Blue Spruce Trails, Westbrook

Although the housing development here, built on what was once farmland, is a little lacking in greenery and charm, the adjacent trail along the Stroudwater River is not. Portland Trails has created bridges and a few benches.

The path is mostly unmarked, with just a couple of Portland Trails sign posts to show you how to access it (there are several entry points from the development). But it is easy to follow. It edges the river and continues through the forest until reaching a T-junction. If you go right, you come out onto another small housing development. If you go left (and I am not sure this is public land?), you’ll reach the banks of the river, where people clearly hang out (there are a few ratty old blankets, litter, beer cans, etc.) People have made little paths up and down the river a ways from this point.

Directions: The best place to access the trail is from the housing development parking lot right off Spring Street. Turn onto Jacqueline Way and then take an immediate left into the Waterside Apartments. There are lots of places to park throughout this development. Some of the spaces are numbered but some are not. You’re allowed to park in the unmarked spots. Look for the Portland Trails signpost, and you should see the trail. When I visited, the beginning part was mown to make it clear where the path started.