loveee back cove!!! some notes... - the new field + playground & fitness course is such an improvement. - the section around 295 including tukeys bridge kinda sucks, so much trash, narrow for bikes, and i'm not confident the thin concrete barrier would stop a car from hitting you. but, hopefully the new roux institute pedestrian bridge will alleviate those issues. read more

Back Cove - it's DEFINITELY NOT CALLED "Back Bay", and when you say that we know you're not a local - is a 100+ year old 3.5 mile multi-use, tree-lined, accessible/mostly flat path around a tidal estuary basin that offers skyline views and birdwatching. There's also a recently renovated athletic field and very new/in exceptional shape/varied fitness course area! So fun to see people playing here again; over all, this trail is great for ambling, dog walking, running, and biking. Some things that are great: - The art (both city installed and citizen "installed"). Some of the old informational placards now house paintings, you might find handmade birdhouses, and other various structures! - The half of the trail that's *after* Tukey's Bridge, passing Payson Park, around the Boulevard (which is closed to vehicles on Sundays in the summer), all the way to maybe Vannah Ave is spectacular! Some things that are not great: - there's a *large* trash problem here from the parking lot across the Hannaford, near the 295 off ramp after the athletic fields, going up the include to the bridge, segue... - crossing Tukey's Bridge is never a pleasant experience; it's *so* loud because of the highway traffic speeding by, segue... - there's not a ton of lights, and this area doesn't feel particularly safe at night read more

Nice 3.6 mile loop around Back Cove in Portland with pretty views of the ocean and the Portland skyline. Connects to the Bayside and Eastern Promenade Trails under Tukey's Bridge. Ample free parking near Hannaford and in Payson Park. Trail is plowed in winter making this a year round trail and a great way to get outdoors! read more

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My husband and I had a blast walking this trail when we visited Portland. There's plenty of parking nearby, and if you have an electric car, it's near a charging station. The trail is packed dirt/gravel and was very clean. While we like hiking trails, this is NOT one and is a very easy, flat run/walk, although one section is over a bridge. Leashed dogs are welcome. Folks were conscientious about picking up after their pups and not littering, as I expected for Maine. Trees provide shade from the sun, and you can stop to rest or reflect on a bench. Even if you don't have a GPS watch, the mile markers are visible and you can see how far you've run or walked. Since the trail is about 3.5 miles, it's great for a daily run/walk or you could run/walk multiple loops if you're training for a full or half marathon. A few folks looked like they were training for events. If you're not a runner, a bikeshare is beside the parking lot. Triathletes could even do a brick (bike/run) workout here! The only downside of the trail is it could use more water fountains and maybe an emergency call box. I know most people carry phones when they run, but this would make me more comfortable doing longer runs or walks here. After our walk, we ate at the Miss Portland Diner, which is just a few blocks away. I also noticed nearby grocery stores and other restaurants that you could visit if you're hungry or thirsty after a workout. If we lived here, we'd be frequent visitors and run, walk, and bike this trail often. read more

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During Covid Times - I love this trail that includes a little bit of nature in the city to walk, run or bike. Not too urban. There are more pros than cons about this trail. There are parking opportunities beyond the big lot that's near the Hannaford. Smaller lots means less gatherings and less likely you'll accidentally get stuck amongst a crowd of strangers. From those small lots, there are usually clearly marked crosswalks which I found most drivers obey. Mile Markers - they are helpful and motivating as you walk the trail. Just know they start from the big lot, but you can estimate. It's total of about 5K which is nice for training or getting the casual 5K in. Quality of path - It's well cared for - thank you to all the workers that do such an amazing job. Barely any overgrowth. Very little erosion and no litter from what I could see. However, I did witness a walker pick up trash they saw on the ground. Way to go citizen - Thank you! There aren't too many climbs or descents, fairly flat in my opinion. The only part that is "loud" is the part that is adjacent to 295, but that's a small section. There are shady spots on the trail and a few benches that you can take a break and stare out at the beautiful water. It's a scenic trail and the smell from the ocean roses makes it even more beautiful. I highly recommend this location. read more

