Blazing a Trail
August 7
Blazing a trail
Mile by mile, bridge by bridge, Eastern Trail supporters are closing in on their goal.
By Deirdre Fleming dfleming@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer
In 1997, all John Andrews wanted his Saco Bay Trails volunteers to build was a trail from Scarborough to Saco — a pathway through three towns.
A town officer told him he’d never get a bridge over Route 1, and support for the trail seemed minimal.
“Most of the people at that meeting are now dead,” Andrews said. “This December, it will be 14 years since we started.”
In December, Andrews and people from eight towns will celebrate the 21 miles of linear off-road bicycle and pedestrian trail they’ve built between South Portland and Kennebunk — and the opening of not only the Eastern Trail’s bridge over Route 1 but also another spanning the width of Interstate 95.
“All I had was the vision,” Andrews said. “The thing just exploded.”
In recent years, the vision of an off-road trail running the length of southern Maine has come closer to a reality as others have joined and worked alongside Andrews on the Eastern Trail.
This year, with an unprecedented number of off-road miles built on the unique path, those involved say there’s no stopping now.
The Eastern Trail is both a trail and a vision. The Eastern Trail has a growing span of off-road sections, as well as a scenic on-road trail that mostly follows quiet country roads. Experienced bike riders and hikers can enjoy a beautiful journey from South Portland’s Bug Light Park on Casco Bay (near Portland) to Kittery’s Piscataqua River.
If you are new to us and to this site, the following links are a great place to start:
Click here to view many photographs of the Eastern Trail
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
X/Twitter