Coastal Access
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Coastal Access in Maine
Browse the destinations collected under Coastal Access in Maine so you can compare the strongest park guides and stops in one place.
Looping for 1.3 miles along both sides of the riverbank and crossing a historic swinging pedestrian suspension bridge.
A short public path which accesses the mudflats, which is popular with local clam diggers.
A 1.5-mile section of Peaks Island's loop road which offers sweeping ocean views.
The sand bar is a popular spot for launching kayaks and is used by hikers wanting to explore Bar Island.
A short trail through the woods to a tidal inlet provides a place to fish, paddlers to launch, and people to swim.
This charming cliffside lighthouse marks the entrance to Bass Harbor.
A long, sandy beach which curves around Saco Bay from Pine Point to Camp Ellis.
The site of working communal farms, gardens, and trails for visitors.
A popular bridge for fishing, crabbing, and watching people float down the Ogunquit River.
This tiny park's most popular attraction is the big red bell buoy which kids love to climb on as their parents wait to be seated at one of the nearby restaurants.
A town-owned right-of-way leads to a small beach which has a rock area nicknamed "The Nubble".
A 3.9-mile trail network with passage to a pond and its surrounding salt marsh and wetland habitat.
An unspoiled section of the tidal creek which is popular with anglers and paddlers.
A beach on the mouth of the Kennebunk River and opening up into the port.
Brickyard Point was not originally the island it is today but was once an actively worked part of the mainland.
With easy and flat trails, the 14 acres of pristine forests along the Kennebunk River are the perfect spot to get in a nice walk through the woods.
A seaside neighborhood of Saco, it includes a small beach, boat launch, jetty, and extensive seawall of made of granite.
A small wooded area owned by the town located on Cousin Island.
11 acres with an easy mile trail network that most guests use for birdwatching and relaxing strolls.
The Carson Trail is one of the few areas where visitors can view and experience a large salt marsh that was able to take root and turn into a meadow.
A part-tide gravel area next to the causeway connecting Bickford Island in Cape Porpoise.
This large dock is primarily used by the Casco Bay Lines ferry to load and unload passengers and goods.
The sandbar between Great Diamond and Little Diamond Islands becomes a "city road" and can be used as a boat launch.
A tiny hidden getaway along Ocean Avenue in Kennebunkport.
A small, quiet beach that is a perfect spot to relax on the sand, swim, or enjoy a picnic.
A small cobblestone beach which is not be missed, if you can find parking.
A large dock which is primarily used by the Casco Bay Lines ferry to load and unload passengers and goods.
A classic Maine coastal walk which painter Winslow Homer often enjoyed as well.
12 acres of land sitting directly on the Damariscotta River.
A scenic town park located at the base of the dam along the Salmon Falls River.
This dock is primarily used by the Chebeague Transportation Company which operates the year-round ferry service to Chebeague Island.
A scenic 1.2-mile trail leading to the Cousins River shores, the Cousins River Trail is an easy hike and welcomes guests.
A hand-carry boat launch for paddlers looking to access Chauncey Creek or Brave Boat Harbor, if the tide permits.
The Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge protects a total of 7600 acres from Cape Elizabeth to Kittery, Maine.
Now considered "forever wild," the land here is to remain untouched by future development.
A short path leads to a small sand beach used by clammers.
Long, stretching dunes and tide pools for children to explore.
A rocky finger which offers endless ocean views and is home to two lighthouses.
A small public access area that offers views of Cliff Island and Hope Island.
A 30-acre sanctuary owned by the Audubon Society which is considered by birders to be a "must-visit" destination.
A long pier and dock mainly for public and commercial use.
Donated from private land as a protected easement, Fairchild has only 17 acres of protected forests along the Chauncey Creek Shoreline.
A public right-of-way which provides shoreline access to commercial fishermen and visitors looking to enjoy a picnic and the views.
A less crowded section of the main Ogunquit Beach which is accessible only by a short footbridge.
A small paved ramp is located next to the footbridge on the northern side but is tide-restricted.
This 85-acre wildlife sanctuary is home to Jewell Falls, Portland's only natural waterfall.
A 1-mile trail which was funded by the restoration funds from the Julie N oil spill in Portland Harbor in 1996.
A large public dock which includes a ramp and float available for fishing and short-term tie-ups.
This 9.3 acres park offers sweeping views of Portland Harbor, Casco Bay, and the busy sailboat and commercial fishermen traffic.
This 94-acre town-owned park is the crown jewel of Kittery.
Approximately 2 miles of perfect sandy shoreline.
Home to Portland Head Light, the most photographed lighthouse in America.
The only picnic area on the Schoodic Peninsula.
A coastal walk with sparse cover but sweeping views.
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A large, sandy beach with grassy dunes at the backdrop which allows for some seclusion from the surrounding homes.
