Evergreen Cemetery, Portland

The 239-acre Evergreen Cemetery is the second largest cemetery in Maine, and it offers not just peaceful grounds for wandering among headstones, but forested walking trails with blazes and small ponds and wetland areas that are good for birding and for spotting turtles (and occasionally river otters!). The trails connect to Baxter Woods if you cross busy Stevens Avenue. Dogs are allowed.

While the cemetery is popular with joggers and walkers, more people use the wide, easy paved and gravel lanes through the beautiful grounds, so you might not encounter too many people on the narrower, windy paths in the woods. They’re really pleasant. There are maps at most intersections, so it’s easy to wander without getting lost. The north side of the trails link to a utility corridor and rail trail that walkers and bikers use to access the trail system, too.

The cemetery lanes are plowed  in the winter, and you can park close to the trail system near the little ponds.

Trailforks has a good map.

Directions: The main entrance to Evergreen Cemetery is located at 672 Stevens Avenue across from Baxter Woods and next to the Westbrook College campus of the University of New England. Parking is available in the cemetery. In addition to the main entrance, there is an entrance on Brentwood Street (drive to the end and park by the community garden). The trail follows the side of community garden.

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