Mountain Division Trail:
Maine
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Description:
Named for the railroad line it parallels, the Mountain Division Trail provides a gently rolling excursion in the rural Sebago Lake watershed area, northwest of Portland. The trail runs for 6 miles between Standish and Windham. When complete, the Mountain Division Trail will span 52 miles between Fryeburg and Portland. Another 1.5-mile segment in Fryeburg village, at the western end, runs between the Maine Visitors Center on US 202/Main St. and Porter Road along the railroad right-of-way.

Start from the western trailhead at Johnson Field in Standish. Pause at the trailhead kiosk to fill out a registration form for use of the parkland within the watershed. From the large parking area, you'll follow a dirt road, which sees summer traffic of YMCA campers. The road undulates past stands of mixed conifer and deciduous trees for about 0.5 mile before reaching the trail.

The trail has a 1-mile gravel section that links Johnson Field on Rt 35 in Standish and a paved connector loop over the Gambo Bridge through Shaw Park in Gorham and back to the Mountain Division Trail. You can also take an unimproved section for 5 miles between US 202 in South Windham and Bridge Street in Westbrook.

Technically, the Mountain Division Trail is a rail-with-trail, although the rail is no longer active. Narrow in places with steep embankments, the roller-coaster trail sometimes runs level with the tracks and sometimes dips below. The soothing aroma of balsam fir permeates the air, especially near the Presumpscot River.

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Parking & Trail Access:
To reach the trailhead at Johnson Field in Standish, take State Route 35 to its intersection with State Route 114. The parking area is on 35, 0.25 mile east of the intersection. In Windham you can park at the Post Office on US 202.

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Reviews: [3 trail ratings]
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Nice short ride, mostly paved, parallel to tracks
By Genny164 in December, 2011
I parked on Rte 35 at the baseball field. You have to go down a dirt/gravel road if you choose this entrance for about 1/ 4 mile. Pass the YMCA camp on the left and go up the hill and at the bottom, the trail is there on the right. I have a road bike so this was a bit of a disadvantage for me. At the end of the trail, there is also a gravel section. Local kids hang out around the bridge and jump off into the river below. (not recommended). Bring your own drinks and snacks as there isn't anything around really to get anything and 202 if you go to the right, you can ride into town area, but there is no general store at the end. Pretty ride, quiet, rather isolated. Easy ride, no big hills. Great for families but real young bikers should probably join at the parking closer to 202 to avoid that walk on the road to get to the trail.
Nice Trail
By runnel in July, 2010
Although some of the pictures show this trail as gravel, most of it is paved. The paved trail is a touch narrow for two-way traffic, and the pavement ends near the northwestern terminus, requiring the traveler to use a gravel road. I was bicycle-touring and was much elated to find the path paved but much defrosted to find the end of it unpaved with a short steep gravelly hill. However, even the unpaved portion was a better choice than the nearby road I had been riding.

My journey continued to Fryeburg, and the continuation of this trail will be a boon to future riders.
September 2009
By wendella in September, 2009
Newly paved surface along the Mountain Division rail trail from Route 202 in Windham to Otter Pond YMCA camps makes this trail very easy, enjoyable riding.
Trail Facts
Trail End Points: US 202 (Windham) to Chadbourne Road (Standish)
Counties: Cumberland
Trail Length: 5.9 miles
Trail Category: Rail-Trail
Trail Surfaces: Asphalt, Gravel
Trail Activities: Bike, Inline Skating, Wheelchair Accessible, Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking, Snowmobiling, Walking, Cross Country Skiing
TrailLink ID: 6015116

Related Links
Guidebook: Learn more about other New England rail-trails in RTC's New England Guidebook.