Maine Outdoor Journal

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The Mountain Division Trail runs 5.7 miles from Standish to Windham.

Photos by Wendy Almeida

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South Portland’s Greenbelt Trail offers wonderful views of Bug Light and the water. Bug Light and Mill Creek Park are nice picnic spots along the trail.

Photos by Wendy Almeida

Even after a few of years of biking with my kids, who are now 11 and 13 years old, I am still not a fan of road riding, even when there are wide shoulders. Since I would like to enjoy myself and not stress about cars whizzing by, I have been motivated to find trails that keep my family off the motorized roadways. Luckily, we live in Maine, where there are several off-road (not to be confused with mountain biking) trails for my family to enjoy a stress-free day on two wheels.

MOUNTAIN DIVISION TRAIL, STANDISH

A formerly packed gravel trail, the 5.7 miles of the Mountain Division Trail from Standish to Windham is now paved, and offers a smooth easy ride. The 0.9-mile Jeep trail in Standish connecting the Johnson Field trail head to the Mountain Division Trail is still packed gravel, but the trail heads in Gorham and Windham have paved trail spurs. There is one big hill near Otter Pond (on the Jeep trail in Standish) that younger bikers may choose to walk their bikes up (or down) because it's a bit steep. But once at the pavement by the rails, it's a fairly level trail.

There are four road crossings from Standish to Windham, and all but one are quiet roads (one road may take a couple of minutes to cross because of fast-moving cars). There are a lot of benches at various points along the trail for water breaks and picnic lunches.

Very often, we share the trail with horses (near the Johnson Field trail head), and my kids think that makes this trail extra special. For mountain bikers, the trail continues over Route 202 in Windham to Bridge Street in Westbrook on a rough gravel surface.

TRAIL: Mountain Division Trail

LENGTH: 5.7 miles one way

TERRAIN: Paved

TOWNS: Standish, Gorham and Windham

TRAIL HEAD: Johnson Field on Route 35 in Standish, Gambo Recreational Center on Gambo Road in Windham and Shaw Park on Route 237 in Gorham.

BATHROOM: Porta-potty at each trail head

DOG-FRIENDLY: Yes, on a leash.

FUN STOP: The Blue Seal store at the end of the trail on Route 202 in Windham usually has a resident animal in the store (depending on the time of year, it could be baby chicks, bunnies, a lamb, dog or cat). There are also some tasty candy caramels at the counter that are worth the sweet indulgence after a fun ride with the family.

13-YEAR-OLD: "I really like the new pavement. It is sooo easy to ride on now. I also like seeing the horses on this trail. It's pretty easy except for the giant hill before the railroad tracks. I really like this trail."

11-YEAR-OLD: "This trail used to be a looooong ride but with the pavement it doesn't feel so long. I like to see the horses and I like to look at the river. I am also happy I can visit the Blue Seal store because they always have animals to visit. And me and my mom and my sister really like the caramels they sell there."

GREENBELT TRAIL, SOUTH PORTLAND

This urban trail requires more "stop and go" than other trails we've visited because of the many street crossings. Even though most were in quiet, residential areas with no cars in sight, my husband and I feel it is simply good policy when riding with the kids to stop and look both ways before crossing every street.

There are two major intersections – one at Mill Creek (Broadway and Route 77) and the other on Broadway and Evans Street. The first time we rode this trail, we found one part a bit confusing simply because we are not very familiar with the city. The off-the-road trail ends at Pearl Street with no trail markers to confirm that you follow Chestnut Street (we did spot a small arrow on the road at the end of Pearl Street veering to the left, so we knew which way to go). We continued along the road for a short time before we picked up the trail again.

Not a big deal, but be aware there is a short section of on-the-road riding on a quiet street. The diversity of sights along this trail is fun – from a view of the water and lovely backyard gardens (the trail abuts quite a few homes) to the woods and open fields. And Mill Creek Park and Bug Light are great spots for a picnic lunch.

TRAIL: Greenbelt Trail, which is part of the East Coast Greenway

LENGTH: 5.7 miles one way

TERRAIN: Paved

TOWN: South Portland

TRAIL HEAD: Bug Light Park, Madison Street (off Broadway) in South Portland

BATHROOM: There are businesses with public bathrooms along the route.

DOG-FRIENDLY: Yes, on a leash.

FUN STOP: There is a grocery store, fast-food chain (with ice cream shakes) and other stores to purchase sweet treats and drinks just off the trail in the Mill Creek area, which can be handy when you need an additional incentive with your young riders.

13-YEAR-OLD: "I like how the pavement is smooth. You can hear a lot of birds on this trail. I like seeing Bug Light and taking pictures of the ducks and birds at the pond at Mill Creek. There are a lot of places where you have to cross the street so you have to stop, then go a lot. I don't like that too much but it is OK."

11-YEAR-OLD: "I like this trail because I can see lots of birds like cranes and sea gulls. I like seeing all the mallard ducks at the pond (at Mill Creek Park) too. And the trail is wide so I can bike next to my mom. I like to visit Bug Light because I can run to the lighthouse and touch it and look over the edge at the water."

KENNEBEC RIVER RAIL TRAIL, AUGUSTA

This 6.5-mile trail runs through the towns of Augusta, Hallowell, Farmingdale and Gardiner. We typically use the Capitol City Park in Augusta trail head. In Hallowell's business district, my family opts to walk our bikes because this portion of the trail is on the road.

The kids enjoy the window shopping and wood carvings before resuming our ride on the trail just outside the village. This short walk makes for a nice break from the bike seats. There is a semi-steep hill in Hallowell that my kids climb fairly easily by managing their gears, but kids riding bikes without gears may opt to walk up the short hill instead. At the end of the trail in Gardiner, there is a shopping plaza with plenty of bathroom options and a bench in a small grassy area to sit and eat lunch.

TRAIL: Kennebec River Rail Trail

LENGTH: 6.5 miles one way

TERRAIN: Mostly paved (about half a mile between Augusta and Hallowell is packed gravel)

TOWNS: Augusta, Hallowell, Farmingdale, Gardiner

TRAIL HEAD: There are several access points. Capital City Park in Augusta and Hannaford shopping plaza on Route 24 in Gardiner are the main points of entry with plenty of parking.

BATHROOM: There are nearby businesses at both trail heads that have public bathrooms. There are also some in downtown Hallowell.

DOG-FRIENDLY: Yes, on a leash.

FUN STOP: There are several interesting shops in downtown Hallowell, including stops for sweets and ice cream. My kids will also tell you that stopping at the Hi-Hat (diner) for onion rings and fries is a must.

13-YEAR-OLD: "I like the bike path because it is smooth. I also like passing by all the pretty shops in Hallowell."

11-YEAR-OLD: "The pavement is easy to ride on and I like the railroad track crossings. I like the wooden bridge with the brook under it. I also like stopping for onion rings at the Hi-Hat Diner!"

Wendy Almeida's family has enjoyed several other off-road trails around the state as well. Read reviews, with trail map information for each, on her Kid Tracks blog, at:

www.RaisingMaine.com/bikingkidtracks