Posted in Maine
July 11, 2020
6 Paved And Beautiful Paths In Maine That Are Perfect For A Family Bike Ride
While we love the spring and summer in Maine, there are lots of ways to get outside no matter the season. One of our favorites is taking a bike ride. Great for families, cycling is a wonderful way to get the heart pumping. But, most importantly, we love how much of the state you can see while on a bicycle. These paths offer great views, smooth routes and lots of fun. Even if you prefer to walk them, you’ll have a great time!
We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
This route is a short 3.8 miles which makes it perfect if this is your first bike ride with the family. If you like it, do it twice! Then, head to one of the others on this list for a longer trip another day. Your trip will take you along the Sabattus River from Mill Street to the Androscoggin River. The trail ends in the north at Village Street in downtown Lisbon. We especially love that this trail can include a visit to Miller Park which has a boat launch, picnic area and a toilet.
This trail is a great option for kids because it's smooth and flat. Plus it has a playground at the end of the 2.7-mile route which provides a little bit of excitement to look forward to once the one-way trip is complete. We love that there are scenic spots to take in the views. And remember to bring snacks since there are lots of places to stop. There are a few different ways to access the path. The main trail head is located at the end of Water Street in Brunswick. You can also access the trail at the end of Grover Lane.
This coastal route is a beauty! Offering nearly 6 miles of trail through mostly residential areas, the route also includes a trip to Bug Light Park. Be prepared to start and stop a few times as the path intersects with small roads. You can find starting points at Bug Light Park and Madison Street off Broadway in South Portland
Journeying along this route means seeing residential areas before heading into the wetland areas of the Western Mountain region. You can access the trail in Farmington where there's plenty of parking. If you're out and about in the cold weather you'll find a warming hut with a wood-burning stove stocked with split wood south of the trail. The route begins and ends at Oak St. between Bridge St. and Thomas McClellan Road in Farmington and Bridge St. and Water St. in Livermore Falls.
Head to Capitol City Park in Augusta to access this 6.5-mile trail that will take you through Augusta, Hallowell, Farmingdale and Gardiner. This one is fun if you'd like to incorporate some sightseeing as Hallowell offers lots of shops and restaurants. You can learn more about it here.
This beautiful route has a bright future ahead of it! Ultimately it will be about 50 miles of trail connecting Portland to Fryeburg. Today it operates in two sections, one in the north and one in the south. The southern trail is about 6 miles connecting Windham to Standish. The northern route is almost 4 miles running through Fryeburg near the New Hampshire border. Trailheads can be found at Johnson Field on Route 35 in Standish, Gambo Recreational Center on Gambo Road in Windham and Shaw Park on Route 237 in Gorham.
Luckily for Mainers, there are lots more activities that are perfect for a summer outing. For something more unique, you can follow a sandy path to the waterfront when you visit Laudholm Beach in Maine.
Address: Unnamed Road, Lisbon Falls, ME 04252, USA
Address: River Rd, Brunswick, ME, USA
Address: Greenbelt Walkway, South Portland, ME 04106, USA
Address: Whistle Stop Rail-Trail, Farmington, ME, USA
Address: Kennebec River Rail Trail, Augusta, ME, USA
Address: Mountain Division Trail, Standish, ME, USA
