Quill Hill and Perham Stream

The Western Maine Mountains are a dream destination for anyone who loves the outdoors. Visitors can explore scores of ponds and lakes, summit 10 of Maine’s 14 largest peaks, and traverse hundreds of miles of trails. This area is a true four-season outdoor recreation destination with something for everyone.

But did you know that only 15% of the High Peaks region is protected and only some of that protected land has guaranteed public access? For the local community, access to these public lands is vital to their economy and quality of life. The region is experiencing an unprecedented boom in real estate and development, which is why Trust for Public Land worked quickly with our partners at The Nature Conservancy and the State of Maine to protect a vital link within this area.

Nestled in the heart of this mighty geography in Western Maine lies the 7,062-acre Quill Hill property and the 6,578-acre Perham Stream property. Now permanently safeguarded, this project protects vital wildlife habitat, sequesters carbon to mitigate against climate change impacts, benefits the local recreational economy, and creates public access to unique community amenities like the Quill Hill Scenic View—an ADA accessible 360-degree view which welcomes 30,000 visitors a year.

By opening access to these lands for everyone, we’ve linked more than 100,000 acres of public lands along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, mitigating the impacts of climate, and ensuring access to the outdoors for all.