In a state like Maine, there’s no shortage of things to do outside. Whether you live for the summer, or look forward to the winter, you’d be hard pressed to run out of activities. One of our favorite things to do is explore the outdoors. But, we don’t necessarily mean huge Katahdin hikes. If you love being outside there are plenty of opportunities to explore without having to train for months ahead of time. We’ve got miles of easy trails to enjoy and lots of lovely walking paths. We thought we’d devote this article to telling you about one of our favorites: The Kennebec River Rail Trail.

Terry Ross / Flickr (Edits by Only In Your State)
The Kennebec River runs for 170 miles between Moosehead Lake and the Gulf of Maine near Bath. It's a beautiful example of Maine's inner waterways and comes with some of the state's richest history. Along its way to the Gulf of Maine, it passes through Skowhegan, Waterville, Augusta, Gardiner and Bath.

From a historical sense, it was the site of early shipbuilding, acted as an early trade route to inland Maine from the Atlantic coast and saw the Battle of Hampden during the War of 1812.
Terry Ross / Flickr
Today, a lovely 6.5-mile trail follows the river on its west side as it bends and curves its way towards the coast. It also follows the railroad tracks that once connected Portland to Augusta. While they are no longer in use, they're still maintained today in case they are ever used in the future. Stone markers are used every quarter mile to track the distance and look just like the original markers once used in conjunction with the train.
Terry Ross / Flickr
Terry Ross / Flickr
Trailheads exist in Augusta, Hallowell and Gardiner, but we recommend beginning your journey in Augusta to enjoy the entire trail.

You'll begin the trip in Augusta, just under the Memorial Bridge. Parking is available here, along with a map and information to guide you. About a mile in, a smaller trail leads away from the larger one leading up to the nearby State Capitol.

The portion of the trail here is paved and quite smooth, but as you leave the city (about a mile and a half in) you'll find the trail become solid, packed dirt.
Terry Ross / Flickr
Terry Ross / Flickr
The trail is part of the larger "East Coast Greenway," which will eventually link Maine with Florida using trails just like this one all along the way. If you love living an active lifestyle, but aren't willing to actually hike the Appalachian Trail, start training for a nice leisurely walk!

The Kennebec River Rail Trail allows for all recreation as long as it's not motorized - so, walking, hiking, cycling, rollerblading, running and cross-country skiing are all fair game. Which reminds us - it's open all year round, so you can enjoy beautiful fall leaves as well as freshly fallen snow.
Terry Ross / Flickr
Terry Ross / Flickr
There's also abundant wildlife along the trail, as long as you're quiet and keep an eye out.

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Terry Ross / Flickr
Terry Ross / Flickr
Terry Ross / Flickr
About halfway through the trail, you'll come to the town of Hallowell. You'll know you're there once you see a white church steeple in the distance. Here, the trail leaves the rail corridor and you can grab lunch and a drink in town.
Terry Ross / Flickr
From there, the trail will continue along the Kennebec River until you make your way into Gardiner.
Terry Ross / Flickr
Then, keep on going towards Gardiner.
Terry Ross / Flickr
One of the best aspects of this trail are the many places to stop and take in the view. Simply stop and look around or take a seat on one of the benches available. The trail is meticulously up-kept by the The Friends of the Kennebec River Rail Trail. In addition to making sure the area is in pristine condition, they hold numerous events throughout the year that help raise awareness and funding for the trail.
Terry Ross / Flickr
Terry Ross / Flickr
Terry Ross / Flickr
While we love this one in particular, there are many rail trails located throughout the state. Each offers a glimpse into the history of that particular region of Maine and provides a lovely way to take in the surrounding nature in a completely relaxed way. Note: If you'd prefer to start your journey in Hallowell, head to Water Street to park. Then make your way to the trailhead located on Greenville Street. If you'd like to begin in Gardiner you can park right near the trailhead at Church Street and Maine Avenue.

If you’re looking for more outdoor activities, but nothing too ambitious (because don’t we all just want to slow down and take our time sometimes?) check out these hiking trails under 5 miles.

Note: Thank you to Terry Ross for taking such lovely photos of the trail and the surrounding area.

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