Top 5 Lakes around Portland

Deering Oaks is a large public park in Portland, Maine, stretching across 55 acres just west of the city center. With its tennis courts, ball fields, a playground, and a pond, it’s a favorite local gathering place. The park also hosts a popular farmers' market and has a long history—parts of it date back to the 17th century. Its charming footbridge, shaded paths, and seasonal events make it a spot worth returning to in every season.

The Atlantic bay off Portland is called 'Casco Bay'. The approximately 520 sq km bay is part of the Gulf of Maine and lies between Cape Elizabeth south of Portland and Cape Small, a peninsula in eastern Maine that extends far into the Atlantic. Six inhabited islands lie in the bay and can be reached by ferry all year round. You can find detailed information about the bay on the website of the 'Friends of Casco Bay - Casco BAYKEEPER'. https://www.cascobay.org/casco-bay/

The origins of the Back Cove Trail go back to Mayor James Baxter, who between the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century managed to realize his dream of creating a boulevard on Back Cove. Today, a gravel path leads around the estuary basin north of downtown. The basin is almost circular in shape and about 1 mile in diameter. The Back Cove Trail is a popular path for walkers, joggers and cyclists. While walking along the trail, you have great views of the Portland skyline. The Back Cove was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. https://www.trails.org/our-trails/back-cove-trail/

Deering Oaks Park is a 22-hectare public park with numerous athletic fields, a playground, and a pond west of downtown Portland. In 1879, the Deering family deeded approximately 20 hectares to the City of Portland for use as a park. The park was designed by William A. Goodwin in a naturalistic style with oak trees. Other features such as a bandstand, a Victorian duck house, a castle, and a playground were later added. https://www.portlandmaine.gov/1218/5475/Deering-Oaks-Park

East End Beach backs up to Eastern Promenade, which is one of Portland's most popular waterfront parks. The paved path following the shore line is a great trail to use for accessing this beach area.

The terrain of Robinson Woods Preserve was too inhospitable for farming, and so it remained mostly in its natural state. As a result, the trails take you through areas of white pine, red oak and hemlock, some of which are up to 300 years old. Small streams meander through the terrain, filling picturesque ponds. Trails are sometimes rocky and rooty.

Casco Bay is an inlet of the Gulf of Maine. The bay gets its name from its shape. The Portuguese explorers called the area "Bahia de Cascos", which means Bay of Helmets.

East End Beach backs up to Eastern Promenade, which is one of Portland's most popular waterfront parks. The paved path following the shore line is a great trail to use to access this beach area.