A wide-open 1.7-mile loop with sweeping views or plenty of opportunities to watch for wildlife.
Best at low tide due to the larger area.
A large wooden observation platform provides views fo the surrounding marsh and beach which Goosefare Brook flows into the Saco Bay.
Beautiful white sand sloping down towards the water and offshore islands along the horizon.
A small public wharf popular with commercial fishermen.
A large dock primarily used by the Casco Bay Ferry to load and unload passengers and goods.
A great family hike with wonderful spots for picnics and watching marine life.
This small park is the perfect place to stop and stretch the legs during a long ride or to enjoy a picnic lunch.
Grist Mill is a unique and historical acquisition of the Kennebunk Land Trust.
A moderately-sized little sandy cove, perfect for families of all ages.
Clammers and walkers alike use this path to access the cove which is located along the Spurwink River.
A very small and family-friendly because it is less well-known.
A public-way path that leads to a small pebble beach. Locals enjoy this as a quiet place to enjoy the views across the harbor to Portland. Paddlers can hand-carry during high-tide.
25 acres of a high-risk ecological system set aside and protected for both the habitat and public.
A town-owned road that provides access to a small sand and pebble beach.
As a 221 acre island far out in Casco Bay, those feeling adventurous can only access this gem by boat, though the trek is worth it.
A thriving location surrounded by salt marshes, visitors are more than welcome to walk, hike, snowshoe, or cross country ski through the sanctuary.
A small sandy beach located on the south side of Goosefare Brook, which can be crossed during low tide, but beware of the rip tides.
A popular spot along the Portsmouth Harbor has two piers, a floating dock, and a part-tide paved boat ramp.
A short mowed path runs along a fence to the former location of a boat launch.
A small somewhat secluded beach along the Marginal Way.
A long pier primarily used as a loading spot for the Casco Bay Ferry.
In addition to the dock access for paddlers and anglers, this is a popular driving destination because of scenic views of Chebeague Island and all the way south to Portland.
A moderate mile and a half of walking, the pathway follows the bedrock sheets of moss-covered peat down to the shores of Long Reach.
A mile and half long stretch of pearly white sand and lapping waves.
This city-owned pier serves as the transit hub for the Casco Bay Ferry Terminal, as well as several boat cruises.
A unique property on the shores of Maquoit Bay, the Maquoit Bay Conservation Land offers visitors an approximate mile and a half round trip walk along an old wood road.
A 124-acres preserve on Maquoit Bay with a 1-mile loop trail that provides access to the shoreline.
A state-owned launch which is the busiest on the Saco River with two well constructed all-tide ramps and a float.
A beautifully paved walking trail following the coast of Ogunquit.
This dock is primarily used by the Casco Bay Ferry to load and unload passengers and goods.
140 acres of protected wildlife habitat only a mile from the downtown of the town of Freeport.
A scenic town-owned park along the banks of the Saco River includes an observation deck, lawn, picnic areas, and benches.
A section of Merriland River where fishing is permitted.
Rocky shores and is a great place for visitors who wish to relax in a beach chair.
The park itself is actually an art installation created by Mags Harries and Lajos Heder, which celebrates the "moon tide" - the monthly highest tide.
A small but cute stretch of sand is aptly known as Mother's Beach.
A section of Mousam River within the Rachel Carlson Wildlife Refuge where fishing is permitted.
Not every town can boast having its own wildlife sanctuary right downtown, but the town of Kennebunk does.
North Beach is the undeveloped section of Ogunquit Beach which is between Moody Beach and Footbridge Beach.
This is a section of the 7-mile Old Orchard Beach is located to the south of the main beach.
One of the most beautiful beaches in the country.
A more sheltered beach along the western side of Ogunquit Beach.
A part-tide hand-carry launch site for paddlers that provides access to Back Channel.
Seven miles long Old Orchard Beach will throw visitors back into a classic movie set upon the shores of New England.
A short path located in a residential area leads to a rocky area along the Piscataqua River.
A small, town park along Biddeford Pool offers birders easy access to the tide pools, and an opportunity for visitors to picnic and enjoy the scenic view.
A 4.8-mile paved walk along Ocean Ave that offers scenic ocean views, access to Blowing Cave, Spouting Rock, and a walk past the Bush family estimate on Walker's Point.
A flat 15-mile paved loop around the island perfect for bicyclists.
A small fishing village and artist community which has become a popular tourism destination with numerous shops, restaurants, and boat cruises.
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A nineteenth-century salt-water farm on the estuary of the Harraseeket River, is owned by Freeport Historical Society.
A rocky point which offers excellent ocean views, access to a small beach, and a sandbar that connects to a small island.
Slightly less crowded section of beach to the north of Old Orchard Beach.
A concrete ramp and floating dock on 9 acres of land which provides access to Piscataqua River, Portsmouth Harbor, and the Gulf of Maine.
