We're excited to announce expanded gate hours at Hacker’s Hill Preserve this year. The gate opens on Friday, May 2nd for the 2025 season and will remain open through October 31st.

From May 1 to October 31, 2025, the gate will be open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays. The gate will be closed on: Tuesdays, Thursdays, during inclement weather and July 4th. New for 2025: Vehicle access is allowed from dawn to dusk, but night use is not permitted without prior written permission. Daytime pedestrian access is welcome when the gate is closed.

This change restores vehicle access to the top of the hill during sunset hours, something that had been limited in recent years due to staffing constraints. Last year, the gate closed at 5 p.m. on days when it was open. The new hours bring back a popular way for visitors to enjoy evening views. LELT staff now manage the gate, a job once done by a single, dedicated volunteer. Without another committed volunteer to step up, we adjusted gate hours last year so that opening and closing the gate could be managed by our small staff. The dawn to dusk hours this year are aligned with policies at other LELT properties.

LELT maintains the land’s park-like feel through regular mowing, field haying, and upkeep of a pit toilet. The stewardship of Hacker’s Hill, like much of LELT’s conservation work in the Lake Region, relies on support from the community. The new gate hours will be implemented on a trial basis, with modifications possible if issues or misuse arise. We hope the community will continue to treat this special place with care so it can stay open in this way.

LELT hosts events at Hacker’s Hill throughout the summer, including free yoga classes, sunset concerts by local artists, kite day with Casco Recreation, and a screening of the Maine Outdoor Film Festival. More information on LELT events can be found at LELT.org/events or the Loon Echo Land Trust Facebook page.

All Hacker’s Hill visitors are asked to adhere to the posted use guidelines.

‍Hacker’s Hill Use Guidelines:‍

• Open dawn to dusk; no camping or fires
• Carry out all waste and trash
• Motorized vehicles only on paved/gravel roads and in parking areas
• Dogs must be on a leash, carry out all pet waste
• Commercial use by permission only (more info here)
• Hunting is allowed (wear blaze orange in season)
• Night use for astrophotography by permission only (email: info@lelt.org)

The gate is closed each winter from November through April. During that time, visitors can access the hill by walking up the road or using the snowmobile trail maintained by the Crooked River Snowmobile Club.

Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jRKUdUAU2CXqqskG9

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