PORTLAND TRAILS:
BACK COVE TRAIL:
PORTLAND PENINSULA LOOP TRAIL:
BAYSIDE TRAIL:
EASTERN PROMENADE TRAIL:
PORTLAND, MAINE
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: October 31, 2024
Length: Back Cove Trail; 3.6 mile Loop
Bayside Trail; 1.3 miles
Eastern Promenade Trail; 1.9 miles
Difficulty: Back Cove Trail; Easy. Mostly flat, paved trail.
Bayside Trail; Easy. Flat, paved rail trail.
Eastern Promenade Trail; Easy. Mostly flat, with a small hill, paved trail.
Directions:
To Start from the Preble Street parking lot for the Back Cove Trail [Southern End]; From I-295 take exit 6 to Forest Ave northwest. Take your 2nd right on Baxter Blvd. Then your 2nd right on Preble St. The parking lot is on your left. I start from the left, west side, of the parking lot.
In the city of Portland, the planned Portland Peninsula Loop Trail, will circumnavigate the peninsula. This trail network already covers large swaths of the peninsula’s perimeter and includes Eastern Promenade Trail, which starts along the Eastern Side of the peninsula (Fore River/Portland Harbor) , then travels along the Northern Side, before connecting to the Bayside Trail, which travels Southwest. You then have a gap, Southwest, to the Fore River Parkway Trail, which travels Southeast, along the Southern Side of the peninsula (Fore River). This connects to the West Commercial Street Pathway, which travels East, along the Southern Side of the peninsula (Fore River). You then have another gap, Northeast, back to the Eastern Promenade Trail.
Plans are now underway to bridge those gaps. The Union Branch Pathway will continue Southwest, from the Bayside Trail, along the former Union Branch RR bed to Park Ave. Construction scheduled for 2025. The Union Branch Connector, will address the gap between Park Ave and the Fore River Parkway Trail and connect to the Portland Transportation Center. A preliminary route is under study in 2024. Future plans will fill a gap along the West Commercial Street Pathway, Northeast, between Beach & High Streets. The only gap without a current plan is a stretch of Commercial St, from High St to the Eastern Promenade Trail. See; Map below.
The Back Cove Trail encircles Back Cove, forming a nice Loop. You can also easily access the Portland Peninsula Loop Trail, from either the Eastern Promenade Trail or Bayside Trail. For more information visit; PORTLAND TRAILS & MAINE TRAIL FINDER . The Back Cove Trail & Eastern Promenade Trail are part of the EAST COAST GREENWAY , a planned biking & hiking route stretching 3,000 miles from Maine to Florida. When complete it will traverse 15 states with a mostly off-road path.
Back Cove Trail:
Starting from the Preble Street parking lot [Southern End]; At the Western End of the parking lot, next to a Map Board is the 0 Mile Marker. The wide, stone-dust Back Cove Trail, travels right, North, between Baxter Blvd and Back Cove. Mile Markers every 0.25 Miles. Pass by the Payson Park parking lot across the street at 1.7 miles.
Note; The paved trail through Payson Park is part of the Sebago to the Sea Trail (which travels from Sebago Lake in Standish to Casco Bay in Portland). The Sebago to the Sea Trail also utilizes the Eastern Section of the Back Cove Trail, to connect to the Eastern Promenade Trail.
Continuing East, the Back Cove Trail & Sebago to the Sea Trail brings you up to I-295, where you'll come to separated path at 2.1 miles. Travel right, South, along the Western Side of the Tukey's Bridge, above Back Cove. You pass by the start of the Sewage Plant Road Connector Trail on your right.
Note; The paved Sewage Plant Road Connector Trail & Sebago to the Sea Trail takes you underneath I-295, then South, alongside Casco Bay to Sewage Plant Rd. Here the Bayside Trail & Eastern Promenade Trail meet.
Continue straight to where the trail splits at 2.4 miles.
Note; Straight, the paved Tukey's Bridge Connector Trail will take you over I-295 to another intersection. Straight leads down to Plowman St, where you can access the Bayside Trail, while left leads down to Washington Ave, where you can access the Inner Eastern Promenade Trail.
Continue right, South, as the Back Cove Trail now follows a stone-dust trail, alongside Back Cove and below I-295. Come to Back Cove Park and another intersection at 3.1 miles.
Note; Left, Southeast, the paved Franklin Street Connector Path connects to the Bayside Trail.
Continue West, straight through Back Cove Park back to the Preble Street parking lot after a 3.6 mile Loop.
Portland Peninsula Loop Trail:
Eastern Promenade Trail:
Starting from the Sewage Plant Road parking area for the Eastern Promenade Trail [Western End]; Water fountain located here.
