Bike rides in Maine

Explore 9 rail-trail, greenway and park ride options in Maine, with route lengths, surfaces, access notes and starting locations. These are selected recreational outings, not an exhaustive trail inventory. Read each guide’s scope and access cautions before choosing a ride.

9 ride guides · alphabetical order

• Acadia: Eagle Lake carriage-road bicycle loop

  Bar Harbor

  About 5.9 miles · Loop

  Improved crushed-rock carriage road

  Follow the NPS Eagle Lake loop through numbered carriage-road intersections 6–9–8–7–6 and return to the same access. Stay on the carriage road; do not follow hiking trails or the motor-traffic Park Loop Road.

• Androscoggin River Bicycle Path: Water Street return

  Brunswick

  Up to 2 miles return · Out-and-back

  Paved shared bicycle / pedestrian path

  Follow the main path east toward Cook’s Corner. Turn after one outward mile or before the first road crossing, barrier, high water or uncomfortable rise; retrace. Stay off the Merrymeeting Bridge bike-lane connection, dog-park enclosure and water-access ramps.

• Back Cove — Preble Street loop

  Portland

  3.6 mi · Loop

  Firm stone dust and paved sections; not an all-asphalt loop.

  A circuit of Back Cove offers open water, views toward Portland’s skyline and a mostly gentle ride on a busy shared trail. Start from the public parking lot on Preble Street Extension and follow the main path around the basin for approximately 3.6 miles, returning to the same lot. Walking within the parking area adds a little extra distance.

• Bayside Trail — Marginal Way access: short bicycle return

  Portland

  Up to 1 mile return · Out-and-back

  Paved main Bayside path; exclude gravel spurs and street / sidewalk extensions

  Follow the signed main path southwest on the signed paved Bayside main path toward Franklin Street. Turn after 0.5 outward miles or before the first public-road crossing, work barrier, uncertain continuation or uncomfortable transition, whichever comes first; retrace. Walk any initial lot or access-drive interface. Do not use a road or private-property detour.

• Bethel Pathway: short westward return from Davis Park

  Bethel

  Up to 1.8 miles return · Out-and-back

  Paved western main pathway

  Follow the signed Pathway west past the skate park and miniature covered bridge toward North Road. Turn before North Road, after at most 0.9 outward mile, or earlier at any public-road interface, work barrier or uncomfortable bridge approach. Retrace. Use only the separated main path, not US 2, the eastern Intervale Road crossing or the Valentine Farm extension.

• Eastern Trail: short Scarborough Marsh return

  Scarborough

  Up to 4 miles return · Out-and-back

  Firm gravel / crushed stone; use dry conditions

  Head north on the main Eastern Trail through Scarborough Marsh toward Eastern Road. Turn after two outward miles or before the first public-road crossing, work barrier, high water or soft tread; retrace. Stay out of the newer Nonesuch connection beyond Eastern Road and do not add a road leg toward South Portland.

• Kennebec River Rail Trail: short Augusta return

  Augusta

  Up to 2 miles return · Out-and-back

  Asphalt northern main trail

  Take the main river rail-trail south. Turn at the first one-mile granite marker or before an earlier road, barrier or uncomfortable transition, then retrace. Do not climb the Capitol Park connector, reach the stone-dust change around miles 1.5–1.75 or continue into Water Street / Route 201 in Hallowell.

• Mountain Division: short Fryeburg return

  Fryeburg

  Up to 2 miles return · Out-and-back

  Paved main rail-trail

  From the visitor-center end follow the signed paved Mountain Division main trail toward Porter Road / the Route 113 end. Turn after one outward mile or before the first road crossing, work barrier or uncomfortable rise; retrace. Do not take snowmobile side tracks, railway ballast or a highway bypass.

• South Portland Greenbelt: short Wainwright return

  South Portland

  Up to 2 miles return · Out-and-back

  Paved main Greenbelt

  Follow the main Greenbelt east toward South Portland / Bug Light, staying in the Wainwright end. Turn after one outward mile or before the first public-road crossing, barrier or uncomfortable rise; retrace. Do not take the new southwest Nonesuch link, Highland Avenue road riding or a downtown connector.