4.15 Miles Out and Back
And you run, like the salty ocean breeze, the air hitting your lungs like the breaking waves on the rocky shore. The sun warms your skin and glistens off the horizon as you push forward. The conductor directs the historic narrow gauge train along your side. You seek out new sights by the power of your feet.
With it’s famed restaurants and variety of breweries, Portland has quickly become one of the US’s biggest foodies towns. So if you’re paying a visit, it’s a guarantee you’ll do a fair share of eating and drinking. Some exercise along the Eastern Promenade Trail is a perfect way to help you enjoy your favorite libations, guilt-free.
Portland’s Eastern Promenade Trail is an ideal sightseeing route for a quick run while in town. The paved path runs along the scenic Narrow Gauge Railroad Steam Train Tracks, and serves as a perfect presentation to the coastal town by foot. The trail begins in Old Port, the charming little coastal district of Portland, and runs along the Casco Bay and past it’s piers.
The trailhead is at the intersection of India and Commercial Streets (parking available), where you will follow the path north along the bay. You’ll be lead right to a connection to the Bayside Trail, which will loop you onto Back Cove Trail under Tukey’s Bridge, and here is where you will turn to backtrack to Old Port, or continue along to one of the other two trails. For more visual details, you can see how I did a 5 mile run from my hotel to the promenade.
Besides the beautiful bay and it’s sailboats, sights can include the steam engine train and a battleship cannon at Fort Allen Park, a Revolutionary War fortification established in 1775 by patriot forces. It was named after Colonel Ethan Allen who captured Fort Ticonderoga in May 1775, and was used as a hospital during the War of 1812 and abandoned in 1815.