Here it is, the dead of winter in Maine and all I can think about is springtime runs along the Back Cove Trail. With all of its hills, cobblestones, and tourists as obstacles, Portland can be a hard city to find a good long stretch of running trail. Thankfully, the Back Cove Trail serves as the perfect in-town spot for a run. The trail is about 3.5 miles, which can easily be extended by continuing on to the Eastern Promenade trail or simply by doing the loop twice (or as many times as you like I guess...). Personally, I like to skip the part that goes along the 295 altogether and turn around at that point - I think that ends up being about 5 miles out-and-back. If you aren't a runner, the trail is also perfect for a meditative walk by yourself, or a romantic stroll with your loved one. If you are going for romance, I recommend going right before sunset and ending up on the 295 bridge. The views from that point at sunset are fantastic. Why only 4-stars? I hate that there is traffic zooming by the trail almost the entire way. It makes it hard to enjoy nature to it's fullest or to hear my favorite podcast over all the noise. It's a city though, so I understand the need for things like streets ;). The Back Cove Trail is definitely an asset to the city and part of what makes Portland special. I am truly grateful for this little stretch of nature. read more

Back Cove Trail - Beautiful spot for an evening walk - Hiking Near Me - Portland, Maine

I stumbled onto this place thanks to either my fellow yelpers or my Waze sending me to Edward Payson Park just adjacent to the Back Bay Cove where I was looking for a nice bike trail to ride on safely. Wow, what a beautiful find! Easy parking, very safe place to ride bikes as there is both a bike lane on the street as well as gravel dirt type hiking walking bike path all the way around this bay and even over the I-295 Tukey's Bridge! How cool is that? being able to ride the whole circuit about 3.5 mile ride which is a nice beautiful scenic trail. The walkers and hikers seem to happily share the trail with bikers since the trail in mostly very wide. The first time I went I even stopped by the Hannaford Market and bought a couple of lobsters and had them cooked for dinner! read more

Best urban lake trail and views I have experienced. (And I am from the land of 10,000 lakes.) Super clean, well kept gravel path. Markers every quarter mile, which if you are doing speed work training for a race are perfect. If you are just trying to make it around, you might not want to see it's only been a quarter mile... lol! Was happy to find a drinking fountain half way around. There are nice benches by the water so you can rest in peace. There were trees shading the path for a good portion. The photos can't capture the whole experience of this trail. I went all the way around with a perma grin on my face. I'm sure the locals thought I was nuts. If you get to Portland, put this on your list. read more

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I circled the Back Cove Trail about 3 times on a nice Monday morning in May 2019. And a small 2.24 mile jaunt to make it 13.1 miles and another 13.1 half distance finish in Maine. Crazy, huh? The Back Cove trail in Portland Maine is one of the oldest and most popular trails in the Portland Maine area. My love affair with this trail started when I registered for the 2019 Pine Tree marathon & half marathon, which was part of a larger marathon race series called the New England Challenge. We were to do either a half marathon or marathon everyday for 6 days in 6 of the New England states. With that said, I arrived here at the Back Cove Trail Head around 5:30am. It was already day break but the sun hadn't risen yet. You could see the beauty of the Portland skyline and the serenity of Back Cove waving back at you with its calming infusion. The trail itself is one big loop that encompasses about 3.6 miles around the cove, inclusive to a small path adjacent to the I-295 made out of concrete. The other parts of the trail is basically either asphalt, crushed gravel, or actual concrete sidewalk circling the cove. It was nice to run and walk around this trail on a Monday in May 2019 in the morning in Portland Maine. It was quite refreshing indeed to be here and in Maine. The overall experience here at Back Cove trail in Portland Maine was quite tranquil, sweet, and thoroughly refreshing and enjoyable. Especially when reality is in your mind is back home, but being in Maine and enjoying this trail is often the best thing these days for your mind to relax and enjoy. There's no visible restroom facilities here. Actually, there's really nothing here, but open spaces and a view of the cove. There are some benches to sit on at various parts of the cove, but that's about it. The trail is maintained by the good folks at the City of Portland. The trail itself is quite clean and the water seems clean too. For the most part though, it was just a fun morning. Circling the cove trail seemed to be the tone of the day, but had fun and being here. I always had my focus on the I-295 part of the trail, since I knew that part was about 1 mile away from the start of the trail. It was my way of thinking I only had a short way to go to circumnavigating the trail. If you are in the area and want to see this trail, come on over. It's a nice place to take your family and kids for a nice morning or evening of fun at no cost. The Back Cove Trail is located at Preble Street and I-295 / Hwy 1 in Portland Maine. I think the entrance to the main parking lot is on the Hwy 1 side of the park. If you can find parking along Baxter blvd or surrounding neighboring streets, that's cool too. Or you can try to find parking at Edward Payton Park, which is on the north end of the trail. Back Cove Trail is free. No admission required! As with all parks, it's public space, so anyone and everyone is welcome to come and enjoy. Walking, running, and cycling is usually what the trail is used for, but you could also just sit on one of the benches and soak in the natural aura of mother nature's handiwork. It's always nice to see the cove even when I was doing laps that fateful Monday in May. It was nice to be here and not be at home. For the most part though, it was an enjoyable experience here at Back Cove trail in Portland Maine. While the Cove technically empties into Narragansett Bay and eventually the Atlantic Ocean, it was nice to think that the Cove itself is like a big pond for the city of Portland Maine to enjoy and to experience. If you're up here, do come by and enjoy. It's definitely a nice place to take a break from driving. 5.0 stars for the overall experience. Support local! A+ read more

