Trail Tips & FAQs

Welcome to Portland Trails!

All trails that have a Portland Trails sign are free for you to enjoy, and they are open every day of the year. The trails are here for you and your family to use for transportation, exercise, relaxation, and recreation.

Read on to see our trail tips and frequently asked questions. Explore our trail map to learn more about specific trails. If you have a question, please send us an email at !

Trail Tips

Here are a few guidelines to keep yourself, other trail users, and wildlife safe:

Leave no trace. Please leave with everything you brought with you (including all your trash AND dog waste!) and leave nature as you found it. Most trails do not have trash cans.
Stay on the marked trails. Trails are usually marked with Portland Trails signs, but some trails also have colored paint dashes on trees. These are known as blazes, and they are there to help keep you on the trail. Please stay on the marked trails. There’s a reason a trail exists where it does! When you (and your dog!) stay on a trail, you are protecting the sensitive environment that surrounds you.
Keep wildlife wild. Please do not feed animals or remove plants you’re not authorized to. This keeps the trails a safe place for native plants and animals to thrive. It also keeps animals far away from trail users!
Follow all posted warnings, signs, and other instructions. These signs are here for your safety, the safety of your fellow trail users, and the safety of the plants and animals who live near the trail.
Do not use trails if they are muddy. In the spring, trails are thawing from the winter and are very fragile. Some areas may be very wet or muddy. If you find yourself on a very muddy trail, please turn around and visit a less wet trail instead. If you do encounter a small muddy spot, please walk or bike through the mud rather than going around it. Walking and biking around muddy spots widens trails and can harm the surrounding environment.

Biking on the trails

All the trails in the Portland Trails network are used by people of various ages and abilities, as well as people using different modes of transportation. When you're biking, please make space for every trail user you encounter!

Walking your dog on the trails

You love your dog, but some trail users do not feel safe around dogs they don’t know. In addition to making people uncomfortable, dogs (particularly when they’re off-leash!) can also be dangerous to people on bikes.

Please refer to the City of Portland’s leashing requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have a question, there’s a good chance someone else has asked! Read through our frequently asked questions below, organized by topic.

Still have a question? Please reach out to .

General trail information

Who can use the trails?

Everyone! The trails are spaces for everyone in our community to use and enjoy – for free.

What hours are the trails open?

Some city parks or other locations are “closed” from dusk to dawn. Generally, trails are “open” unless otherwise posted. Most trails are not lit at night, and trails in the woods will get darker faster than surrounding areas. Trail users should make their own determination about their comfort using trails at different times or in varying conditions.

Do I have to pay to use the trails?

Nope! The trails are – and always will be – free to use. (However, we’re only able to maintain the trail network with donations from our community. You can donate to Portland Trails here!)

Is Portland Trails part of the City of Portland?

No, Portland Trails is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and is not part of the City of Portland or the Portland Parks, Recreation, and Facilities Department. We work collaboratively with the City on trail projects each year, but we are a separate organization.

Where can I access a trail map?

You can access our free, interactive digital trail map here. You can purchase a printed copy of our trail map here. Maps are also included for free with membership donations of $50 and above. If you have questions, please send an email to .

What can I do to keep myself safe on the trails?

Here’s a list of things to keep in mind when you’re walking or biking on a trail:

Be aware of your surroundings.
Don’t use earbuds.
Tell someone where you’re going.
Bring your phone.
Look up trail information ahead of time and refer to Portland Trails’ digital map if you need help with directions.
Bring water.
Check the weather before you go and dress for the conditions.
In warmer months, wear bug spray to repel ticks.
If you’re nervous about exploring a new trail alone, bring a friend or family member!

Dogs

Which trails are dog-friendly?

Dogs are allowed on all Portland Trails and in all city parks. However, please do not bring your dog on a school trail during school hours. Dogs are never allowed on any playfields, school yards, playgrounds, or cemeteries.

What are the rules about leashing my dog?

Leashing is required on the following city-owned trails and parks:

Baxter Pines
Baxter Woods (required at certain times of the day and certain months of the year)
Bayside Park
Deering Oaks
Dougherty Field
Eastern Promenade
Evergreen Cemetery (dogs allowed on roads and trails only, not on gravesites)
Longfellow Park
Quaker Park
Stroudwater Park
Western Promenade

You can see full information about the City’s leashing policies here. When you’re on any other trails in the Portland Trails network, you must either keep your dog 100% under your voice control OR leash them. This keeps other trail users safe and comfortable. See full list of guidelines at the top of this page.

Where is my dog NOT allowed?

Except for service animals, dogs are never allowed on playfields, school grounds, or playgrounds. There are also restrictions about dogs in cemeteries. Please refer to the City of Portland’s leasing information here for full information.

