Posted on January 2, 2014 and last updated on May 23, 2023

Cliff Trail, Harpswell

QUICK TRAIL FACTS

  • Preserve Size: 194 acres
  • Trail Mileage: 2.7 miles in network
  • Pets: yes
  • Difficulty: easy to challenging
  • Sights: views, tidal Strawberry Creek, wheelchair-accessible trail

This is a beloved midcoast walk, taking you up 150-foot open ledges for views down Long Reach. (Check the tide charts before you go, and if you can, time your walk to higher tides for water views rather than mudflats!)

In 2021, the Harpswell Land Trust completed a magnificent universally-accessible trail that follows the milky moss-green Strawberry Creek for a little over 0.4 miles to the cascade overlook. From this point, you can head out on one of two loops — both have steep sections and some rough footing, so be careful.

The north loop is approximately 1.3 miles (so if you calculate in the 0.4-mile accessible path both ways, your walk will be 2.1 miles), while the south loop is just about 1.8 miles, including the 0.4 accessible path.) This south-loop trail will deposit you at the transfer station. Walk back to the town hall from here; a short path connects the two municipal areas.

Directions: The 2.3 loop starts at the sweetly named Strawberry Creek behind the Harpswell town office at 263 Mountain Rd., between Rt. 24 and Rt. 123. Pick up the trail at the far corner of the parking lot nearest the creek.