Atlantic Way, Plymouth and Vines Trails

This is a connected system of three trails that total just about two miles that must delight the people living nearby. You can walk from Wildwood Drive to Ferry Beach, crossing the marshland, or cut over on the Plymouth and Vines trails to the houses off Vines Road and Plymouth Drive. The land is part of the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge.

The 0.9-mile Atlantic Way Trail is particularly nice. It is wide and flat, with just a few roots. From the Atlantic Way trailhead (on the western end of the trail), the path begins under a kind of forest tunnel, and then eventually opens up onto Goosefare Brook marsh. A narrow trail on raised ground passes through the marsh, connecting the forest with Seaside Ave/Route 9.

Directions: For the trailhead off Seaside Avenue, take ME Route 9 (Beach Street) 2.8 miles (becomes Ferry Road) from downtown Saco. Turn left on Bayview. Go 0.7 miles and turn left at the stop sign to get back onto ME Route 9 (now Seaside Avenue). Go 0.2 miles and look for the trailhead kiosk and a wide shoulder for parking on your left. There isn’t much room for parking if you’re starting at the other end, on Atlantic Way, but you can park along the roadside edge of the cul-de-sac.