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Fort Foster
4.7 ★★★★★ 710 Google reviews · Running trail in Kittery Point, Maine · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Fort Foster's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Scenic area with military fort ruins, lighthouse views, trails, picnic spots & 3 small sand beaches.
What runners say about Fort Foster
“You can tell this is a locally maintained park because it's kept very nice and clean.”
“Beautiful place where you can picnic on the beach or at the many places on the grass that offers grills and shady spots.”
So they charge $20 a car to get in and worth every penny and the hours as of now in May they are open til 730. Very much so worth the money and a visit! Excellent views all the way around, even though the Fort part itself is small for what is left.
A sprawling magical place with all kinds of views - ocean, rocks, beach, lighthouses, wooded areas, lily ponds. Excellent for plein air painters. For non residents it's a bit pricey at 20 (as of 2024) so fill your car with family, friends and dogs for the day. It's a perfect place to take kids for a technology break.
I discovered Fort Foster almost two years ago when I decided to explore Kittery. I was looking to spend a bit more time along the pristine coast of Maine and enjoy the sounds of the ocean again.
Fort Foster is maintained and run by the town of Kittery. If you want to avoid the $20 per vehicle fee, bring your walking shoes for a much more reasonable per person rate if you don't have a lot of people in your party.
Trail conditions & character
“Beautiful place where you can picnic on the beach or at the many places on the grass that offers grills and shady spots.”
“There are bathroom facilities, water, pavilions, old fortifications to look at, a very long pier, picnic tables, playground, sandy beaches and rocky coast too.”
“I can't believe we have been coming to the area for decades and never knew this dog friendly park was in existence.”
“There are bathroom facilities, water, pavilions, old fortifications to look at, a very long pier, picnic tables, playground, sandy beaches and rocky coast too.”
Plan your run at Fort Foster
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitekitteryme.gov
- Phone+1 207-439-0333
Hours
| Monday | 10 am–8 pm |
| Tuesday | 10 am–8 pm |
| Wednesday | 10 am–8 pm |
| Thursday | 10 am–8 pm |
| Friday | 10 am–8 pm |
| Saturday | 10 am–8 pm |
| Sunday | 10 am–8 pm |
Running trails near Kittery Point
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Fort McClary State Historic Site
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Peirce Island
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