The reason we decided to visit this trail/area, is because one of the news channels always shows…read morethe view from the camera at this location. We were always impressed with the view and put this on our list of interesting places. We finally made it this year! The views were beautiful! One of the things we loved about this place, is the fact there are plaques or narrative cards that show what you are looking at with a little history behind it. There are places for you to sit next to the ranger station. A few hikers were enjoying a snack break while we were there. They were commenting on how dusty and dry it was. (the drought of 2025 - for future readers reference) There's not a lot of shade, so prepare accordingly. There was plenty of parking and plenty of trails and views to enjoy! We loved it!

Beautiful! Good bathroom facilities (composting toilets and sanitizer, but clean). Maps…read moreavailable. Ample parking, must pay to park. Well-marked trails. Can hike or drive to summit. Educational center at the top (limited hours). Nice lookout points. Easy to low-moderate hike on the trails we took, in my opinion. Not a terrible distance to the summit, mostly shaded hike. Will go back for sure.

This picturesque park is the perfect place for a walk. The mostly flat, 1 mile loop is not…read moreparticularly buggy and there are lookout points with benches if you need a rest or just want to sit and enjoy the view. It also creates the perfect place for reflection, perhaps to meditate or journal. Pro Tip - Grab a flyer from the Visitor Center or look up the website on your phone before you start the trail so you know what each marker on the trail means. The Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge is also dog friendly. Although, there really isn't a trashcan to throw away potty bags. It's usually not too busy when I've been there, but I'm usually there in the morning. When you start the trail, there is info on Rachel Carson's environmental contributions and life along with what wildlife you might see during your walk. There is a small parking lot. I haven't had trouble finding parking before; although, I'm not sure if it's the timing of when I've been there or if it just seems to be a locals place that the tourists haven't discovered yet.

I once again visited this NWR shortly after sunrise and once again had the trail to almost to…read moremyself. The other visitors, though a few may have been residents, were a multitude of gulls, a pair of chipmunks, one great blue heron and a kingfisher. 3 Claps.

Saco Trails has done a great job with this area and we discovered another new trail on this latest…read morehike. The terrain is varied and you should be prepared with good hiking shoes or boots. You will be hiking up and down short hills and the path will be rocky with roots and covered in leaves. Also, you will be walking around a marsh and along Stackpole Creek so there are many areas that are wet and you will want to keep your feet dry. The trails are extremely well marked, however, I would recommend taking a picture of the trails at the trail head to review as you hike. While we have been here a few times, we had never followed the Blue Heron trail to the end and were surprised when it just stopped at a bench overlooking the river. Well guess what... that is what it currently does! We back tracked and ended up crossing over the bridge to join the Red Maple trail and loop around the hill (you will come to a spot where you can look across the river to the bench at the end of the Blue Heron trail). This is a great spot for birders!!! Some trails are also open to mountain biking. Dogs are supposed to be on leash, no longer than 4ft, but that does not mean you will not come across someone with an off leash dog walking these trails. There is a decent sized parking area at the trail head which is located off Rt 112. The trail does skirt along private property so be aware of where you are. They are also building a development and there is currently a construction trailer near the trail head. You can make this hike a short hike or a long one. This last hike we ended with a 4.68 mile hike. I really like this spot and recommend bug spray in the Summer and expect to find ticks for sure.

Absolutely stunning views as you walk along the trail. So many great spots to take pictures and…read morejust enjoy the the sights. Trail can be quite busy, make sure to move to the side for faster travelers. Pathway is pretty easy, just a few ups and downs... very doable. We loved this spot so much, we came back again before we headed home.

The walk is a must to view the gorgeous coast of York. Definitely wear good walking shoes and pay…read moreattention to the trail. This not a paved sidewalk. There are any areas of uneven rocks and no railing, but it is a must . There are plenty of areas to stop and enjoy the spectacular views. The walk is just over one half mile and ends, or begins at the public beach. There are many signs warning of poison ivy, so it is best not to touch any of the plants.

Greetings all! If you're interested in a reasonably short hike in Old Orchard Beach I would highly…read morerecommend the Milliken Mills Trail. The entrance to the trail is located on Portland Road just shortly after Milliken Mills Road. It is near the Eastern Trail. The trail has many different routes you can take and all are relatively short. All the trails are well-marked and full of nature.

We revisited Vaughan Woods at a different time of the year, and it's still such a cool spot (though…read morefar busier than it was when we came in autumn a few years ago). It's a state park that's open year long -- during the shoulder season, you can park outside the closed gates and walk in. This time we came when the gates were open; but, there was no attendant to check our state parks pass. It looks like payment is on the honor system (please pay so we can preserve beautiful trails like this!). I'll reiterate what I said in my previous review: It's located along Salmon Falls River (which separates Maine and New Hampshire). And with 3+ miles of hiking trails, it's easy to choose-your-own-adventure. So, whether you're looking to walk a lot or little, spend the day here or just a quick half hour, or if you're a local looking for a new running trail, be sure to explore the "old growth forest" (I saw this used elsewhere and looked into it: did you know this is a term that essentially means it's an ancient woodland, or a natural place that has aged without disruption?)! And it's accessible too: the extremely well groomed, well marked, mostly widened walking paths are easy to navigate (there are some hilly areas; and if it's not winter you're DEFINITELY going to want to bring bug spray). Also, from here you can access the grounds of the restored Hamilton House (built by merchant Jonathan Hamilton in the late eighteenth century) which sits on a stunning grassy knoll among cleared open green space overlooking the river (we actually saw a beaver this most recent time!) on one side and a beautifully maintained garden on the other side.

