Tracks and Trees Nature Walk with NRCM

Maine Huts & Trails partnered with the Natural Resources Council of Maine for our final winter guided program series trip of 2026, a Tracks and Tree Nature walk. The walk was lead by Registered Maine Guide Bob Duport, and took attendees along the Maine Hut Trail system around Flagstaff Lake Hut.

The ecosystem along Flagstaff Lake Hut provided an abundant bounty of trees to ID, including white birch, yellow birch, quaking aspen, bigtooth aspen, red maple, balsam fir, red spruce, northern white cedar, eastern hemlock, American beech, & white pine.

A fresh couple inches of snow was the perfect canvas for animal tracks. Within a few minutes of the walk, Bob immediately IDed snowshoe hare tracks. The rabbit population is healthy this year, as tracks appeared for most of the walk. Other tracks found were vole, squirrel, fox, ermine and ruffed grouse. The group even saw a mink on the Birch Trail! The group headed on the Maine Hut Trail and visited the beaver house and dam located just north of the hut. The Natural Resources Council of Maine generously bought all participants lunch at Flagstaff Lake Hut.

Thank you to everyone who took part in our 2026 free winter guided program series. Whether you joined us for Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, or fat biking, we hope there was something enjoyable for all. We’re already excited about the programs we’re planning for next season. To learn more about what we offer, consider subscribing to our newsletter.