The La Verna Nature Preserve provides an ideal place for a picnic by the sea. Located off Route 32 in the village of Chamberlain (Bristol), the mostly forested preserve is part of the Pemaquid Watershed Association.

At the traffic light in Damariscotta, take Route 130 to Bristol village. Just past the Bristol Diner, turn left onto Lower Round Pond Road. This brings you to Route 32 and the village of Round Pond. Turn right and follow Route 32 about three miles. The parking area for the preserve is on the right just past Ocean Hill Cemetery. Trail maps, a sign-in sheet and rules for enjoying the preserve are at the kiosk.

To get to the preserve, you first have to hike through the woods on the Hoyt Trail that carries you across privately owned land. In runs mostly due east over a path blazed blue that’s well-packed, thickly wooded in places and mostly dry. It parallels a tumbling stone wall. Along the way, you’ll cross a half-dozen small wooden spans.

On the morning of our visit we heard a rooster crowing nearby and spotted several large patches of Canadian Mayflowers, white night caps and wild iris in bloom. We also heard a number of different birds singing among the trees, including the very distinctive song of the veery.

Strewn along a wet gully were dozens of large skunk cabbage plants and wild purple violets and a few scattered fiddleheads. We saw two garter snakes sunning themselves near a small brook, the first we’ve seen this spring. The Hoyt Trail is a little over a half-mile but easy walking on level ground. It turns sharply to the north then east again, where it ends at a large sign marking the La Verna Preserve boundary.

From this point the main path becomes the La Verna Trail that runs eastwards towards the water. The path forks twice, the first where it meets the Ellis Trail (0.8-miles) which goes off to the northern end of the preserve and later when it meets up with the Tibbitts Trail (0.7-miles) that runs southwards. Both of these trails eventually link up with the main trail and bring you out to Muscongus Bay.

The Ellis trail carries you high over a high bluff overlooking Brown Head Cove. Just before it links with the La Verna Trail, you’ll see a smaller inlet known as “Cobble Beach.” The shore is brimming with rocks and stones worn smooth by eons of tides washing over them.

From here we made our way to “Leighton Head” that offers some beautiful views of Muscongus Bay and the ocean beyond. Swimming along the shore were about a dozen common eiders. The males are easily identified with snow white feathers on their backs and chests and black feathers on their crown. They are the largest ducks in the Northern Hemisphere.

The path runs south from here along the rocky shore, offering many places to have a picnic lunch and take in the view while enjoying the salt air.

Before returning, we followed the Tibbitts Trail, wandering off the path to explore the rocky shoreline again and have a look at a large tide pool. Something interesting you’ll immediately notice is the ledge here is reddish brown unlike the gray rocks at Lookout Point. A word of caution — we did see a few patches of poison ivy and encountered a few mosquitoes but no ticks, however, or annoying black flies.

The trails are easily followed and suitable for all ages to enjoy. We met a dozen other hikers during our visit.

According to the Pemaquid Watershed Association the La Verna Preserve was acquired in three parcels from 1965 through 1973. Dr. Elizabeth Hoyt and her sister Mrs. Anna Mavor donated a 30-acre parcel, the La Verna Foundation donated a 55-acre parcel and the Nature Conservancy purchased the remaining 34 acres of the 120-acre preserve.

Visitors can enjoy the preserve from dawn until dusk. Dogs are welcome but should be leased, in fact a dog leash is available to borrow at the start of the trail. Other rules are listed at the kiosk. Remember to leave no trace behind. Masters Machine Company of Round Pond is a sponsor of the La Verna Preserve.

For more information visit www.pemaquidwatershed.org.