Want to get away from the sweating masses over-crowding the beach? Not up for sitting on your buns,…read morebaking in the summer sun? Want some peace & quiet instead of screaming tots and squeaky playground swings? I did. Not that there's anything wrong with the typical midsummer Maine beach experience. It just was NOT my vibe for this getaway. And so we sought out land trusts and mountains and parks, including one of our favorite spots to hit some pretty trails: Vaughan Woods. First, even in the middle of the summer and several cars in the lots, we barely saw another person. On the river trail--which I particularly love for all the scenic views of the river and benches to sit and rest--we had two couples cross our path. Very quick, smiley "hellos" and off they went. So peaceful! I'm mobility-challenged but I had a recent treatment and felt a little more mobile and stable. I took my time and my husband was a great helper. I'd say the river trail can get a bit challenging for anyone with a knee/ankle/foot/balance issue. But if conditions aren't wet, you go slow, and rest at the benches, you might be able to do it! The toilet stall is a wooden structure that is open to the air at the top of the walls before the roof begins. It's a toilet set over a pit, and you could definitely get a wheelchair in, but I don't recall seeing any grab bars. There was plenty of toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Like other places (parks, beach), we noticed it was "carry in, carry out." There are several picnic tables surrounding the parking lot, and we enjoyed a post-hike snack. This place is worth the drive out to South Berwick. Give it a go!

This trail starts out walking parallel to what I believe is the on ramp to 295. It's kind of…read morestrange to be in the woods but be able to hear cars zooming by at the same time. The front part of the loop was a nice wide path, no mud in sight, easy to follow. When the first leg of the loop is done, you are spit out into a field. We followed the beaten foot path to find our way to a sign to continue the loop, but it wouldn't hurt to include a directional arrow here. The back half of the loop was a bit of a mess. We've handled our fair share of mud but there's usually a way to maneuver around it or boards/bridges set up to help you get by without submerging your feet. Many of the muddy areas here had thick branches, clearly setup by walkers, to help you try to quickstep across. They weren't ideal for anyone, but certainly better than stepping directly into the muck. We completed the trail and had a nice walk, but this route could use a little facelift on the back end.

A last minute day off with the hubs and a date day with our 14yr old dog while shipping the younger…read moreones to doggie day care led us to look up and explore a new trail. We wanted to do a trail by Sacobaytrails.org simply due to proximity and how well laid out their trails are. They are generally well marked and the kiosks have maps and useful information. We needed an easy hike so we headed to one that we found on the website nearest home but was not listed a closed in the information; we found out when we got there. Not to worry! I quickly used trailfinder.com to find the next closest to us and it landed us here at the Sylvan Trail. The parking area is spacious and located at the highway over pass on Flagg Pond Road. The kiosk was informative and even pointed out that there was treasure to be found in a geocache along the trail! Off we went to explore. Please note: Saco Trails does have trails that dogs are not allowed on, please check the rules as each trail is not listed as pet or non-pet. They also ask that you leash your pet. Keep in mind that some of these lands are privately owned or border lands that are and some allow trapping and hunting so it is for your pet's safety as well as the wildlife. I do have a couple of pictures of our dog at the trail head without his leash yet on. Please abide by the rules of the trail. Ok, with that said, we set off in to the woods. This is a dirt path that is fairly flat and has roots and rocks and such. Extremely well marked trees are not hard to find. The early morning light was beautiful. I really liked the spider webs lit up with the morning light, but it difficult to snap a pic of. This trail was easy for sure... the roar of the highway gave way as the trail split and we ended up coming out in to a lovely field and the sounds of the insects took over. A HUGE bird... a hawk of some sort perhaps, flew up the trail in front of us. Part of the trail was a bit wet and marshy, another was walking along the edge of a field, yet another was a tote road and lastly was the short hike along the rooted path near the entrance. The trip was just shy of 2 miles, listed on the website as 1.7 miles. It was a great walk for an old dog and would be perfect for children as well. Bring your bug spray for sure and this is definitely a place that is a tick breeding ground so bring your tick spray for your furry pal too. Lovely trail!

This place is a spectacular Nature hike taking you through some amazing trails to the Estuarine and…read moresalt marshes. Great trails and wood plank walks make this a easy and enjoyable experience for all

Came on a Tuesday afternoon. There's barns…read more Some museums which were closed. A visitor center which was closed. It's free because it's off season. Plenty of paths. One leads to the beach Ok to pass the time