Yet another beautiful Portland outdoor exercise, dog walking, bird and nature watching spot. So far i find it the best iin the summer. Its a 3.5 mile or 5k trail around a part of the bay that is resedential rather than commercial. Nicked named "The Boulevard" its def the best place to walk ride or run when temps soar into the 80s or above cuz at least here is always a breeze. As Steph was saying there's tons of sexy men and women jogging and glistening as they do laps. Great motivation to keep up the good work. There are two water fountains, one with a dog bowl but no bathrooms. I subtracted a star cuz there should be more dog fountains and trash cans for poop bags. One trash can on a 5k walk is rediculous. read more

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Back Cove Trail is one of my favorite places to go for a walk or run. With scenic views on the outskirts of Portland, Back Cove provides a three and a half mile trail for people to walk, run, or bike. The trail also provides an adult obstacle course, which is solely why I gave Back Cove four stars rather than five. The obstacle course has potential being in a large field, however, it ends of being lackluster. There is a rope climb with some walls to climb over, but that is the basic premise. I wish they would add in more! Many reviews have commented on the 1/4 mile markers as you are walking. These are surely there, however, some people find them useful. I happen to be ambivalent about them. Overall, Back Cove is a great place for an enjoyable, scenic trail. Definitely worth checking out! read more

Back Cove Trail - Sign - Hiking Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Gym memberships are not tempting in the summer time when you can run, walk or jog on a beautiful day at the Back Cove Trail! I have always been trying to cut spending on a gym membership somehow and the Back Cove Trail was my solution. When the sun is shining and the temperature feels right for you (hot for me thanks), that's when I'll drive down, park the car for free and go for a brisk walk or jog. It's a breath of fresh air for me versus being cooped up in a gym breathing body odor. The highway bridge is the best part for me! Last Friday I went for a walk and it was so hot, but once I made it to the bridge, the cool breeze made it all better. The strong winds just took my mind off the hot day and the view from the bridge is just stellar! The trail is spacious with a gravel pathway so wear sneakers. Flip fops would do you no justice! The Back Cove Trail wraps around the Back Cove at a length of 3.5 miles. There are mile markers which I really think is cool. I see it as determination because I know I'll want to complete the entire 3.5 miles no matter if I am running or walking. If you forget your water bottle like I do sometimes, there are two water fountains along the trail so no worries! There are portable toilets if you drank too much water located at Preble Street and Payson Park. Bring your family, your dog and even have a picnic too! Everyone will have a grand time :) read more

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The trail is a 3.5 mile loop around the Back Cove. It is a pretty trail that has great views of downtown from the backside. The homes in the surrounding neighborhoods are also a part of the pleasant backdrops provided by the trail. In my opinion, the Back Cove is a better spot for sunset than the Eastern Promenade. Since the sun sets in the west, you will see the sun set under the Back Cove rather than not seeing the sun and just the afterglow at the Promenade. The Back Cove Trail is also a great spot for a run or walk and connects to the north end of the Eastern Promenade. If you are visiting and planning a trip to Portland and looking for recommendations, feel free to message me for my itinerary. You can also find the electronic copy through the link my profile. read more

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This is the PERFECT place to train for 5Ks (or more) for about half the year. Then, it turns into an even better place to train because you'll be forced to dodge giant puddles of ice and snow while covering your face and hands from the freezing cold. During the warmer months, back cove is packed full of joggers and cute puppies. Sunrise and sunset are beautiful times to enjoy the view while getting some exercise. I still remember the first time I successfully completed this loop and I felt GREAT (especially because I hardly made it to 0.5 miles on my first attempt). The only downsides as others have mentioned are the narrow areas near the overpass and the horrible conundrum you're suddenly in if you happen to choose to run in the middle of winter and you have to give up halfway through due to the cold... and your car is 1.5 miles away on the other side of the cove. read more

Great walking/jogging trail, with an amazing view! This trail is mostly flat, with a couple small hills. On weekday mornings it's a great place to run or walk -- weekends are great too, but it can get pretty busy. The trail is well marked with mile markers at each quarter mile, which can be a great help if you're training or want to do intervals. It is always well maintained, but can get muddy sometimes, especially on the side closest to the highway. Perhaps I'll see you running sometime! read more

