Presumpscot River Preserve

The Presumpscot River Preserve is an easy 10 minute drive outside of downtown, and offers a handful of beautiful trails for hiking, mountain biking, and trail running. These are dog friendly trails with some great swimming spots too!

This is a moderately easy hike, with few short but steep uphill/downhill sections. As you meet the river, follow the trail to the right to continue along the river, and you’ll be rewarded with several rocky areas along the water to relax and enjoy the view of Presumpscot Falls.

If you’re planning to do some swimming, look for a special wooden staircase that will bring you down near the water’s edge, meant to keep us from trampling fragile vegetation & habitat along the river’s edge:

As tempting as it might be…this is not a “flip flop” hike. Throw those in your bag if you’re going to spend time by the water, and wear sturdy sneakers or trail running shoes instead.

In early spring, be prepared for a few muddy spots (don’t bring yer fancy shoes!). Portland Trails does an incredible job maintaining the trails but it can be a little wet & boggy in spots before summer truly hits and the trails can drain out a bit.

For more information on how to get there, where to access the trail, & where to park, can be found on the Portland Trails website.