Note; North, the paved Sewage Plant Road Connector Trail/Sebago to the Sea Trail takes you up to the Western Side of I-295 and the Tukey's Bridge, where you can access the Back Cove Trail. South, is the Northern End of the Bayside Trail.
The Sebago to the Sea Trail also utilizes this trail. The paved Eastern Promenade Trail travels Southeast, up a slight hill past the sewage treatment plant and above Casco Bay. Head downhill and pass by a hard packed trail on your right at 0.4 miles.
Note; This hard packed dirt trail will take you up to the Eastern Promenade Midslope Trail. This trail travels along the hill above and parallels the Eastern Promenade Trail. I haven't checked out this trail.
Continue downhill and cross the narrow gauge RR tracks at 0.5 miles. These RR tracks continue left, West, before abruptly ending. Spot the old RR bridge out in the bay, this is where this old rail line used to cross the bay. The trail now travels alongside Casco Bay, next to these RR tracks. Nice open views of the bay. Cross Cutter St at 0.8 miles. The Cutter Street parking lot is up to your left. Porto-Potty.
Note. This is also the Eastern End of the Sebago to the Sea Trail.
Note; Right, West, will take you up to the Eastern Promenade Midslope Trail. This trail travels along the hill above and parallels the Eastern Promenade Trail. I haven't checked out this trail.
The trail continues South, between the RR tracks & East End Beach, before coming to Fish Point. Here you can spot Fort Gorges on Hog Island Ledge across the bay. Pass by the Maine Narrow Gauge RR cars on your right and the Fore Points Marina on your left.
Note. Visit; MAINE NARROW GAUGE RR for information about train rides.
The trail crosses the RR tracks, then travels between the RR tracks & Thames St. Pass by the Portland Cruise Terminal/Ocean Gateway and the RR tracks end. The trail continues alongside Commercial St, before ending at Franklin St & the Maine State Pier after 1.9 miles in Old Port Portland. *Very scenic area with old brick & stone buildings and lots of places to eat. Good place to park your bike and explore by foot.
Bayside Trail:
Starting from the Sewage Plant Road parking area for the Bayside Trail [Northern End]; Water fountain located here.
Note; North, the paved Sewage Plant Road Connector Trail/Sebago to the Sea Trail takes you up to the Western Side of I-295 and the Tukey's Bridge, where you can access the Back Cove Trail. East, is the Western End of the Eastern Promenade Trail/Sebago to the Sea Trail.
The paved Bayside Trail travels South, alongside Sewage Plant Rd and underneath the I-295 off-ramp. Pass by the Sewage Plant Road parking lot, before the open trail pulls away from the road. Come to Plowman St.
Note; Left, will take you North, up the paved Tukey's Bridge Connector Trail along the I-295 off-ramp to an intersection. Straight will take you up to I-295 and Tukey's Bridge, where you can connect to the Back Cove Trail and right, South, will take you down to Washington Ave where you can access the Inner Eastern Promenade Trail. I haven't checked out this trail.
The trail continues through a narrow commercial corridor, crossing Diamond St and coming to a brick circle.
Note; Left, Southeast, the paved Boyd Street Path, will bring you to Kennedy Park. Playground, sports fields & courts.
Next, come to Marginal Way & Franklin St at 0.7 miles. Cross Franklin St.
Note; Right, Northwest, across Marginal Way, will bring you to the paved Franklin Street Connector Path, which will bring you to the Back Cove Trail.
Travel left, back to the Bayside Trail and continue Southeast along the commercial corridor, crossing Chestnut St to Elm & Somerset Streets after 1.1 miles. Cross Elm St, where the trail continues alongside Somerset St, crossing Preble St and continuing alongside Kennebec St to Brattle St. A sidewalk continues to Forest Ave (Future plans will fix this section) after 1.4 miles. Trail currently ends here. Across Forest Ave is Deering Oaks Park and the State Street parking lot.
Note; The Union Branch Pathway will continue the trail Southwest, from the Bayside Trail, along the former Union Branch RR bed (along the Northern edge of Deering Oaks Park) to Park Ave. Construction scheduled for 2025.
Union Branch Pathway:
Construction is scheduled for 2025.
The Union Branch Connector, will address the gap between Park Ave and the Fore River Parkway Trail and connect to the Portland Transportation Center. A preliminary route is under study in 2024.
Fore River Parkway Trail:
I haven't checked out this trail.
West Commercial Street Pathway:
I haven't checked out this trail.
HH
CLICK HERE FOR PORTLAND TRAILS MAP
CLICK HERE FOR BACK COVE TRAIL MAP
CLICK HERE FOR BAYSIDE TRAIL MAP
CLICK HERE FOR EASTERN PROMENADE TRAIL
CLICK HERE FOR PORTLAND TRAILS LOOP MAP
CLICK HERE FOR PORTLAND CITY ROUTE MAP
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BIKE IT OR HIKE IT