Presumpscot Falls Park, Falmouth

This park edges the Presumpscot River, and there is a trail that goes less than 1/2 mile and comes to a stop just past the location of the former dam. (While there is a sign marks the beginning of private property it does not specify no trespassing. And the bigger falls are a bit farther ahead.) People swim here; there are great ledges jutting into the river that seem like good launch spots and lay-your-towel-down spots.

The trail is not in the best condition — it is somewhat rough, with a few ups and downs. It is also not blazed or marked, but clearly many people walk here, so you can follow the herd path(s) along the river, which sparkles beautifully on a sunny day.

Across Allen Ave, you can also park at Walton Park and walk down a once-wheelchair accessible path that was quite eroded in 2022 to a dock and rocks. Some people walk over the embankment stones under the bridge to connect to the longer river trail.

At the start of a Presumpscot Falls trail, you can read a panel with a short history of the site. In 1657, seven of the 20 settler families of what eventually became Greater Portland lived here at the mouth of the Presumpscot River. Other families brought their corn to be ground into flour at the Lower Falls gristmill, just upstream, one of the first gristmills in Maine. You can check out the pair of massive millstones, two huge and heavy wheels, that were unearthed in 1890. (These may be from a mill built later in 1735, though.)

Directions: The riverside path is located on Allen Avenue Extension on the North side of the Presumpscot River bridge, across the street from Walton Park.