open to all ability levels,” she said. “None of the walks are more than a few miles and a few hours, and participants can expect a slower, leisurely pace.”

The series concludes with a Animal Tracking Walk on March 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at the South Bog Conservation Area. The small-group program will introduce participants to identifying animal tracks, wildlife signs and winter behaviors. Space is limited, and early registration is encouraged.

According to Shaw, the Fresh Tracks programs also reflect Rangeley’s broader role in western Maine’s outdoor culture.

“These activities reflect Rangeley’s role as a year-round outdoor destination for western Maine by highlighting the variety of ways people can experience the landscape in winter, from snowmobiling and snowshoeing to wildlife tracking and quiet time on the trails,” she said.

Shaw said regional participation plays an important role in long-term conservation and public access efforts.

“When people from across the region use and feel connected to conserved lands, they’re more likely to value, respect, and help care for them,” she said.

Through the Fresh Tracks series, the trust aims to promote public access and deepen appreciation for the region’s conserved lands during the winter months.

“Recreation is the invitation, getting people outside on snowshoes, snowmobiles, or guided walks, while education helps deepen their connection to the land through learning about wildlife, ecology, and conservation,” Shaw said.

Founded in 1991, Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust and its partners have conserved more than 125,000 acres in western Maine. The nonprofit’s mission focuses on sustaining the ecological, economic and social vitality of the Rangeley region through land conservation, habitat restoration and public access initiatives.

Full event details, including registration information, are available at rlht.org/events.