The 6.8 Mile Stroudwater Trail In Maine Is Incredibly Easy Trek You Can Make On A Free Afternoon

Hiking is a great way to pass time and enjoy the great outdoors here in Maine, but there's a misconception that it has to be challenging. This couldn't be further from the truth. There are so many approachable and fun trails here in Vacationland and they all cater to a variety of ability levels. This one, located near Portland, is a great way to stretch your legs for a while without having to stress about a difficult route.

The Stroudwater Trail, in its entirety, is about 6.8 miles. But that doesn't mean you'll be here all day.

In fact, this is one of the most peaceful and leisurely hikes you can do in the area. While long in distance, the out-and-back nature allows you to turn around whenever you'd like. That means you have nearly 7-miles available to you, but you can enjoy as much or as little as you'd like.

There are plenty of places to relax, while taking in the beautiful Stroudwater River which is visible for much of the route.

And we love that the hiking here is fairly simple. In some areas you'll find boardwalk.

And in others, the trail is packed dirt with little or no elevation gain. Those who are new to hiking will appreciate that this trail is quite intentional, which means little possibility of feeling lost or confused about which way to head.

And, for those who prefer their hikes to actually take them someplace you can use this route to get from the Portland peninsula all the way to the Westbrook city line.

While you can access the trail all year, a portion is closed in the winter. The west area between Blueberry Road and Hutchins Drive crosses through one of Portland’s deer yards providing valuable deer habitat during the winter. But if you prefer winter hiking there's still plenty of trail to see!

Keep an eye out for wildlife and a variety of different trees and plants. Heading through the forest and along the river makes for a few different ecosystems to explore.

If you're looking for a way to clear your head, consider heading out on this easily accessed trail. Go as far as you need to find some calm and then come on back!

There are three different places to access the trail and each parking area can fit between 5 and 9 cars. One trailhead can be found about a tenth of a mile west of Westbrook Street at River's Edge Drive. You can find a slightly larger parking area at Blueberry Road and Hutchins Drive, which is a bit west on Congress Street past the I-95 overpass. You can also take the METRO Bus Route 5 to the River’s Edge trailhead.

You can learn more about the Stroudwater Trail by checking alltrails.com or Maine Trail Finder.

For more simple hike consider these 8 cool and calming hikes to take in Maine that will help you reflect on the rest of the year ahead.