With over 70 miles of trails in the Greater Portland Area, you don’t have to go far to find a peaceful wooded area to score some one-on-one time with Mother Nature.
In many cases, you don’t even have to leave the city of Portland!
Strike a balance between shopping in the Old Port boutiques and sucking down happy hour oysters on Commercial Street with a serene afternoon of exploring the city’s famous pine-tree-filled nature preserves and parks.
Map of Portland Walking Trails
These are 7 of the best walking trails in Portland (and nearby) you shouldn’t miss checking out when you’re in town:
Evergreen Cemetery
You may not intuitively think that a graveyard is a nice place for a walk, but Evergreen Cemetery has provided Portland residents with beautiful wooded walking trails since 1854.
Modeled after Mount Auburn, the first rural cemetery in the U.S. located in Cambridge, MA, Evergreen features a sprawling cemetery that extends into a preserved wetland and several miles of intersecting shady dirt trails, some of which were previously used as carriage trails.
The idea of rural cemeteries really took off in the 19th century and they were actually the inspiration for the urban parks that we know today. Walking and running are popular here in all seasons, and as soon as the snow melts, you’ll surely run into mountain bikers enjoying the muddy paths.
There are two street entrances off Stevens Ave, and multiple other entrances/exits in the neighborhoods backing onto the park.
Maps are posted along the trails; be sure to take a look as you pass by so you don’t end up at a different starting point–it’s easier to get turned around in there than you might think!
Location: 672 Stevens Ave, Portland, ME 04103
Website: Evergreen Cemetery
Fore River Sanctuary
Tucked completely out of view behind several medical buildings, Fore River Sanctuary is a surprisingly pretty retreat just off the main road.
There are several access roads, but the big parking lot next to Maine Orthopedic Center is the perfect meet-up and parking spot if you want to make the most of the 85-acre sanctuary.
Half the area is covered in long shoots of grass growing over a marsh crossed with weathered wooden bridges, and is an ideal area for bird-watching.
Keep your eyes peeled for red-throated loons, chickadees, warblers, falcons, and pheasants.
Eventually the trail turns into a series of shady dirt paths that leads across the railroad tracks to the main attraction, Jewel Falls, Portland’s only natural waterfall.
The small but pretty falls is the highlight of the area and is especially nice to visit in spring when the water is at its highest level.
Location: 157-169 Rowe Ave, Portland, ME 04102
Website: Fore River Sanctuary
Eastern Promenade Trail
Running the entire length of Portland’s beloved grassy knoll known as the Eastern Prom, the Eastern Promenade Trail is a pretty paved path that follows the shoreline all the way to the city’s vibrant Old Port.
The trail starts on the backside of Back Cove, passes by Portland Water District treatment plant, and finally emerges at the north side of the Prom to trace the route of the historic Maine Narrow Gage Railroad train.
The path is especially popular in the summer, but you’ll find walkers, runners, bikers, skaters, and plenty of furry friends out on the path year-round. East End Beach is accessible just off the path as well as a public boat launch and Portland Paddle, a kayak and SUP board tour and rental agency. Benches, picnic tables, and a mile of rocky coastline look out onto the Atlantic where sailboats, lobster boats, and island ferries constantly crisscross the Casco Bay.
Location: Eastern Promenade, Portland, ME 04101
Website: Eastern Promenade Trail
Mill Brook Preserve
The best kept secret on this list is Mill Brook Preserve, a 130-acre hilly forest valley with 6 miles of dirt trails crisscrossing its babbling namesake brook.
The dense forest provides cool shade, even on the hottest summer days, and the lengthy trails and other unmapped offshoots ensure you won’t run into too many people.
Located 20 minutes from Portland, Mill Brook is worth the drive from the city to enjoy an afternoon of complete serenity.
Location: 789 Methodist Road, Westbrook, 04092
Website: Mill Brook Preserve
Presumpscot River Preserve
Backing onto a peaceful Portland neighborhood, Presumpscot River Preserve is a popular place to wander along the river banks, observe Presumpscot Falls, and cast a line on a warm summer day. The 2.5-mile trail begins at the dead-end of Overset Road and immediately leads down a steep ravine towards the river and the 48-acres of public nature preserve.
The out-and-back trail allows you to walk in either direction (head right for the waterfall) with the river constantly in view.
Location: 99 Overset Rd, Portland, ME 04103
Website: Presumpscot River Preserve
Mackworth Island State Park
Connected to the mainland by a 400-meter causeway, Mackworth Island State Park is a small island at the mouth of the Presumpscot River and Casco Bay.
The 100-acre park provides a tranquil retreat with panoramic views over the ocean with walking trails, small beaches, and photography and birdwatching opportunities.
Tracing the shore is the round-the-island trail with occasional opportunities to wander down to the water, check out the shorebirds, splash in the water, skip rocks, or hunt for seashells.
The 1.5-mile path takes about one hour to complete, but you’ll probably want to stop along the way to soak up the views of Portland from across the bay and watch the bustle of the ferries and private boats as they buzz back and forth in the open water.
Location: Andrews Avenue off, US-1, Falmouth, ME 04105
Website: Mackworth Island State Park
Blackstrap Hill Preserve
Blackstrap Hill Preserve is the furthest trail series from Portland on this list, and probably the most remote.
It’s a good choice if you want some quiet time with Mother Nature and don’t prefer running into a lot of people. The 600 acres of nature preserve lies within the larger Falmouth Land Trust in the town of Falmouth, previously the home to the indigenous Aucocisco, Abenaki, and Wabanaki people centuries ago.
Now, Falmouth strives to preserve the connection between people and nature, and Blackstrap Hill Preserve is a prime example of the town’s efforts.
Several miles of trails and small streams traverse the heavily wooded preserve and residents enjoy the area in all seasons by walking, biking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.
If you tread quietly, you might spot deer, coyote, fisher, porcupines, beaver, and a variety of birds and reptiles that all call Blackstrap home.
Location: 373 Blackstrap Rd, Falmouth, ME 04105
Website: Blackstrap Hill Preserve
Leave A Comment