Spring Point Shoreway, South Portland

This is a favorite spot for many people, those living locally and visitors. The trail, much of which is narrow and paved, includes beautiful views, a sandy beach, a fort built in 1808, a small arboretum, a cemetery from 1658, and a small lighthouse first lit in 1897 to protect ships in the busy harbor from dangerous ledge. You can walk the 950-foot breakwater made of blocky stone to the stout lighthouse at the end.

Between Williard Beach and Fort Preble is some rough footing and boulders. To avoid them, look for stairs above the beach to a narrow paved pathway. To access this path, park at the fort or the college and you can follow it south to the beach.

You can manage almost a 2-mile loop here. You can also head over to the Greenbelt for a longer outing.

Directions: The most common access to the trails is from either Willow Street (via Willard Beach) or The Southern Maine Community College campus, which you find by following Broadway to its northern end and turning right. Willow Street is off Preble Street in South Portland; a parking lot will be about 300 yards from Preble Street on the right.