EXPLORE COASTLINES, WOODLANDS, AND MOUNTAINS
From the Back Cove loop to ocean cliffs and day trips to Katahdin, here are the best hikes in and around Portland, Maine, for every season and skill level.
Forest, ocean, or hills? Around Portland, you don’t have to choose.
Greater Portland is one of those rare places where a morning hike can start in the woods, wander past a quiet cove, and end with a view of the open Atlantic. Whether you want an easy waterfront stroll, a mossy forest loop, or a summit with a payoff, there’s a trail within a short drive (or ferry ride) of downtown.
Here are our favorites, sorted by how far you want to go.
in the city:
back cove
Portland’s favorite everyday loop circles the tidal cove with skyline views the whole way around. It’s flat, mostly paved or packed gravel, and popular with walkers, joggers, and cyclists. At about 3.6 miles, it’s an easy pick for a first-morning walk.
Good to know: Parking is available at several access points
baxter woods
A short walk from Back Cove, this city-owned nature reserve is home to some of the largest trees in Portland and makes for a peaceful, shaded stroll.
EASTERN Promenade trail
Harbor views, ferries crossing Casco Bay, and plenty of benches for stopping to take it all in. Pair it with a post-walk coffee in the East End.
Fore River Sanctuary and Jewell Falls
This 85-acre Portland Trails preserve is home to Jewell Falls, the city’s only natural waterfall. There is roughly five miles of trails wander through some of Greater Portland’s most varied habitat, from the spot where salt and freshwater marsh meet to the upland forest, so bring binoculars for the birdwatching.
Just Outside of Portland
Fort Williams Park and the Cape Elizabeth Cliff Path
Walk the rocky shoreline near Portland Head Light and take in dramatic ocean views. While this is a brief walk, it definitely this scenery will not disappoint.
Wolfe’s Neck State Park
Forest paths lead down to the water along Casco Bay, with options for a short stroll or a longer loop.
Bradbury Mountain State Park
If you want a summit without a long haul, Bradbury delivers. It’s a short climb to a rocky top with wide views, great for families and first-time hikers.
Mt. Katahdin
Outside of the city, hikers have the chance to explore coastlines, woodlands, and mountains on thousands of well-known trails and backwoods footpaths. Hiking is first-rate on the Appalachian Trial, and to Mt Katahdin, Maine’s highest peak, where visitors can choose from challenging trails and moderate hikes or one of the 200 miles of trails at Baxter State Park. At Acadia National Park, hikers can climb the mountain peaks and ledges along the coast, or plan a camping stay on the Grafton Loop Trail, through the rugged mountains on a 39-mile hike.
There are many more, of course – the possibilities for exploration are endless, including multi-day trips with guides or self-guided tours to local waterfalls and over scenic vistas. Visitors will choose their own path on which to experience one of Maine’s most treasured attributes – its diverse, natural landscape that is meant to be traveled.