MOUNTAIN DIVISION TRAIL; NORTHERN SECTION:
FRYEBURG, MAINE
MOUNTAIN DIVISION TRAIL; CENTRAL SECTION:
WINDHAM-GORHAM-STANDISH, MAINE
PRESUMPSCOT RIVER TRAIL:
GORHAM, MAINE
MOUNTAIN DIVISION TRAIL; SOUTHERN SECTION:
PORTLAND, MAINE
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: May 23, 2025
Length: Mountain Division Trail [Northern Section]; 4 miles
Mountain Division Trail [Central Section]; 5.8 miles
Mountain Division Trail [Southern Section]; Thompson’s Point Trail; ?
Mountain Division Trail [Southern Section]; Fore River Parkway Trail; ?
Presumpscot River Trail; 1 mile
Difficulty: Mountain Division Trail [Northern Section]; Easy. Flat paved rail trail.
Mountain Division Trail [Central Section] [Southern End]; Easy. Flat paved rail trail. [Northern End]; Moderate. Hilly gravel path.
Mountain Division Trail [Southern Section]; Thompson’s Point Trail; Flat, hard packed dirt & grass trail.
Mountain Division Trail [Southern Section]; Fore River Parkway Trail; Flat, paved trail.
Presumpscot River Trail; Easy. Flat paved trail and old road.
Directions:
To Start from the Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District Building parking lot in Windham [Central Section; Southern End]; From the junction of Routes 4, 25 & 202 in Gorham follow Routes 4 & 202 north for 4 miles to South Windham. Just before the trail crosses the road, the parking area is on your right.
For the Gambo Fields parking lot for both the Presumpscot River Trail & Mt Division Trail; Continue north and take your second left on River Rd. After 0.5 miles turn left on Gambo Rd. You'll cross the Mt Division Trail and take your first right to the Gambo Fields parking lot where you can access both trails.
To Start from the Johnson Field parking lot in Standish [Central Section; Northern End]; From the junction of Routes 35 & 114 in Sebago Lake follow Route 35 east 0.4 miles to the parking lot on your right. Trailhead is to the East.
To Start from the Portland Street parking lot in Fryeburg [Northern Section; Southern End]; From the junction of Routes 5, 113 & 302 in Fryeburg follow Routes 5 & 113 south for 3.4 miles. Parking lot is on your right. Trailhead is on the north side.
To Start from the Maine Tourism parking lot in Fryeburg [Northern Section; Northern End]; From the junction of Routes 5, 113 & 302 in Fryeburg follow Route 302 west for 1.5 miles. Parking lot is on your left.
The Mountain Division Trail exists as 3 separate segments of what will eventually be a more than 50 mile-long trail from Fryeburg Southeast, to Portland. Three sections have been completed. The Southern Section utilizes Thompson’s Point Trail (formerly known as the Fore River Trail) & the Fore River Parkway Trail in Portland. The Central Section runs from Windham Northwest, to Standish, while the Northern Section runs Northwest, through Fryeburg on the New Hampshire border. The trail runs alongside currently dormant train tracks owned by the Maine Department of Transportation. The Mountain Division Trail takes its name from the Maine Central Railroad’s Mountain Division that ran from Portland through New Hampshire’s White Mountains to Vermont. Chartered in 1867 as the Portland & Ogdensburg Railroad, Maine Central took over in the early 20th century. Passenger service on the scenic run ended in 1958, and freight trains stopped rolling after Guilford Transportation (later Pan Am Railways) acquired it in the 1980s. The Presumpscot River Trail is a spur off the Mountain Division Trail; Southern Section that travels Southeast, through Shaw Park. The Mountain Division Trail is also utilized as part of the Sebago to the Sea Trail , which travels from Sebago Lake in Standish, Southeast, to Casco Bay in Portland. For more information visit; MT DIVISION RAIL TRAIL & MAINE TRAIL FINDER .
Mountain Division Trail; Northern Section:
Starting from the Portland Street parking lot in Fryeburg [Southern End]; I haven't checked out this section. The paved trail heads Northwest, alongside the dormant RR tracks along an open wooded corridor. Isolated. Come alongside Routes 5 & 113 at 1.7 miles before heading West, back into the woods. Cross Porter Road (industrial area) at 2.6 miles. Map Board and small parking area. Cross a RR bridge over Wards Pond before crossing Quarry Rd at 2.9 miles. Come alongside Route 302, where the trail turns Southwest, bringing you to the Maine Tourism parking lot after 4 miles and the end of the trail.
