Eastern Trail - Scarborough, Cumberland County

The Eastern Trail courses nearly 80 miles on mostly quiet back roads between Strawbery Banke on the Piscataqua River in Portsmouth, N.H., and Bug Light Park in South Portland. The only off-road section of the trail runs along an upgraded rail trail through the Scarborough Marsh Wildlife Management Area.

The 5-mile, off-road section of the Eastern Trail between Black Point Road in Scarborough and Milliken Mills Road in Old Orchard Beach offers a sanctuary for bikers, hikers, birdwatchers and dog walkers. The trail is accessible from both ends and via a well-marked parking lot on Pine Point Road in Scarborough. (See Map.)

The ultimate goal of the Eastern Trail Alliance is to convert the 70-plus on-road miles to sheltered and peaceful off-road miles by upgrading the abandoned Eastern Railroad Corridor, which stretches from South Portland to South Berwick. The plan is part of the regional East Coast Greenway initiative to establish a 3,000-mile off-road route from the Florida Keys to Calais, a project that is sometimes dubbed "the urban Appalachian Trail."

Notebook:

The wide and well-maintained trail is suitable for mountain bikes, road bikes and bikes with training wheels.

The packed stone dust trail is lined on both sides by wildflowers common in other parts of the state, especially along its country roads: snow white Queen Anne's Lace, scraggly yellow St. John's Wort, towering blue-violet chicory and sweet fuchsia tea roses, among dozens of others.

Various species of birds - including the Maine state bird, the chickadee - flutter in and out of the waving marsh grass. Graceful snowy egrets high-step along the shore and blue herons swoop over the marsh waters.

[Quick-reference guide: Fee -NO | Dogs - YES | Kid-friendly - YES | Facilities - NO]

Saco River - Oxford, Cumberland and York counties

The Saco River - which flows through or along the border of the towns of Fryeburg, Denmark, Brownfield, Hiram, Baldwin, Cornish, Limington, Standish, Hollis, Buxton, Dayton, Biddeford and Saco - offers numerous short and long canoe or kayak trips suitable for paddlers of all ages.

With pebble and sand beaches all along its course, the Saco River winds gently through primarily rural countryside in southern Maine. Starting below the whitewater in Center Conway, N.H., it's about 7 miles to Swans Falls in Fryeburg, 19 miles from Swans Falls to East Brownfield and another 14 miles from East Brownfield to Hiram. River runners need to take out and carry their boats around Swans Falls in Fryeburg, Great Falls in Hiram, Steep Falls in Standish and Union Falls in Dayton.

Canoe and kayak rentals are available at several locations in North Conway and Center Conway, N.H., and some offer free parking, put-in and shuttle services for their customers. Overnight canoe camping trips are also an option. Google "Saco River canoe trips" to find out more.

Although the river is most heavily traveled in the Fryeburg region, Saco Bay Trails Committee recommends exploring the lower section of the river by putting in below Union Falls in Dayton and taking out before the dams in downtown Biddeford and Saco. For more information, visit www.sacobaytrails.org.

Notebook:

Wednesday, Aug. 6 -

Be sure to check river conditions before you go, as the rainy summer season has resulted in higher-than-usual water levels and swifter currents in some places, which may not be suitable for inexperienced paddlers or parties with young children.

Wednesday, July 30 -

Seven miles from Center Conway, N.H., to Swans Falls in Fryeburg with two kids under the age of 7 and a 3-year-old Siberian Husky. Necessary gear: Life jackets, sunscreen, water, snacks, swimsuits, towels, plastic bags and a leash. Optional gear: Hat, sunglasses, camera. Prerequisite: Courage.

[Quick-reference guide: Fee - YES (for equipment rental or private camp sites) | Dogs - YES | Kid-friendly - YES | Facilities - NO (although private campgrounds along the river do have restrooms and showers)]

Bradbury Mountain - Pownal, Cumberland County

Bradbury Mountain in Pownal is part of the 1,000-acre Bradbury Mountain State Park maintained by the Maine Department of Conservation Bureau of Parks and Lands.

Trails to the summit of Bradbury Mountain start in the parking lots at the base of the mountain on the western side of Bradbury Mountain State Park, located on Route 9 in Pownal. (See Map.)

Summit trails range in difficulty from easy to intermediate. The quickest - and steepest - route to the summit is via the half-mile Summit Trail, but because of its gradual slope, the 1-mile Northern Loop Trail may be the most popular, especially among the many mountain bikers who frequent the park.

The mountain offers at total of 5.3 miles of multi-use trails, all of which are open for hiking and snowshoeing. Four miles of mountain trail are open for biking and cross country skiing and 3.7 miles are open for horseback riding. Snowmobiles and ATVs are prohibited.

Park admission is $3 for adults and children 12 and over and $1 for children under 12. Free admission for children under 2. Exact change may be required.

For directions and a list of trail descriptions, visit www.bradburymountain.com.

Ascent time: Varies.

Notebook:

At 485 feet above sea level, Bradbury Mountain is a mere hill in comparison to the mountains and foothills of western Maine and the White Mountains of New Hampshire. However, the panoramic view of Casco Bay from the summit still makes it a worthy climb.

In addition to the miles of trail on and around the mountain, the eastern half of the park is interlaced with 11.8 miles of multi-use trail appropriate for hiking, biking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing and horseback riding. A snowmobile trail, 1.5 miles in length, also runs through the eastern half of the park.

[Quick-reference guide: Fee - YES | Dogs - YES | Kid-friendly - YES | Facilities - YES]