The Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust brought dozens of residents and visitors onto conserved lands this winter through snowmobile and snowshoe events designed to connect the community with local trails and winter landscapes.

On Feb. 14, the trust hosted a snowmobile trailside rest stop at the Hunter Cove Uplands parking lot along Route 4. More than 45 snowmobilers stopped throughout the day to warm up by a fire and enjoy hot cocoa, coffee, cookies and hot dogs while meeting trust staff and volunteers.

The event also gave riders an opportunity to learn about the trust’s efforts to preserve snowmobile access across the Rangeley Lakes Region. The organization maintains more than 35 miles of snowmobile trails on its conservation lands and is working to monument a key section of ITS-84, part of an interstate trail system linking Maine and New Hampshire.

Communications Director Molly Shaw said the events are part of the trust’s free “Fresh Tracks” series, which encourages people to explore conserved lands during the winter months.

Staff and volunteers also hosted afternoon and evening snowshoe walks Feb. 17 at the Mingo Springs Trail, drawing about 15 participants during the afternoon and more than 30 during the evening lantern-lit walk. Participants traveled along a well-packed trail through forest and meadow habitats, with the evening group experiencing the woods illuminated by paper lanterns.

The walk concluded at a trailside fire, where participants gathered to warm up with hot chocolate and roast marshmallows.

Shaw said the Fresh Tracks events are designed to help people experience the outdoors in new ways and build connections to conserved lands.

The Mingo Springs Birding Trail, conserved in 2024, encompasses more than 100 acres surrounding the Mingo Springs Golf Course. The property includes more than 80 acres of important deer wintering habitat and supports more than 90 species of migratory and boreal birds.

The conservation effort was made possible through the generosity of the Chodosh family, along with support from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund. The original trail was constructed by John Bicknell, with assistance from Mingo Springs Golf Course staff and Melba Chodosh.

Trust staff and volunteers, including trail steward Ken Beaulieu and members of the Outdoor Recreation Council, helped prepare the trail and host the snowshoe walks.

The Fresh Tracks series will continue March 21 with a guided animal tracking walk at the South Bog Conservation Area. The program, led by Becca and Dave of Northern Songlines, will introduce participants to identifying animal tracks, wildlife signs and winter behaviors through a slow-paced guided outing.