NORWAY — The Western Foothills Land Trust is inviting the public to enjoy the newly created hiking trail at Witt Swamp Preserve from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2.

The approximately 1-mile trail winds through the primarily hemlock uplands of the Preserve and includes gentle slopes, stone steps and a short cedar boardwalk.

The 141-acre landlocked preserve, named for Benjamin Witt, one of the founders of Norway, was part of the Cummings Mill holdings. The Trust purchased the parcel in 2004. In consideration of the then landlocked Preserve, Keys North LLC donated a 60-foot-wide access corridor connecting the Preserve to Pleasant Street in 2007, said Lee Dassler of the Western Foothills Land Trust.

Dassler said with support from the Southern Maine Wetlands Conservancy, an L.L. Bean Maine Land Trust grant, and the town of Norway, a small parking area was established in 2009.

Recently, a Witt Swamp Preserve sign and small kiosk were installed.

Several volunteer crews flagged and opened up a 1-mile loop trail during the summer, Dassler said.

“One volunteer in particular, Eric Rathbun, who works at Stephens Memorial Hospital, adopted the Witt trail and has continued to widen and refine the trail after work hours during the week, and on weekends,” Dassler said in a written statement. “A seasoned hiker himself, Eric filled low spots and brought down high spots, built elegant stone steps, and constructed a short cedar boardwalk.”

The Trust welcomes walkers and runners to enjoy the trail anytime but members are urging the public to take a short walk in the woods on Dec. 2 and to thank the trail builders who opened the way.

The Witt Swamp trail head is on the west side of Pleasant Street, approximately 1.1 miles north of Main Street, across from Emerson Street.