UNE river trail to Freddy Beach

At the edge of University of New England’s campus is a narrow path that starts at a lovely part of the campus. It runs along the Saco River for a half-mile before ending at a beautiful sandy beach at the river’s mouth. While it might get busy during the school year, in the summertime you are likely to have it to yourself.

The university doesn’t mark the trail and at times it comes close to the eroded cliffside (the cliffs are short, though). But most of the time, you can take an alternative trail set back a bit farther from the edge. Along the way, you can check out a few small promontories to take in the view of Camp Ellis across the way and the serene waters of the river.

I recommend you start your walk in front of Ripich Commons, since this is a nice part of campus, with a tiered riverside lawn and modest amphitheater. You can also check out a dock and a pavilion perched over the river. You’ll find the path heading away from a grassy area near the pavilion.

From the pavilion, the beach is roughly 0.5 miles away, shortly after the Marine Science Center. There’s a bit of a steep dip in the path near the Marine Center. At the beach, you can continue your walk over to Hills Beach or find a path/road back to the Marine Center and the university campus.

Directions: Public parking is difficult on UNE’s campus, and security keeps an eye out for unregistered vehicles. There are two 20-minute parking spots by the George and Barbara Bush Center, but that won’t really give you enough time to do your walk. You can bike to campus or call the university ahead of time to inquire about parking temporarily in any of its lots. There is also limited public parking near Hills Beach.