This Maine City Is An Underrated Gem For Nature Lovers
Extending into the Casco Bay, the peninsula city of Portland seems like a natural choice for those seeking an outdoor destination in Maine. However, as with most cities, Portland's history, heritage, and culture are often at the center of attention, especially with the city’s rich maritime past. Coupled with only one public beach, the city's parks, preserves, and nature excursions are often overlooked in favor of Portland's more metropolitan attractions or different coastal cities with wider stretches of sand.
From serene offshore islands just a short ferry ride away to parks boasting rich histories and one-of-a-kind landmarks, Portland is as beautiful as it is vast. The city may be underrated as a nature destination, but Portland's blend of urban accessibility and outdoor recreation provides visitors with the perfect opportunity to experience the best of both worlds.
Why Is Portland an Underrated Nature Destination?
As Maine's original capital and top populated city as of 2025, Portland's reputation as an urban center often overshadows its more natural attractions. While its waterfront certainly draws visitors, its historic sites and cultural attractions often steal the spotlight, showcasing the state's rich maritime heritage and legacy as Maine’s largest city. Its roots as a wartime port and naval shipbuilding hub make it a popular destination with history buffs, with historic neighborhoods like the Old Port and Commercial Street transporting visitors to the past. Diversely, more contemporary attractions like the Portland Museum of Art and Allagash Brewing Company give the city its metropolitan feel.
Portland also boasts a range of spectacular parks, vistas, trails, and coastal scenes to enchant any nature lover. Even if you find yourself visiting the city's bar scene, museums, culinary landscape, or Victorian-era neighborhoods, Portland’s shores and green spaces are the perfect addition to your itinerary.
The Best Outdoor Attractions and Experiences In Portland
Have a Sunset Picnic at the Western Promenade
As one of Portland's oldest preserved spaces, the Western Promenade blends history and nature in a simple yet breathtaking way. The 18-acre park sits 175 feet above sea level on a scenic slope, overlooking several neighborhoods. Its landscape was designed by the Olmsted Brothers in 1905, who wanted to highlight and enhance the already beautiful green space. In its simplicity, the Western Promenade has become a haven for picnickers and outdoor lovers, its winding pathways, gardens, and pristine lawns reminding visitors to slow down and smell the flowers. Due to the height and angle of the slope, sunsets are especially extraordinary here, making it a romantic locale.
Stroll the Eastern Promenade Trail
Portland's Eastern Promenade Trail shares a similar history to its sister park but also sets itself apart. In the city’s earliest years, before the Eastern Promenade was transformed into the landscape today, its slopes were scattered with grazing cattle. Eventually, the city purchased the land to transform the space into a park, which the Olmsted Brothers designed.
Today, the park's Eastern Promenade Trail is its star attraction. Contrasting the paths at the Western Promenade, this paved 2-mile Trail offers views of Portland Harbor and Casco Bay along an old rail corridor. The route also leads to Portland's main beach, while more ambitious hikers may prefer to explore the unpaved connector trails leading up the steep Eastern Promenade slope.
Swim, Lounge, and Paddle at East End Beach
Below the slopes of Portland's Eastern Promenade, East End Beach shines as the city's only public shore. The sand and pebble beach offers postcard views of the Casco Bay, its waters dotted with passing sailboats from the nearby marina. In addition to the more traditional beach activities like swimming and sandcastle building, East End is also known for its boat and kayak launch.
Portland Paddle offers kayak rentals right along the waterfront from mid-May to mid-October, along with guided excursions. Popular trips include their Sunset Sea Kayak Tour, Family Sea Kayak Tour, and Fort Gorges Sea Kayak Tour. This final tour takes you across the Portland Harbor to an abandoned Civil War fort on an island in Casco Bay.
Discover the Islands of Casco Bay
If an island adventure piques your interest, many of the Islands of Casco Bay can be easily reached right from Portland. Countless can be seen offshore, their lights showing signs of life from the villagers who have inhabited these islands for generations. However, experiencing the islands up close is even better. Portland's Casco Bay Lines offers countless specialty cruises, including their Mailboat Run, an actual mail delivery vessel carrying passengers to five different islands.
Its ferries can also bring guests straight to specific shores like Peaks Island, which was once a thriving resort destination nicknamed the Coney Island of Maine. While its amusement park is a thing of the past, the island’s quieter atmosphere is a great way to experience a more secluded side of Portland. Visitors can stroll its shores, explore its landscape on a golf cart with Island Tours, or even cycle the island with a rental from Brad’s Island Bike Rentals & Repairs.
Experience the Charms of Deering Oaks Park
Back on the mainland, Deering Oaks Park is another historic green space showcasing enchanting scenes beyond Portland's oceanfront. Before this 55-acre parkland was donated to the city, Deering Oaks was part of Nathaniel Deering farm, a historic homestead established in 1761. The donated space was designed and modeled in the naturalistic style to maintain its original rural feel while giving it a more classic park atmosphere.
Today, the space is anchored by its towering old oaks, an arched footbridge, and a pond, which transforms into an ice skating rink in the winter months. More modern additions have also been added to make it more family-friendly, including a splash pad, basketball courts, and a playground. On Wednesdays and Saturdays from May through November, the park also hosts its Portland Farmers’ Market, featuring over 40 vendors selling everything from flowers to fresh produce.
See Portland's Only Natural Waterfall at the Fore River Sanctuary
To experience Portland's only natural waterfall and some of the city’s best hiking trails, the Fore River Sanctuary is a gorgeous follow-up. The 85-acre preserve boasts an eclectic range of landscapes, including saltwater marsh, freshwater marsh, and a mix of red oak and white pine forest. The crown jewel is the preserve's stunning Jewell Falls, but the surrounding 5.6-mile trail network is the next best thing. Whether cross-country skiing in the winter, bird watching in the spring, or hiking in autumn to see the red oaks turn a fiery red, this Portland preserve is a little slice of heaven for nature lovers.
Portland, Maine: Bridging City Life and Accessible Nature
Similar to other major cities, Portland is committed to promoting accessibility for all, regardless of age, background, or ability. The city has taken great lengths to make all feel welcome here through initiatives like its Age-Friendly Resource Guide, Southern Maine Mobility Guide, and Accessibility Guide For Greater Portland, which are all available for free online.
This desire to welcome everyone also extends to Portland's nature. While there is always more to be done in terms of accessibility, Portland boasts 13 wheelchair-accessible nature trails, including the Eastern Promenade Trail. Casco Bay Island Transit is also committed to accessibility, offering assisted early boarding, wheelchair accommodations, and reduced fares for senior citizens and guests with disabilities. Portland locals are incredibly proud of their surrounding landscapes and work hard to share them with as many people as possible.
Portland's maritime past will always be its shining feature, but this heritage extends far beyond its historic districts. By exploring Portland's shores, parks, and offshore islands, visitors can experience the true depth of history the city is famous for. Even Portland’s inland parks and non-coastal attractions add to its heritage, showcasing its deep-rooted past. Whether visiting Portland for a day of outdoor adventures or adding one of these attractions to your itinerary as a follow-up to its museums and shops, the city’s natural beauty will be the highlight of time here.
