The Top 5 Bike Paths In Portland
Maine is one of the most bike-friendly states in the USA, so biking around Portland is easy and offers plenty of opportunities for scenic, historical, and cultural exploration. Here are the top five bike paths to give visitors a taste of the city.
Back Cove Trail
Bridge, Park
Back Cove Trail
Back Cove Trail is one of the oldest and most popular trails in the city. This three-and-a-half-mile trail loops around Back Cove and offers fantastic views of the Portland skyline. As you loop around the trail, you will get a good look at some of Portland’s neighborhoods. The path is paved, filled with stone dust, and is mostly flat with a slight rise on the stretch that parallels I-295. Under Turkey’s Bridge, Back Cove Trail connects to the Eastern Promenade Trail.
Preble Street Extension, 57 Back Cove Trail, Portland, ME, USA, +1 207 775 2411
Eastern Promenade Trail
Bridge
Eastern Promenade Trail
Another waterfront trail, the Eastern Promenade Trail was built along an old rail corridor and connects to the Back Cove Trail at Turkey’s Bridge and continues along the harbor, offering scenic harbor and ocean views. This stone dust trail is mostly flat with a couple spots with a slight rise as it follows the rock-lined harbor coast. You can take a break from biking to swim or picnic at East End Beach.
Trail head at Commercial and India Streets, Portland, ME, USA, +1 207 775 2411
Evergreen Cemetery
Cemetery, Park
Evergreen Cemetery
Established in 1855, Evergreen Cemetery covers 239 acres of land, making it the second largest cemetery in Maine. The cemetery has a number of noteworthy headstones, a park area with four ponds, and a network of wooded trails. Some of Evergreen Cemetery’s trails are paved and some are left natural, and the trails all have a moderate slope. Across Stevens Avenue, the Evergreen Cemetery trails connect to Baxter Woods. The cemetery is open from 7am to 4:30pm daily.
672 Stevens Ave, Portland, ME, USA, +1 207 797 4597
Fore River Sanctuary
Bridge
Fore River Sanctuary
Fore River Sanctuary is an 85-acre preserve that is home to Jewell Falls, Portland’s only natural waterfall, and the former Cumberland and Oxford Canal. The 2 mile trail begins at the Congress Street trailhead, passing over the bridge and following the former canal path for half a mile. The trail then crosses over wetlands by way of two boardwalks and heads uphill to the loop that leads to Jewell Falls. This trail is close to the Capisic Brook Trail, the Fore River Trail, and the Stroudwater Trail.
1401 Congress St, Portland, ME, USA, +1 207 775 2411
Riverton Rail Trail
Forest
Riverton Rail Trail
Riverton Rail Trail, called ‘Sandy Road’ by Riverton neighborhood residents, is a straight trail that follows the roadbed of the historic Portland-Lewiston Interurban Rail line from Portland’s trolley era. The one-and-a-half-mile trail cuts a straight line through rock outcroppings and thick forest. It is a mostly flat trail except for a steep gully that interrupts the old rail line. A freight train rail line that is still in use runs parallel to the trail and occasionally breaks up the wooded quietness.
Wall St., Portland, ME, USA, +1 207 775 2411
By Paige Watts
Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip
meet our Local Insider
Hanna
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!
Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.
KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.