During a time of social distancing, getting outside is certainly something to look forward to. Thanks to Sam Morton and a dedicated group of volunteers, the Gorham trail system is being updated and expanded. Currently, there are over 25 miles of trails in Gorham which can be used for biking, hiking, snowshoeing and walking.

Morton’s main interest is biking; he’s on mountain bikes in the summer and fat tire bikes in the winter. “Before kids I used to rock climb, kayak, and hike,” he said. Unfortunately those activities often required a full day or multiple days away from home, and with a young family they became more difficult to do. It’s his love for biking that gives him a vested interest in the trails in and around Gorham.

Some of the trails are owned by the town of Gorham and are a part of the Gorham Conservation Commission, however, much of the trail system is on privately owned land. “Landowners have been very generous to allow access; it is great for the community and they are protected from liability by state law,” Morton said.

After a ride this past winter, Morton and a few friends happened to have a conversation with Charlie and Deidre Hamblen about the trails, which ultimately led to the possibility of creating new trails on their property.

First, the group went to the Hamblen property to map out the trails, and after the Hamblens gave the green light, it was time to get to work. “The vision is multiple miles of multi-use ‘people powered’ trails on the property off Libby Ave,” Morton shared. “The project was in concept phase until a plan was formed on a trail work day,” he added. And thus, the project became known as the “The Hamblen Project.”

At the time, Morton said there were several volunteers working on a new trail at the Alden property behind USM. Jamie Wright, owner of Gorham Bike and Ski (originally located on Main St. in Gorham) and Rob Lavoie of Chiropractic Clinic of Gorham came up with the idea to rent an excavator for building the new trails. The group received a generous donation from Wright to get them started, and Chris Kelly from V&M Rental offered a significant discount which allowed the group to rent an excavator for the full month of June.

Additional support came from GPNEMBA (Greater Portland Chapter of New England Mountain Bike Association) with a financial contribution as well as the use of tools, equipment, and assistance coordinating volunteers. Over 50 volunteers helped with the trail work, accumulating hundreds of hours through the month of June. “It was amazing to see so many people come out to contribute,” Morton said.

There are currently two miles of new trails built; one of the trails is named “1783,” the year the Hamblen family purchased the land. Access to the trails will come from a connecting trail beginning in the Wagner Farms development, which should be completed by mid- August.

“There will also be access from Harrison Way when/if it becomes a public road. It’s currently private with the new development, a perfect spot for a new home if folks like access to the woods!” Morton shared. These new trails will be a great way to extend a ride, hike, or run by connecting from the Claire Drew trails on the town-owned Chick Property, and also from the Tannery Preserve.

“Trail users have a huge amount of gratitude to the Hamblen family and other land owners who have allowed access. It’s part of what makes Gorham such a great town and community to live in,” Morton said.

In addition to Gorham Bike & Ski and V&M Rental, Morton extended thanks to many other local companies that have contributed to and supported the project, including Gorham Savings Bank, Maineway Landscaping, Dayton Sand & Gravel, Allspeed Cyclery & Snow, Bayview Signworks, and Maine Trail Builders. “Donations from these companies will ensure that the trail development and ongoing maintenance will be supported,” he said.

Trail work will continue through the summer to meet the goal of an additional five miles of trails before winter. For updated info and status on the trails, follow GPNEMBA on Facebook, or check out the Trailforks App for maps, parking areas, and trail information.

Morton shared, “While I still love adventures away from town, it’s really awesome that with a couple hours we can find a mini-adventure right outside of Gorham Village.”