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Running trails in Maine
212 trails across 52 cities in Maine, with the most in Portland, Bangor, and Falmouth — including 47 natural surface, 44 loops, 4 shaded, and 32 long enough for a 5-mile run. Every listing shows the things runners actually decide on: surface, loop distance, shade, lighting, restrooms, water and trailhead parking. Pick a city for the full local list, or filter the Maine trails below.
Cities in Maine
Every city and town in Maine with a running trail in the directory, most trails first.
- Portland
- Bangor
- Falmouth
- Gorham
- Scarborough
- Westbrook
- Saco
- Brunswick
- Biddeford
- Kennebunk
- Lewiston
- Standish
- Wells
- Windham
- Auburn
- Kennebunkport
- South Portland
- Waterville
- York
- Augusta
- Orono
- Kittery
- Kittery Point
- Old Town
- Bar Harbor
- Buxton
- Limington
- Lisbon
- Mt Desert
- North Berwick
- Springvale
- Veazie
- Alfred
- Brewer
- Cape Elizabeth
- Freeport
- Glenburn
- Gray
- Harpswell
- Newry
- Ogunquit
- Old Orchard Beach
- Poland Spring
- Pownal
- Raymond
- Rockland
- Sanford
- South Berwick
- Steep Falls
- Topsham
- Turner
- Yarmouth
Notable running trails in Maine
The Maine trails runners review most, ranked by rating weighted by review volume. Filter by surface, loop, distance, shade or lighting to narrow to the run you're actually planning. See the full best-of-Maine ranking →
Bug Light Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 2,563 reviews
Nearly 9 acres of green space with harbor & skyline views, plus a tiny lighthouse built in 1875.
Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge
4.7 ★★★★★ 2,034 reviews
This large salt marsh & estuary features hiking trails, trees & many bird-watching opportunities.
Fort Allen Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 2,019 reviews
This grassy spot with water views features seating areas, a gazebo & many historical monuments.
Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,477 reviews
Park composed of woodland, estuary & rocky coast, known for guided nature walks & osprey-watching.
Bradbury Mountain State Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,340 reviews
Small, glacial mountain with camping, plus trails shared by hikers, horses, bikes & snowmobiles.
Fort McClary State Historic Site
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,338 reviews
State historic site in picturesque surrounds known for its colonial-era military history.
Range Pond State Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,098 reviews
Popular, family-friendly park featuring sandy swimming spots, picnic tables and a playground.
Grafton Notch State Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,074 reviews
Expansive, scenic park, with cross-country skiing & hiking trails, plus hunting & fishing.
Mount Agamenticus Conservation Region
4.8 ★★★★★ 912 reviews
Stunning eco-destination known for its expansive, panoramic views, dense landscape & hiking trails.
Bangor City Forest
4.8 ★★★★★ 856 reviews
650-acre recreational area featuring hiking & cross-country ski trails & a bog boardwalk.
Cascade Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 912 reviews
Scenic park featuring a picnic area & fountain, plus trails through a variety of pine trees.
Ferry Beach State Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 771 reviews
White-sand beach with a picnic area & changing rooms, plus walking trails & nature programs.
Fort Foster
4.7 ★★★★★ 710 reviews
Scenic area with military fort ruins, lighthouse views, trails, picnic spots & 3 small sand beaches.
Beehive Trail
4.9 ★★★★★ 613 reviews
Steep 1.4-mile trail with iron rungs & granite stairs to a lofty cliff-top offering ocean panoramas.
Western Promenade
4.7 ★★★★★ 606 reviews
18.1-acre park featuring scenic trails around bluffs, plus statues & stately 19th-century homes.
Scarborough Beach
4.6 ★★★★★ 607 reviews
Ocean beach with lifeguards & a snack shack. With admission fee (state park passes not valid).
Thorncrag Bird Sanctuary
4.7 ★★★★★ 570 reviews
Hiking trails, various bird species & a stone fire pit in a nature preserve with woods & meadows.
North Street Recreation Area
4.5 ★★★★★ 587 reviews
Recreation spot with a playground, soccer and basketball fields, trails, tennis courts, a pool, and a water park.
Mackworth Island State Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 528 reviews
Tranquil haven with rocky beaches & shorebirds, plus a round-the-island trail & views of Casco Bay.
Broadway Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 564 reviews
Grassy park with an outdoor gym, playground and shady benches.
Maine Audubon
4.8 ★★★★★ 446 reviews
Nature preserve with trails for walking, wildlife viewing, and a gift shop.
Capitol Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 451 reviews
Public park with mature trees & extensive lawns standing in the shadow of the Capitol Building.
Saco Heath Preserve
4.8 ★★★★★ 379 reviews
Wetland featuring a woodland trail with a boardwalk where visitors can look out for pitcher plants.
Mount Apatite
4.6 ★★★★★ 390 reviews
Kid-friendly park featuring nature trails, a quarry, and opportunities for rock collecting.
Wells Reserve at Laudholm
4.8 ★★★★★ 362 reviews
Conservation center featuring trails through woodlands & wetlands, plus historic farm buildings.
Hayford Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 384 reviews
Public park offering amenities such as a playground, picnic tables, and a skateboard area, as well as baseball fields and a pool.
Cliff Trail
4.7 ★★★★★ 322 reviews
Oceanfront trail through the forest, with a steep cliff drop-off and an overlook.
Orono Bog Boardwalk
4.9 ★★★★★ 305 reviews
Scenic place featuring a boardwalk that traverses a bog habitat, plus trails and benches.
Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve
4.8 ★★★★★ 310 reviews
Nature preserve with coastal walking paths, boardwalks, and benches, plus a visitor center.
Clifford Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 325 reviews
Kid-friendly park with walking trails and waterfalls, plus picnic tables, a playground and a skate park.
No trails match those filters.
Maine trails by surface
Surface is the biggest split in trail running — asphalt is fast and predictable, crushed limestone is softer but still smooth, dirt is easiest on the joints and the most fun, boardwalk is flat and scenic but slick when wet.
More ways to find a trail in Maine
- Best running trails in Maine — the state-wide ranking from runner reviews
- Loop trails — 44 in Maine come back to the trailhead without backtracking
- Long-run trails (5+ miles) — 32 in Maine are long enough for a proper long run
- Shaded trails — 4 in Maine keep tree cover over the path for summer miles
- Lit trails — 9 in Maine have lighting for pre-dawn and post-work runs
- Trails with restrooms — 41 in Maine, and 19 with water fountains
- Trailhead parking — 117 in Maine have parking at the trailhead
- Dog-friendly trails — 106 in Maine you can run with a dog
- Stroller & wheelchair-accessible — 44 in Maine are smooth and wide enough
- Scenic trails — 126 in Maine runners single out for the views
- Browse by surface — paved, crushed limestone, natural dirt or boardwalk
- All trail features — loops, shade, lighting, restrooms, mile markers and more
- Running trails by state — the rest of the country
- Trail-running guides — surfaces and your knees, loop vs out-and-back, trail etiquette, running before dawn
Trail features in Maine
- Scenic Running Trails
- Trails with Trailhead Parking
- Dog-Friendly Running Trails
- Quiet, Uncrowded Trails
- Stroller & Wheelchair-Accessible Trails
- Loop Trails (No Backtracking)
- Trails with Restrooms
- Trails with Mile Markers
- Flat & Fast Running Trails
- Long-Run Trails (5+ Miles)
- Hilly Trails & Hill Workouts
- Trails with Water Fountains
- Lit Trails for Early & Night Runs
- Shaded Running Trails