Back Cove Trail - Hiking Near Me - Portland, Maine

Back Cove is the BEST trail in Portland to go for a walk, run or bike ride. It is a 3.5 mile loop around a retention part of the ocean and it consists of beautiful views of Portland and greenery. My husband and I just love getting a coffee and going for a walk around Back Cove because it's the perfect mileage. Back Cove also offers a obstacle course with rope climbs and wall climbs, which can be really fun to do with friends. Throughout the loop, there are also benches to sit and enjoy the views, and even 2 water fountains. There are signs throughout the loop to let you know much you have walked each 1/4 of a mile. These can sometimes seem redundant and almost mocking, but sometimes it's nice to know how far in you are. Overall, Back Cove is a beautiful place to be active and enjoy views of what Portland has to offer. It is certainly worth checking out. read more

If you're looking for a good place to walk and enjoy the summer weather, look no further than the Back Cove Trail. This is always my go-to for when I don't want to go to the gym because it's too sunny and awesome. The walking path itself is really wide and well-maintained. It is almost 3.2 miles all the way around so if you're training for a 5K, it's a good place to start. I'm a walker and the smooth gravel is really nice on my old lady joints. The only narrow area is going across Tukey's Bridge but for the most part, people are courteous and will not take up the whole lane. If the weather is even somewhat decent, expect it to be packed. The nice thing is that from May to October, they close down a section of the road and make it pedestrian only. That triples the amount of room for walkers, bikers, and runners so there's no need for traffic jams on the walking path. Things to look out for: - There are a ton of fundraising walks that use the trail. If you don't want to caught up in a mass of walkers all wearing the same shirt, choose your walking time wisely. - Parking in the lot near Hannaford can be crappy at times. In my opinion, the spots are narrow and some people just don't know how to park. Also if the weather is nice, you may have a hard time finding a space at all. - Every Wednesday night there is a 5K race around the trail. If you're into running (which I'm not) it's a fun after work activity with a competitive edge. Overall, this is THE place to walk in the Portland area and I love it. read more

One of my favorite places in Portland and my favorite trail to run by a landslide. Like everyone else has said, the mile markers and water fountains are great to have, but what I love is the safety-factor. No worrying about cars (just the occasional rogue biker) because you are on a path that runs parallel to the road. There are usually tons of people and cars driving by so it's a comfortable environment and you seldom feel vulnerable. I will say that the stretch by the highway CAN be sketchy if it's evening and not as many people are around. There's no car-traffic on that side (because of a fence, trees, and the highway) and it's closer to the fields/Hannaford where homeless have been known to hang out. But overall, it's perfectly safe. Like anyplace, don't be stupid and you should be fine. read more

When I visit someplace new I always want to check out the jogging/trail paths in the area. Why? Because most of the time the popular local runs offer the beat scenic routes! Back cove trail is home to many local running events- and no wonder! The view of the area is amazing! read more

The Back Cove Trail is great. A nice path that goes around the back cove completely. You can walk, run or bike the trail. You have to be careful when it's busy and when you are crossing over the highway, but other that that, it's just a nice place to exercise outside. Fun tip: Hang right (or left if you are going the other direction) to head under the bridge to go to the Eastern Promenade. You'll have to pass by the sewage treatment plant, but it's well worth it to see a nicer section of water (sorry Back Cove) and the Old Port. read more

A Amazing walk/run my great uncle did this for years just great to get out enjoy the view. If your in the area check it out, Mid portland dinner is right around the corner so grab a bite and hit the trail read more

This is a great walk on a nice or fare day- always has smiling face and the Suttle nods of hello when you pass people (with the exception of the intense joggers or bicyclists )offers nice views of the city and the back cove area neighborhood. Great place to spend an hour or so walking the dog or burning off some steam. My only complaint if the lazy disrespecting dog owners who don't pick up after their dogs- watch your step- and enjoy your walk. read more

Portland has so much to offer in the way of walking paths and bike trails. Locals love Back Cove! Come here for a morning jog or after dinner stroll. Bring your fur babies or baby stroller. If you're in need of extra exercise time, add the walk along the Eastern Promenade. I love coming here and seeing the water glittering from the sunlight. Sometimes I get lucky and spot egrets in the water. read more

This is a great walk if you are looking to get our for a bit. The entire loop is about 3.5 miles.

This trail hugs a circular cove for 3.6 beautiful miles.