A paved path that leads to a small rocky area along the Piscatagua River in Eliot.
A long wooden pier which is best used to enjoy the views and watch all the activity in the busy Casco Bay.
This is a public pier that is actively used by commercial fishermen and recreational boaters. Visitors are welcome to walk the pier and enjoy the views across the marina.
A small preserve of tide pools and expanses of the rocky shoreline at the very end of one of Maine's "fingers".
A 48-acre wooded preserve which provides access to the Presumpscot River and the Presumpscot Falls.
This is a beautiful and secluded picnic area on the quiet southwestern side of Mount Desert Island.
A popular harry-carry launch site and fishing spot located east of Route 1 and I-95.
This 23-acre town-owned park is tucked away in a residential neighborhood of Kittery and offers a 1-mile trail network that passes through a beautiful old-growth forest.
A small sandy beach that overlooks the Harraseeket River and across to Wolfe's Neck State Park.
Owascoag was the original name of the now popular town of Scarborough.
A short path offers the opportunity for paddlers to hand-carry and launch a boat, however, this spot has tide-limited access.
A small public access site most often used by clammers though its a nice place for a visitor to relax and enjoy the view.
A quarter-mile sandy crescent beach bordered by marsh.
Perfect for biking and walking in the summer and cross country skiing in the winter, the Sea Road Preserve and Bridle Path are an important part of the Kennebunk Land Trust.
A hand-carry site at the end of a residential road that allows paddlers to launch into the Dunstan River and eventually the Scarborough River.
A beautiful spot to have a picnic lunch by the shore to the sound of ocean waves.
A beautiful nature walk taking you through an evergreen forest that leads to the rocky shoreline.
A small but perfectly family-friendly little beach sits adjacent to the popular Nubble Lighthouse.
A small, town park located on the banks of the Kennebunk River.
Over 4,000 feet of coast along the Middle Bay Cove.
A tiny town-owned park with benches, a water fountain, and access to Pine Point Beach.
A small town-owned park in Cape Neddick which serves as the viewing area for Nubble Light, which is just offshore on an island.
A public right-of-way that provides access to small sandy and pebble beach which overlooks Whaleboat Island and Harpswell Neck.
This sanctuary is actually just an access path to the Gil Boucher Park, however, it's an excellent location for birders.
A mile-long stretch meant for a short and easy relaxing stroll along the coast.
Located on the Kennebec River's Arrowsic Island in Maine, the Squirrel Point Light navigational aid was established in 1895.
A small rocky beach with limited sand used mostly by locals due to the very limited parking.
A small section of Stevens Brooks where fishing is permitted.
A large dock which is primarily used by the Chebeague Transportation Company ferry to load and unload passengers and goods.
This small preserve provides access to a small section of the shoreline and a sandbar which leads to tidal areas.
A long, wide section of the Old Orchard Beach which is famous for Charles Lindbergh's unexpected landing on the beach in the Spirit of St. Louis on July 24, 1927.
This public right-of-way offers access to the mudflats for clammers.
Ted Wells was a famous musician, teacher, and naturalist of Maine.
A small park next to and under the Casco Bay Bridge which provides a small picnic area and a floating dock for launching in the Portland Harbor.
A fixed dock with floats as well as a small picnic area and restrooms are available.
The primary town landing for Freeport which includes a wharf and floating dock.
A small paved, all-tide boat ramp with dock and small float provides access to the Piscataqua River.
A small public access area located next to the private boat club.
As a prime example of Cape Elizabeth's rocky headlands, this small area is untouched by development.
A small, park located in the center of town offering excellent views of Wood Island Light. A gravel road ramp that can support small trailers is available.
A small sand beach which is primarily used by clammers and visitors looking for a quiet place to enjoy the views.
A little over a mile of trails take hikers through the wetland areas and mixed wooded land.
A part-tide, paved ramp is located next to a floating dock and provides access to Wells Harbor and the Gulf of Maine.
A section of Webhannet River where fishing is permitted.
A mile-long stretch of sandy beach which is bordered by numerous vacation homes.
To protect and learn from the delicate ecosystems in our coastal regions, and to help educate the public about the importance of conservation.
The former location of the town fishing pier, this short path provides quiet access to the Piscataqua River.
A 3-acres town park on the shore of the Salmon Falls River.
An easy path that heads out to overlook the Middle Bay.
This public right-of-way is mainly used by clammers.
Located on nearly 80 acres of properties owned by the town of Kennebunk, the Murphy Preserve is contiguous with Wonder Brook Preserve, making this an excellent location for a short or longer stroll.
A 1.4-mile trail that hugs the shoreline with beautiful views along its way.
An 11-acre forested area along the shore that serves as a good spot to relax and enjoy the waves and views.
A small, town park which overlooks the inner harbor, and an excellent spot to picnic or enjoy a little bird watching.
