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The Saco Beach Loop

Note: parts of the loop trail require walking along paved roads with no sidewalks or paved shoulders. Caution will be needed.

Click to enlarge Length: 4.0 miles. Directions to trailhead: Follow directions to Ferry Beach State Park. Estimated walking time: three to four hours.

A 4-mile (6K) hike can be created by linking several existing trails (Ferry Beach State Park, Plymouth-Vines Trails, Atlantic Way, and the beach on Saco Bay.) A 6-mile (10K) loop trail can be created by including the Ted Wells Memorial Trail. Public Streets, used to connect these trails, are included in the overall lengths.

We begin from Ferry Beach State Park parking lot. Follow the path at the end of the parking lot that leads to the beach. Once on the beach, turn left toward Old Orchard Beach and continue for 1.25 miles along the beach until nearly at Goosefare Brook, where the beach houses end. Turn left past the last house to find the end of Ocean Side Drive. In season, several public stairs that connect Ocean Side Drive with the beach result in a shorter walk on the beach.

Once on Ocean Side Drive, follow it parallel to the ocean until reaching Curtis St. where the walker turns right until reaching Rt. 9 also called, Seaside Ave. Turn left on Seaside and walk 0.2 mile until reaching Atlantic Way on the right side of the road. A Saco Bay Trails interpretive kiosk is located at each end of Atlantic Way.

Follow Atlantic Way for 0.2 mile to a point where signs point to Plymouth Trail. (See page 25 for Plymouth-Vines Trails.) Follow these trails to Vines Road where you turn left onto Vines Road.

At the end of Vines Road where it meets Bay View Road, turn right for 0.1 mile to the entrance to Ferry Beach State Park. Enter park. Turn left into the state park trails (see page 28.) You will soon be back at your starting location.

Ted Wells option (Extra 2.4 miles)
As the walker leaves the beach and enters Ocean Side Drive, this option will take the walker into Ocean Park to visit the Ted Wells Memorial Trail (See page 46.) Once on Ocean Side Drive the walker should take the first right, Shore Ave. to its end on Rt. 9 (Seaside Drive), where the walker turns right for a 0.4 mile walk to Ocean Park, a summer colony once frequented by Robert Frost and Betty Davis. A pleasant hour may be spent exploring Ocean Park, but for this description, assume the walker continues to turn left on Temple Ave. at a flashing traffic signal.

Follow Temple Ave. for 0.2 mile, turn left on Royal Street. Follow Royal Street to its end where you will find the Oceanwood Camp office. Pass along the right-hand side of the building and cross the lawn in the rear to find the Ted Wells Memorial Trail trailhead.

Upon finishing the Ted Wells Trail retrace your steps until back on Rt. 9 where the walker follows Rt. 9 (Seaside Drive) for 0.4 mile back to Shore Road to continue on the original loop trails.