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The Atlantic Way, Plymouth and Vines Trails

These trails lead walkers into the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge from two subdivisions that surround the refuge marshland. This area is in the eastern part of Saco, near the shore. The Atlantic Way trail provides a fairly straight path from the Wildwood Drive subdivision, through a portion of the wildlife refuge to Seaside Avenue. The Plymouth and Vines trails connect two different parts of the Plymouth Settlement subdivision with the Atlantic Way Trail. Atlantic Way Trail

Click to enlarge Atlantic Way Length: 0.9 mile. Directions to western trailhead (off Wildwood Drive): From downtown Saco, go north a few blocks to the traffic light at Beach St. Turn right on Beach (Rt. 9) and travel 2.4 miles. Turn left onto Wildwood. Drive 0.6 mile on Wildwood and turn right onto Atlantic Way. You'll see the trailhead kiosk directly ahead of you. Park on the shoulder. Directions to eastern trailhead (Seaside Avenue): Follow the above directions, but instead of turning on Wildwood, continue straight for another 0.4 mile and turn left on Bayview. Go 0.7 mile and turn left at the stop sign onto Seaside. Go 0.2 mile and look for the trailhead kiosk and a wide shoulder for parking on your left. Estimated walking time (roundtrip): 40 minutes. Plymouth Trail Length: 0.45 mile. Estimated walking time: 15 minutes. Directions to trailhead: From downtown Saco, go north a few blocks to the traffic light at Beach Street. Travel 2.8 miles and turn left onto Bayview Drive In 0.3 mile, turn left onto Plymouth Drive. Travel 0.4 mile and look for the parking area and trailhead kiosk on your left. Vines Trail Length: 0.38 mile. Estimated walking time: 10 minutes. Directions to trailhead: Follow the above directions, but travel for 0.4 mile on Bayview before turning left onto Vines Road. In another 0.2 mile until you see the trail sign on your right. Park on the shoulder of Vines Road.

Atlantic Way
Atlantic Way Trail runs from the end of Atlantic Way (a cul-de-sac off Wildwood Drive) through parts of Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge to Seaside Avenue. The trail was cleared and a bridge was constructed in the summer of 1997 with a grant that Saco Parks and Recreation received from the Maine Department of Conservation. Saco DPW provides access control and culvert maintenance.

From the Atlantic Way trailhead, the trail passes through a pleasant mixed growth of young pine and white and gray birch. It's not completely unexpected to come across deer or wild turkeys on this trail. Two-thirds of a mile along the trail, you will see a sign for Plymouth Trail, which intersects from the right (south). Continuing on Atlantic Trail, about 0.1 mile, the trail opens into the Goosefare Brook marsh. The trail continues on about another 0.2 mile through the marsh to Seaside Avenue. As you pass through the marsh, keep your eyes open for various species of ducks and an occasional heron. During deer- and water fowl-hunting season, shotgun hunting is allowed in the Rachel Carson Sanctuary, so it is advised to wear hunter's orange, except on Sundays. During the summer, mosquitoes can also be a problem Ð insect repellent is advised.

Plymouth & Vines
Before this land was donated to Rachel Carson National Wildlife Sanctuary, these two trails were cut to connect Plymouth Plantation with Atlantic Way by developers Mark McCallum and James Prendergast. Both trails pass through a pretty, fairly mature forest of hardwoods and evergreens. Both trails are a bit bumpy with roots and dips. Signs on Plymouth Drive and Vines Road mark the entrances to each trail. Walking time from each street to Atlantic Way trail is about 10 minutes.

The Plymouth Trail extends from the trailhead on Plymouth Drive, connects with Vines Trail and terminates at the Atlantic Way Trail about halfway along its length. About 0.2 mile after starting on the trail you will come across a link trail leading to the right that connects to Vines Trail. Continue on to the left. The trail makes a shallow curve before connecting again with the link trail. Continue straight for 0.1 mile until you connect with the Atlantic Way Trail.

The Vines Trail extends from the Vines Road trailhead to the short link trail that connects it with the Plymouth Trail.