The Leighton Farms Trail, located north of Wells Road, is an example of adding new trails to an existing greenbelt trail network. The Leighton Farms Trail was added as part of the Leighton Farms Subdivision and designed to create connections with the adjacent Cross Hill neighborhood and Cross Hill trail network.
The Leighton Farms Trail runs predominantly north/south (approximately 1/4 mile) with an east/west connector (400 feet in length) between Leighton Farms Road and Steeplebush Road. This trail has topography very typical to Cape Elizabeth, located in a wooded strip rising over a ledgy hill. The trail provides access for all Leighton Farms residents to access the larger Cross Hill/ Winnick Woods open space without cutting through private property. Much of the trail runs behind backyards. For the most part, neighbors adjacent to the trail have been careful not to clear vegetation beyond their property line, preserving a natural vegetated buffer between the trail and the well groomed lawns typical in Cape Elizabeth.
Look for these Town Greenbelt signs at all trailheads and also throughout the trail system to help you navigate your way on and through the trails.
The Leighton Farms Trail connects with the power lines and related trails that were acquired by the Town of Cape Elizabeth as part of the Cross Hill Subdivision Development. A section of the trail creates a loop (1/5 mile) within viewing distance of an irrigation pond located north of the power lines. Both Cross Hill and Leighton Farmss are clustered developments where lots are mandated to be a compact size and 40% of the gross land area is permanently protected as public open space.
Town of Cape Elizabeth Greenbelt trails are constructed and maintained by the Cape Conservation Committee, an all volunteer seven member board that reports to the Town Council and is dedicated to the preservation and the promotion of public access to the open spaces of Cape Elizabeth. The commission meets on the second Tuesday of each month in the Town Hall and the public is always welcome.
The Town of Cape Elizabeth owns more than 1,000 acres of open space. Much of these lands are accessible to the public via 15 miles of Greenbelt trails. Look for Town Greenbelt signs at all trailheads and also throughout the trail system to help you navigate your way on and through the trails.
The majority of trails on the Greenbelt trail system are multi-use trails intended for a wide variety of recreational purposes including; walking, mountain biking, and on certain sections horseback riding. With the exception of a few trails that allow snowmobile travel in winter, including portions of the Great Pond trail, no motorized travel is allowed on any portions of the Greenbelt trail system. Dog walkers are required to remove waste from the immediate vicinity of the trails.
Click here for a complete description of the entire Greenbelt trail system, including trails description, maps and allowed uses.