Pine Grove Preserve and Tidewater Farm

This is a lovely and, for me, surprising urban walk of about 3 or so miles if you connect both preserves. It was not on my radar at all.

If you start at the 27-acres of wooded Pine Grove Preserve and follow the perimeter trail (which makes a 0.7-mile loop) or cut through the center, you’ll come to a path that crosses Route 1. From there, Portland Trails has done a great job marking and maintaining the trail. The path carries on by marshes and below people’s homes all the way to the lovely old Tidewater Farm property (a former saltwater farm), which has a point with a view over the cove.

At Tidewater, the beautiful old house (which you can see in my photos) is no more, sadly, but you can visit the University of Maine Cooperative Extension gardens.

Directions: Pine Grove Preserve is on the west side of Route 88 (Foreside Road), just beyond the intersection of US Route 1. It is across from the Pine Grove Cemetery and St. Mary’s Church. Parking for Tidewater is at 200 Presumpscot Point Rd, Falmouth, where there’s an unpaved lot at the end of Presumpscot Point Road, near the University of Maine Cooperative Extension gardens.