I have so many reasons to be thankful for Back Cove Trail, but mainly because it served as my main route to completing my first marathon. This past summer, I used the 3.5 trail multiple times a week. On the spacious trail, you can find water fountains and mile markers, which are always helpful. You will always run into other runners, adorable dogs and sometimes bikers. Sunrise and sunset is beautiful-- grab a bench and soak up the view. read more

Clearly marked and spacious trail if you're looking to go for a long stroll or a run along the water. While the small area with a sustainable garden was nice, I didn't find most of the trail to be terribly scenic. The water overlook is fairly boring, topography is flat, not much to catch your eye. I personally enjoyed the heavily graffitied part near the top of the trail - but its also the part that goes along the waste water treatment plant....so a little pro/con there. Perfectly fine as a running trail, but I wouldn't recommend it for a romantic stroll. read more

Love the Back Cove Trail. Awesome place to run, walk, ride bikes, walk your dog, walk with the kids, whatever! There's lots of parking areas along the trail so you can start wherever you like. It alternates between going along a busy road, along a bridge, through a field, next to the ocean, etc... lots of variety. And it's a little over 3 miles around, so great exercise. Win! read more

Nice trail. I like to take the dog here. I can't run these days, but it's still a nice place to walk and watch the birds. Nice parking lot. My wife doesn't like it because she thinks the runners might trample her Yorkie but I can't stand that damn dog so I bring it here for walks anyway. So far the runners seem nice though. Sometimes it's windy and on a nice day you can smell the bean factory, I like that because there's still some businesses in America. William B. read more

Windy and loud and sometimes crowded but a nice view. Back cove is a nice flat and wide gravel pathway around a bay of water. Cars are constantly driving by though, and sometimes you have to be dodging other people read more

Back Cove is a nice walking, running, and biking trail along the Back Cove in Portland. The trail is about 4 miles around. Be careful on the narrow bits as bikers and runners are fairly likely to sneak up on you. The scenery around the cove is nice, but a little lacking when the tide is low and it gets a bit smelly. The houses around the North side are very nice and I much prefer that section. Great for dog walks as well. A great way to get some fresh air away from the insanity of downtown. read more

Portland is located largely on a geographic peninsula and Back Cove is the large body of water that the peninsula wraps around. The ocean enters through one small inlet below a highway bridge. The sea floor is relatively shallow so during low tide the entirety of back cove is one big mud puddle. Some clever urban planner designed a walking trail along the entire circumference of it. Roughly 3.5 miles roundtrip, this path follows the roads so communing solely with nature is doubtful. One section spanning the length of Tookie's bridge is paved and close beside a 4 lane highway. Not hugely fun, but it is the highest point if the trail. Next to the North side of the bridge you have the options of breaking off this trail on one of two paths leading towards the East End. Either way will take you there, however I prefer underneath the bridge following the East End trail network for its lovelier views. There's a large recreational field next to the trail parking lot. It gets busy in the peak summer days. My favorite length of the trail is where you can look beyond the bay facing south and take in the delightful view of the city. the path is open to all walkers, runners, and bikers so you often can feel like you're not alone. It's not very neighborhoodsy, historic, or nature-centric, though you can walk to the north Deering area from it and there are some nice house viewings to do. I like to go here and not think about much at all. A must see if you've got an hour to kill. read more

Awesome views, well-manicured trail, and just long enough to get your blood flowing. My only gripe is that it's not really wide enough and I've really enjoyed the quiet, peacefulness that the partial closure of Baxter Boulevard has brought to the experience. Unfortunately, the work will be completed and the traffic will resume. But for the period of time it was closed, people made good use of the road for biking, dog walking and running so one always had enough space. I also realized that there is a tiny beach near the Cheverus part where you can take your dog for a dip. Speaking of dogs, as much as I like the idea of walking my dog here, it gets very stressful when encountering other dogs. The most stressful part of this certainly is the Tukey's bridge stretch. Honestly, there is nothing keeping you safe on either side of the bridge. Semis and other vehicles careen past you while there is not really any barrier on the bridge and it's really hard to hear the bikes coming up behind you so you have to be very cognizant of your surroundings. Once past this blip in an otherwise perfect walk, the path is much narrower and, again, dog walking becomes stressful. I love the hardscaped areas towards the end that is near the playing fields. And it warms my heart to see so many different people enjoying this open space. Don't be surprised to be seeing an assortment of international lads playing soccer or families making good use of the obstacle course. And you can always nourish yourself at a food truck strategically placed near the parking lot facing Hannaford's. One summer day, there was a boat building festival taking place at the northern end of the the parking lot. Be sure to wave and say hello to the gentleman who practices tai chi near the hardscape garden. read more