Trout Brook Nature Preserve, South Portland

I saw quite an array of birds in this small, lovingly tended “pocket” park. The trails are well built, there is a sturdy bridge over a stream, and there are several signs up about the importance of keeping this brook clean (it was once an unmaintained gravel pit, with a history of pollution). The best place to park is off of Providence Avenue. The trail starting at the Parrott Street trailhead is very steep, and can be slippery in icy conditions.

Directions: There are four access points (that I could see) to this preserve, from Parrott Street, Providence Avenue, Sawyer Street, and Boothby Avenue, all of them well signed. The easiest place to park and enter the preserve is from Providence Avenue.