Accessibility

Which trails are wheelchair-friendly?

This is tricky to answer; what is a good fit for one person in a wheelchair might not be the right trail for someone else in a wheelchair. However, we do have three paved trails in our trail network: Eastern Promenade Trail, Bayside Trail, and Fore River Parkway Trail. We also have some wide, well-surfaced trails, including: Back Cove Trail, Capisic Brook Trail, and a loop in Canco Woods. Adding more accessible trails is a high priority for Portland Trails! We have projects in the works, so stay tuned.

How do I know if a trail is the right choice for me?

You can read more information about the trails in our network on our individual trail pages. These will help you get a general idea of what to expect. As of early 2023, we are working on updating and improving these trail pages to give you as much accessibility information as possible to help you choose the trails you’ll enjoy the most. In the meantime, if you have questions, please reach out to us at !

Are any trails plowed in the winter?

Yes, a few. The City of Portland plows the Eastern Prom Trail, the Bayside Trail, and the Fore River Parkway Trail. (Did it snow but the trail isn’t plowed? Let the City know by filling out a request in SeeClickFix.)

Are any trails illuminated at night?

Back Cove Trail, Bayside Trail, Eastern Prom Trail, and Fore River Parkway are all illuminated at night.

Do any trails have bathrooms?

The only trail with a public bathroom is the Eastern Prom Trail. The City of Portland is working to provide more public restrooms and has created a map of facilities.

Bikes

Which trails are bike-friendly?

Every trail in the Portland Trails network is designed to be multi-modal, meaning bikes are welcome. However, certain trails are better for different types of biking. Check out our individual trail pages to find the trails that will be a good fit for you, whether you’re mountain biking with friends or commuting to work. Please be respectful of other trail users who are moving slower than you!

Is there bike parking available at the trailheads?

Several of the trails in our network have bike racks available on or near the trails, including: Baxter Woods, Evergreen Cemetery, Eastern Prom Trail, Western Prom, Bayside Trail, and Back Cove Trail. Most other trails should have a place to lock up a bike using a cable or chain lock, including lamp posts, kiosks, and other fixtures.

Can I ride my e-bike on the trails?

Portland Trails is permitting Class I and II e-bikes on our trails. Please ride with courtesy for other trail users, especially those moving slower than you. Class III e-bikes are not permitted on any Portland Trails trail.

Water access

Wildlife

Can I feed the ducks?

No! Please don’t feed ducks or any wildlife. Human food is not good for animals. You can read more about the reasons why feeding wildlife is bad for the environment here.

Is hunting allowed on the trails?

The answer depends on which town you’re in:

Portland and South Portland: hunting is NOT allowed
Falmouth: hunting is NOT allowed near any of the trails
Westbrook: bow-and-arrow hunting IS allowed. Use caution (pay attention to your surroundings and wear bright orange) on the Stroudwater Trail during deer hunting season.

Are there any dangerous animals I might cross paths with on the trails?

Almost all wild animals that live near the trails will keep their distance from people. If you do see a wild animal, give it space and do not startle it. If you need to contact animal control, call (207) 233-1151 during business hours or (207) 874-8575 outside of business hours.

There are no poisonous snakes in Maine, so any snake you see is not dangerous to you. The most dangerous wildlife on the trail are ticks, particularly deer ticks; these tiny insects can spread disease if they bite you.

Getting there

I’m driving to a trail. Is there a place for me to park my car?

All parking is limited, especially during high use areas and times. Many of the trails in our network have designated parking areas. These are marked on our paper and digital map with “P” icons. Please follow all street parking signage and respect the neighbors.

The trail's parking area is full. What should I do?

Walking, biking, and taking METRO to trails is a great way to avoid any parking trouble! If there isn’t room to park your car, please visit another trail.

Can I get to the trails using METRO?

Yes! And we encourage it. Every individual trail page has information about which METRO bus line is closest to the trailhead. Additionally, METRO bus data is integrated into Google Maps, and you can check on the status of your bus with the Southern Maine Transit Tracker or other transit apps.

Reporting

Who do I contact if there is damage, vandalism, or maintenance issues on a trail?

Please fill out this report. If the situation is urgent, you can also call our office at (207) 775-2411.

Who do I contact if I encounter something dangerous on a trail?

If you notice something very suspicious or dangerous, call the Portland Police at 911 or their non-emergency line (207) 874-8479.

The bathrooms are dirty. Who do I contact?

You can fill out a SeeClickFix request here or contact the Portland Parks, Recreation, and Facilities Department at (207) 808-5400.

Getting involved