Fall in Maine is always magnificent. Over the next few weeks, we'll start to see the northern part of the state come alive with color, and by mid-October, we'll be seeing the peak of the autumn hues across the state. We want to maximize every day of this vibrant season! This easy fall hike in Maine is a great way to do that. It's under about one mile and provides views of forest and river.
Places like Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in Wells are the reason that people call Maine "Vacationland."
Located on 50 miles of coastal area in York and Cumberland counties, the refuge offers multiple hiking trails with beautiful views of the salt marshes and estuaries.
It was established in 1966 with the State of Maine to protect important land that's home to migratory birds and other wildlife.
The area is named for Rachel Carson, an environmentalist and marine biologist who loved this area. She wrote often about wildlife and today she's best known for her book "Silent Spring," which called for a stop to dangerous pesticides. Eventually, it caused the government to review its pesticide policy ultimately banning DDT.
There are five developed trails associated with the refuge, including The Cutts Island Trail, The Timber Point Trail, The Goosefare Brook Trail, The Bridle Path and Atlantic Way and Ted Wells Trails.
But, the most popular is certainly the one-mile Rachel Carson Trail.
Located at the Wells headquarters of the refuge, this trail meanders through and over the salt marshes offering views of some of the best ecological elements in Maine.
The trail itself is wide and well maintained for a smooth surface, which means it's great for strollers and wheelchairs.
You can start by grabbing a map at the trailhead kiosk, which corresponds to 11 different stops along the trail. Each one explores a different area of the preserve, teaching curious visitors about all elements of the area.
From the trailhead kiosk, the trail follows as loop between the salt marsh around the Branch Brook and the Meriland River.
Here, they come together to create the Little River.
You can also explore the area by nonmotorized boat including canoes and kayaks. The launch points are at Chauncey Creek, on Seapoint Rd. in Kittery; Little River, on Granite Point Rd. in Biddeford; and the Spurwink River in Scarborough.
The trail itself should take about 45 minutes, depending on how many times you stop.
You can certainly make it shorter or longer. While it's open year-round, we love the way the bright fall foliage makes the trees pop against the blue sky and river.
You can find the Rachel Carson Trail by heading to Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in Wells.
Assuming you're coming from I-95, turn off on exit 19. From here you'll turn left on to Route 9 going about 1.5 miles to Route 1. Here, head north for nearly 2 miles before turning right on Port Road. The refuge will be on the right in about a half mile. Click here for a map and directions. You can learn more about the refuge here.
For more fall foliage views, check out these 9 spots that have the best birds-eye views in Maine.
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