Hidden Valley Nature Center
Hidden Valley Nature Center is 1,000 acres of protected land in Jefferson, rich with a variety of habitat and terrain including over a mile of shorefront on Little Dyer Pond.
Miles of multi-use trails great for hiking and biking, rolled and groomed XC ski trails, and several rustic huts and tent sites are waiting for you. Hidden Valley Nature Center (HVNC) is your forest. Come learn about sustainable forestry or attend a full moon paddle. Join us at one of more than 30 programs to learn new skills or just explore this world-class, award-winning nature center.
All are welcome; $5 day-use donations from non-members are accepted at the gatehouse.
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Visitor info
HVNC is located at 131 Egypt Road in Jefferson.
Dogs are welcome at HVNC! Leashes are required throughout the preserve to ensure everyone feels welcome, safe and comfortable. HVNC is open from dawn to dusk for all. Overnight campers have it to themselves. Take on the Trail Guys Challenge!
Trail Guys Challenge
Family fun in the forest! Download this worksheet, or pick one up at the Welcome Center at Hidden Valley. Find them all and solve the puzzle! Send the solution to info@midcoastconservancy.org and win a free overnight in one of the cabins or yurts.
Sustainable Forestry
Several of our preserves have active forest management plans, but the best place to learn how you can create income by managing your own tract of forest land is at our Hidden Valley Nature Center in Jefferson. With nearly 1,000 acres of contiguous forest, our nature center offers an immense natural and educational resource in Midcoast Maine. A small forestry crew applies innovative practices, under the direction of a certified consulting forester, on about 15 acres each year. Our management is designed to enhance the value of timber, wildlife habitat, water quality, and recreation. Learn more about our sustainable forestry program here.
Three-season Self-guided Trail Running
Pick one of two marked 3-mile loops so you can compare training runs! One course is moderate terrain, the other includes some hills to get your heart pumping. Start at the Barn for both; fill your water bottle at the pump there. Want company, join our Discover Trail Running group, Wednesdays at 4:30pm - 6:30pm, starting April 24th. Need a goal? Set your sights on our Race Through the Woods, hosted each year in late summer or early fall!
Natural Ingredients for Curious Students
Fourth-grade students from area schools are brought out to HVNC each month to engage in conservation education tied to Maine’s state standards for science curriculum. Students participate in dynamic science lessons, leading their own investigations and experiments, collecting information and exploring – all led by an award-winning outdoor educator. One teacher shared that at HVNC “every child is a scientist, seeing the world through the lens of observation and curiosity,” and that participating in this program was “one of the best decisions I have made in my teaching tenure.” Funded by both grants and private contributions, this program helps build confidence, promotes creativity, gets kids moving and makes kids think.
