Happy Spring to our Eastern Trail users and friends. We are back at work ensuring the trail will be clear of debris and safe for another season of biking, running, walking, or whatever form of transportation you chose. In fact, we are working to widen a couple of bollards in the Arundel/Kennebunk area to ensure that three wheel mobility devices can make it through the bollards in this location, which seems to be the only pinch point for such devices.

We look forward to seeing out on the trail or at one of our events. Please feel free to contact us if you have thoughts or ideas that would improve the trail.

Trail Building Campaigns

We have significant trail planning, feasibility and engineering design about to kick off. We now have 30 miles of new trail in the feasibility and/or design phases, including design for the 11-mile Blaze the Trail South (Kennebunk, Wells and N. Berwick), and initial feasibility for our newest campaign known as Berwicks to the Border (N. Berwick to Kittery) representing a total of 16 miles of potential new off-road trail! We have collaborated with the Maine Department of Transportation to request $4M in federal funding for Blaze the Trail South construction, and submitted a federal Congressionally Directed Spending request of $2M for engineering design of the Over the River section (3 miles through Saco and Biddeford). Finally, the Gap in Scarborough is ever so close to going to construction bid. We are awaiting finalized trail easement agreements from all 5 landowners, then the project will immediately go out to construction bid (this project has been a test of patience for all of us, but we are very close).

Update From the Trail

The winter snow is all melted and the trail is drying out. We have some work to do in some locations to smooth out the surface from the plowing that was done by Unitil to allow access to their gas facilities but over all the surface is in pretty good shape. 

The heavy winter snow brought down many trees and large branches. Arundel saw the most blockages from trees but they have all been cleared now and there is safe passage.

As always if you see a trial issue that you wish to report you can do so on our website at https://www.easterntrail.org/report-a-trail-issue/ or call the ETA office at 207-284-9260

Rules of the Eastern Trail

Bikes

Caution - use safe speed.

Be aware of children & walkers.

Keep right - Pass Left.

Signal Before Passing

Bell + Call out "On your left!"

Pets

On leash at all times.

 Remove their waste.

Volunteer With the Eastern Trail

We have many opportunities this year for volunteers to help us with the work of building and promoting the trail. Most of these opportunities center on some fun events that help to raise funds and promote safe use of the trail.

Upcoming Events:

John Andrews 5k, June 3rd

Maine Lighthouse Ride, September 10th

Bike & Brew, June 24th

Sign Up Now

The Eastern Trail is always looking for experienced, confident cyclists to help in the role of Bike Marshals. Bike Marshals have specific instructions that are designed to help keep our trail rides and the Maine Lighthouse Ride as safe as possible for all participants. If you are interested, please send an email to [email protected].

This is our last airing of The Street Project. Did you RSVP yet? We are excited for Thursday the 13th, airing of The Street Project at Banded Brewing Co.! We are happy to announce our special guests and partners that will be a part of an audience talkback session specific to active transportation and Vision Zero strategies.

Meet our special guests:

Dakota Hewlett, Active Transportation Planner, MaineDOT

Liam LaFountain and Marty Grohman from the Biddeford City Council

Belinda Ray, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Greater Portland Council of Governments

The Eastern Trail

Maine Trails Coalition

The Street Project is a free event, donations will benefit Maine Trails Coalition.

Register Now

Join us for the 6th annual John Andrews 5K Trail Run and Walk on Saturday, June 3rd!  The race, all on the Eastern Trail, begins and finishes at the end of Mill Brook Road in the Mill Brook Industrial Park.

Following the race, awards will be given to top finishers in several categories. Easy and ample parking at Maine Molecular or Pond Cove Millwork.

$25 per person, $30 day of race.

Complimentary race shirts available for anyone registering on or before Monday, May 1st. 

All participants receive one free beer or glass of wine when they show their race bib at O'Reilly's Cure Restaurant & Bar on the day of the race! 

Register