Loon Echo Land Trust ready for seasonal visitors at Hacker’s Hill

Last week, the outhouse on Hacker’s Hill in Casco was officially retired and removed after reaching the end of its usable life.

The popular seasonal recreation site called Hacker's Hill
Preserve opens Friday, May 1 and is managed by Loon
'Echo Land Trust. COURTESY PHOTO  

According to a post on the Loon Echo Land Trust website, in place of the outhouse, a new port-a-potty will be on the hill from May through October.

Over the years, the outhouse was frequently used as a trash receptacle for cans, bottles, dog poop bags, and food packaging. Land Trust officials says that removing this waste from the tank was costly, and the structure required significant ongoing maintenance.

From Friday, May 1, until Oct. 31, 2026, the gate to Hacker's Hill will be open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. 

The gate will be closed on Tuesdays, Thursdays, during inclement weather, and on July 4. Access is allowed from dawn to dusk.

There is no trash service at Hacker’s Hill and visitors are asked to carry out anything that they bring in, including dog poop bags, bottles, and other trash. No smoking is permitted, and dogs must be kept on a leash at all times. Night use for astrophotography is by written permission issued by the land trust only.

Hacker’s Hill Preserve was established in 2013 after a major fundraising effort. The property was purchased from the Hall family, who cared for the property for over 100 years. Generous donations from the Town of Casco, many businesses, individuals, and Land for Maine’s Future made the conservation of this special place possible. Today, Hacker's Hill is owned and managed by Loon Echo Land Trust.

Hacker's Hill Preserve, off Quaker Ridge Road in Casco, is within the traditional and unceded territory of the Abenaki, a member tribe of the Wabanaki Confederacy. The Abenaki First Nations of Odanak and Wôlinak maintain reservations along the St. Francis and St. Lawrence Rivers in the Canadian province of Quebec, where they sought refuge following colonial warfare in the Saco, Presumpscot, and Androscoggin River watersheds during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Located on Quaker Ridge Road in Casco, Hacker’s Hill is 27 acres of fields and woods that provides 280-degree views including the White Mountains, Pleasant Mountain, and Sebago Lake. This property is open to the public for scenic viewing, picnicking, bird watching, hunting, and walking. <