Bradbury Mountain State Park Selected as 2026 Leave No Trace Spotlight; Community Events Set for September 3-5

Bradbury Mountain State Park Selected as 2026 Leave No Trace Spotlight; Community Events Set for September 3-5

August 26, 2026

Three days of activities will bring together Leave No Trace, Maine State Parks, volunteers, and community partners to celebrate and care for one of Maine's treasured outdoor spaces.

Pownal (August 25, 2026) - The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) announced today that Bradbury Mountain State Park in Pownal has been selected as a 2026 Leave No Trace Spotlight, bringing three days of community events, outdoor education, and hands-on stewardship to the park and surrounding area September 3-5, 2026.

"Bradbury Mountain is a place people return to again and again, to hike, bike, gather with family, take in the view, and enjoy being outside," said Chris Silsbee, Manager of Bradbury Mountain State Park. Being selected as a Leave No Trace Spotlight gives us a great opportunity to bring the community together, have some fun, and put stewardship into action. Whether you join us for trivia, sit around the campfire, or spend Saturday working on a trail, there's a way for everyone to be part of it.

Activities begin Thursday evening in Freeport and continue through Saturday at Bradbury Mountain State Park.

• September 3, 2026: Leave No Trace Trivia Night
• September 4, 2026: Fireside with the Ranger, Leave No Trace Staff & Hot Dog Roast
• September 4, 2026: Leave No Trace Outreach Tent
• September 5, 2026: Leave No Trace Event & Stewardship Project
• September 5, 2026: Leave No Trace Stewardship Project

There is also a special incentive for early arrivals: the first 25 cars through the park gate whose driver says, "Bigfoot Leaves No Trace at Bradbury," will receive a gift bag featuring items from local event sponsors.

About the Leave No Trace Spotlight Program

Each year, Leave No Trace selects nominated outdoor areas for its Spotlight program, which brings communities together to care for and protect places people love to visit. Spotlights combine education, community outreach, and hands-on stewardship to help address impacts from outdoor recreation while giving visitors practical tools they can use long after the event ends. Bradbury Mountain State Park's Spotlight is supported by the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Team, Maine State Parks, community volunteers, and local partners.

About Bradbury Mountain State Park

Bradbury Mountain State Park, located in Pownal, is one of Maine's original five state parks. The park offers more than 20 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding, along with camping and opportunities to experience the area's natural and cultural history. The summit of Bradbury Mountain provides expansive views and is a popular location for observing the annual migration of hawks and other birds of prey. For information about Bradbury Mountain State Park, visit the Maine State Parks website.