Posted on March 14, 2016 and last updated on October 22, 2021

Ferry Beach State Park, Saco

QUICK TRAIL FACTS

  • Preserve Size: 117 acres
  • Trail Mileage: 1.5 miles in network
  • Pets: yes
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Sights: sandy beach, Long Pond, wetland, black gum trees

This is a small (about 117 acres) but beautiful state park, with about 1.5-miles of walking trails behind the beach that includes Long Pond, with its own teensy beach! The trails include boardwalks over interesting wetlands with black gum trees.

You can walk through a culvert under Seaside Ave. to long, sandy Ferry Beach, where you can walk to Camp Ellis or Old Orchard Beach. You can also walk to the beach via the more direct entrance road and skip the walking paths — but I don’t recommend this! But the road is good for those who need gentle footing.

Also, you should try to stop at the little sandy beach by Long Pond, which I gather is a decent skating pond in the winter. For more information, go here. Note — if you are walking in the off-season, the trail signs might be down (locals said they sometimes are taken down during the winter to refurbish them).

Dogs are allowed off season (Oct.1-March 31), but must be on leash.

Directions: From US Route 1 in Saco, head east on I-195 toward Old Orchard Beach. I-195 becomes ME Route 5. In another 0.8 miles ME Route 5 bears left, but continue straight onto Temple Avenue and follow Temple Ave 1.2 miles to blinking stop light at ME Route 9. Turn right on ME Route 9/West Grand Ave, and continue a mile before turning right onto Bayview Road. Continue of Bayview Road 0.3 miles to the park entrance which will be on your left. Follow park entrance road to parking lot and trail head (when it’s open). Otherwise park at the roadside entrance gate.

Check out more info and photos from Ferry Beach State Park at Carefree Creative, a Maine-based web company that has helped us with our website!

Let me know if you have any trail updates or corrections!