Mountain Division Trail; Central Section:
Starting from the Cumberland County Soil & Water District parking lot in Windham; Map Board & Porto-Potty.
Option 1: You can travel North, on-road along Main St to the trailhead on your left after 0.1 miles. Caution high speed traffic.
Option 2: I believe you can also access the old rail bed from the back of the lot between two buildings. This hard packed dirt and grass trail will take you Northwest, to Main St and the trailhead after 0.25 miles.
Starting from Main Street;
Note; The partially developed, hard packed dirt & grass Mountain Division Trail travels Southeast. The next 5 miles Southeast, to Westbrook are in the design phase in 2025. The next 5 miles Southeast, to Portland are proposed.
The paved Mountain Division Trail heads Northwest, alongside the dormant RR tracks, through an open wooded corridor. Look right to spot 2 old metal RR Rail Holders. + See; RR Rail Holders Below. Pass under some power lines at 0.5 miles and pass by an old RR Switch. + See; RR Switch Below. Cross Gambo Rd at 0.8 miles and spot an old RR Mile Marker P12 (Portland 12 miles). These old RR Mileage Markers were located every mile along the railroad. The trail turns West, passing by Mile Marker 12.25 at 1.1 miles.
Note; Trail on your left leads up to the Gambo Fields parking lot. Map Board, Porto-Potty.
Cross an old RR bridge over Presumpscot River into Gorham, before coming to a trail on your left at 1.7 miles. This was as far as I traveled.
Note; This is the Presumpscot River Loop Trail. I've checked out this trail. This paved trail travels Southeast, down to Shaw Park, before winding East, through the open woods. You then come to an old road at 0.5 miles. Head left. This brings you to Gambo Dam and a Map Board.
Note; A hiking trail on your right heads into the woods where you can explore the ruins of a Canal and the Oriental Powder Mill, which supplied the Union Army with one-quarter of its gunpowder. Also sections of the original Cumberland & Oxford Canal Towpath. The Canal was opened in 1832 to connect the largest lakes of Southern Maine with the seaport of Portland. The canal followed the Presumpscot River from Sebago Lake through the towns of Standish, Windham, Gorham, and Westbrook.
The trail then crosses an old road bridge over the Presumpscot River to Gumbo Rd at 0.8 miles. Straight, East, on-road will bring you back to the Mountain Division Trail after a mile.
Continuing West, along the Mountain Division Trail, travel through open woods and past farm fields. Cross Kemp Rd followed by Route 237 in the White Rock section of Gorham at 2.5 miles. Cross Wescott Rd at 3.6 miles. I believe the paved trail ends after 4.6 miles at a stop sign, blocking access to the railroad corridor across Otter & Half Moon Ponds in Standish.
Note; The Mountain Division Trail continues South, up a hill as a gravel path, then West, to Route 35 & the Johnson Field parking lot after 1.2 miles in the Sebago Lake section of Standish. Which is across from the South Shore of Sebago Lake.
Note; The next 31 miles Northwest, to Fryeburg are in the design phase in 2025. See; Map 1 & Map 2 .
Mountain Division Trail; Southern Section:
I haven't checked out this section. This section utilizes the Fore River Parkway Trail, which travels Northwest, from Commercial St in Portland, where the Maine Central Railroad’s Mountain Division RR began. Rail yards are located here for several different lines. This trail then connects to Thompson’s Point Trail (formerly known as the Fore River Trail). The Fore River Parkway Trail is also part of the Portland Peninsula Loop Trail . Visit; FORE RIVER PARKWAY TRAIL , THOMPSON'S POINT TRAIL & FORE RIVER TRAIL for more information.
Old Railroad Equipment:
+
RR Rail Holders:
RR Rail Holders were used to store
extra railroad track alongside the train tracks. Usually made of iron or
concrete, the top is shaped like a small U to keep the tracks from
falling off. I assume these were used to keep the rails off the ground and
quickly available if needed. Couldn't find any information on them.
+ RR Switch:
A RR Switch is a mechanical
installation enabling trains to be guided from one track to another, such as at
a junction or where a spur or siding branches off.
HH
CLICK HERE FOR MT DIVISION RAIL TRAIL MAPS
CLICK HERE FOR FORE RIVER PARKWAY TRAIL MAP
CLICK HERE FOR THOMPSON'S POINT TRAIL MAP
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WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT
