MAINE - Greater Portland & Casco Bay

This urban trail, a former railroad property, is a flat, paved surface through the Bayside and East Bayside neighborhoods. It extends at the south end from Elm Street between Somerset Street and Marginal Way and parallels Marginal Way, linking with the East Promenade and the Back Cove Trails near the highway overpass where Route 1 crosses Back Cove. There are several benches and three water fountains. Trail is good for walkers, runners, and bicyclists. Future work will connect the southern end of the trail to Deering Oaks Park.
Directions: From I-295 take Exit 7 toward Franklin Street. From Franklin, take first left onto Marginal Way. Follow Marginal Way until it ends. There, you’ll find trail parking and links to the Back Cove Trail, Bayside Trail, and Eastern Promenade Trails. Information: http://www.mainetrailfinder.com/trail/bayside-trail/ 207-775-2411 Information: http://bit.ly/11FsbSx

Portland is so dense with elegant 19th-century urban architecture and waterfront views that any walk through the city is a scenic stroll. A couple of the standout areas are Fore Street along the waterfront, famous for its progressive food culture; the Old Port waterfront; and Congress Street, including the city's Museum of Art, City Hall, and other monumental buildings. These routes all pass waterfront and urban parks, with neat public sculpture and busy social scenes. See the attached map for points of interest.

This natural preserve offers visitors the opportunity to observe birds and animals, mostly in fields. The walking trails also serve as cross-country ski trails in the winter.

This organization maintains a 50-mile network of trails in Greater Portland. Thirty-one trails, offering a great variety of surroundings, are described in detail, with helpful maps, at http://trails.org/our-trails.

Features hiking trails, fishing and picnic areas. Five minutes from downtown Freeport, the park has climax white pine and hemlock forests, a salt marsh estuary, and rocky shorelines on Casco Bay and the Harraseeket River. Open April to October. A fee is charged.