Summer is a great time to explore Maine's nature, but there are many trails and routes that allow for year-round discovery. If you want to try choosing some for the fall and winter, consider trying some new things during the summer. This abandoned rail trail is a great option. It's flat and well-maintained, making it more of a leisurely stroll than an all-out hike. And, like so many things in Maine, it comes with some pretty cool history!
Head to Hancock, Maine to find the beautiful Old Pond Railway Trail, which is 3-miles of easy, well-manicured Maine outdoors.
It was originally the tracks for the Maine Shore Line Railroad Company, a smaller portion of the larger Maine Central Railroad. Its purpose was to bring Victorian tourists to Eden via a ferry. Never heard of Eden? You might recognize it better as Bar Harbor, which is what it became in 1918.
The rail was a necessary improvement as prior to its creation, folks had to rely on a steam ship from places like Rockland and Portland. The trip was long and considered much less luxiourous than the rail.
This new train was popular among well-known aristocracy including the Vanderbilt and the Rockefellers who had money to spend after the Gilded Age.
But as cars rose in popularity, folks took the train less and less. Eventually it was deemed unnecessary and the tracks were left to be overgrown by nature.
In fact, if you were walking along the route you might not even see traces of the former rail. To help bring back the history and make it a useable trail, a local troop of Eagle Scouts took the time to make it easier to find and follow.
The route passes through some of the most lovely areas of Maine, giving visitors a good sense of what the state offers in the way of nature.
If you take the trip, you can start your trip either across from Town Hall via Point Road or on Old Route One. Either way you’ll find beautiful views of Old Pond. But, we love the view of the surrounding forest just as much.
Be sure to take a look at the steel bridge causeway allowing the tide to pass underneath. The nature is beautiful, but we also love the signs of old Maine.
You’ll see old railroad ties and even parts of the abandoned rail.
The trail isn’t strenuous, but you should be up for a walk. Try it in the morning or later in the afternoon to stay cool. Whenever you choose to do it, you’re in for a Maine treat!
The Old Pond Rail Trail can be accessed year-round, but be sure to stay safe in the elements. It's best to pull it up on your own GPS to find it, but you can access a map here. Address: 153 Point Road, Hancock, ME 04640.
Love the idea of exploring Maine's rail trails? Check out a 8 others in this article!
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