Explore the best rated trails in Kennebunk, ME. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Papermill Trail and Eastern Promenade Trail . With more than 35 trails covering 186 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
Gorgeous trail to ride a gravel bike from Epping to Fremont (5mi). The Fremont to Derry (rt 28) section is heavily utilized by ATV's and trail bikes, resulting in about 13 miles of loose sand (some areas were about 2" deep) with small oasis's of packed dirt, it's doable - but not pleasant. The last mile from rt 28 to the Windham rail trail is lovely to ride. The Sandown train depot looks to be worth checking out (a museum, open on Saturdays), but they were closed when I went by.
My first time on the trail was a great experience. The path is hard packed gravel and wide enough for various types of traffic. Foot and bike traffic. The scenery was nice, but it is early spring. I plan to return in June. The path will be very different with the tree and plants in full bloom.
Great clean trail for rollerblading/inline skating. All pavement with the exception of a few wooden bridges (still able to easily skate across). Highly recommend if you are the Newburyport area.
My family goes out to Shaw park often and get right on the trail. We can’t wait for the trail to extend past our house in Steep Falls!
We rode it today 11/10/22, it was a 70 degree sunny November day. My son, who is disabled and I rode a tandem recumbent bike. We are trying to complete all the rail trails in New England. I have to say this was one of the most beautiful trails up to this point. The scenery changed all the time, from woods to marshlands to the Merrimack River. We will definitely do it again
Amazing to see all the ratings of this trail . Amazed at bicyclists who need to complain because they are having issues with crossing the rails . It does not take a college education to know that when you need to cross a obstruction in your path anywhere , you need to do so at as close to a 90 degree angle as possible . If you read the map , the posted signs , or see a obstruction and you question your skills you should stop and walk . I know it must be so hard to unclip and re clip your feet into your ordeals
Flat, quiet, road crossings are few over the first 8 miles and well lit/marked. No portapotties, which is unreasonable. Lovely ride thru forest and wetlands.
It’s fairly narrow in most spots, but very quiet, and serene.
Trail is great for anything but hybrid bikes, ie, walking, horseback riding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, sledding. It is dirt, sand, loose stones, hidden boulders, and tree roots as well as metal hazards and horse manure piles. Beautiful views, when you can take your eyes off of the path in front of you, and shaded.
Just did this trail from Wakefield to Wolfeboro (and back) on Sunday. It’s a very nice and unique rail-to-trail project. I have ridden many rail-to-trail projects over the years, and have been involved with developing and maintaining trails in the past. I have been on trails built on top of old/removed railroad right-of-ways. I have been on trails built next to old railroad right-of-ways. But… I have never been on a trail actually built on an existing railroad right-of-way. I have seen several reviews complaining about this setup, however, I don’t think people understand the significance of this from an operational and historical perspective. Yes, having the trail lay between the railroad track gauge does limit space. And, this trail does cross the tracks back and forth quite a bit, which may pose a safety risk to those that are not cautious. But, with all of that being said… having the ability to operate motorized rail equipment on this trail is exciting and it gives visitors to this trail a unique perspective on seeing how the rail line worked.
The trail itself is of sand and light crushed stone construction, and it seems to be relatively well maintained. There were a few rutty places. You will definitely need a mountain or trail bike for this trip. However, I actually ran across members of the trail club doing maintenance Spent some time talking to them, and they were very friendly and informative. There is lots to see along the route, and Wolfeboro is a neat little tourist town. I drove over from Maine to try this trail out, and it was definitely worth the trip.
It was hard to enjoy this trail because you have to worry about crossing rails which are still in place. The trail crosses them constantly and each crossing is dangerous on a bike. The guy in front of us had a nasty crash and we had a few close calls. When even the slightest bit of moisture gets the on the rails tires just slide. There was no rain on the day we rode but damp spots on the trail lead to wet rails.
The people who made the trail know all this and signs say you must dismount every time a crossing happens. But they happen so often that there would hardly be any point riding.
And in most cases because the trail is between the rails or wedged on one side or the other there really isn't room to pass for bicycles. Usually one bike or the other has to stop to allow the other to pass. It's just a terrible design for bicycles.
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