Scarborough: Beaches, Salt Marsh, and Trails

A salt marsh, several distinct sandy beaches, and trails through the landscape give Scarborough its own character. The town appeals to travelers who want to spend time by the water in more than one way: you can explore the marshland’s natural environment, choose a beach for its particular features, or plan a longer route on the Eastern Trail. Which of these experiences matters most to you may also influence your choice of a vacation rental in Scarborough.

Salt Marsh and Nature

At more than 3,000 acres, Scarborough Marsh is the largest contiguous salt marsh system in Maine. The Scarborough Marsh Focus Area provides important year-round habitat for fish, shellfish, mammals, and birds. This makes the marshland quite different from the area’s open sandy beaches: the landscape here is shaped by a variety of wildlife and an extensive salt marsh system.

Visitors come to Scarborough Marsh to hunt, bird-watch, boat, and fish. If you enjoy spending time in a landscape where wildlife observation and activities on the water play a role, these interests can shape your stay. The Eastern Trail provides access to Scarborough Marsh from Pine Point (ME-9) or from Eastern Road in Scarborough. These two access points offer guidance if you would like to include the marsh in your trip plans.

Beaches with Distinct Character

The beaches also differ in their described features. Scarborough Beach State Park includes a long, sandy stretch of beach. Pine Point Beach is also long and sandy; it is located on Saco Bay and extends from the pier at Pine Point to Old Orchard Beach. If you are especially interested in a longer stretch of shoreline, these offer two distinct reference points for choosing a destination.

Ferry Beach is a sandy beach along the Scarborough River channel. The waves are calm there, and the water is shallower at low tide. The beach also has a municipal boat launch. Higgins Beach, in turn, is a sandy beach in a residential neighborhood dating back to the late 19th century. So the differences are not just in the names: the channel and water conditions, the location on Saco Bay, and the historic residential neighborhood each shape a different description of a beach visit.

Access to Higgins Beach is specifically regulated: the beach is privately owned but open to the public. The town operates the parking lot and facilities on Ocean Avenue and maintains the public access areas, including stairs and an ADA ramp to the beach. Pine Point Beach has a municipal parking lot on Avenue 5, off King Street. This information can help you plan your trips to the two beaches separately.

Exploring the Eastern Trail

The off-road section of the Eastern Trail between Saco and Scarborough offers more than 8 miles of flat, easy-to-walk trails and connects Saco, Old Orchard Beach, and Scarborough. If you want to include a longer distance on foot or by bike in your vacation, this route offers an alternative to spending time at the beach or in the marshland. Its flat terrain and length of more than 8 miles are useful reference points for planning your day; they do not indicate a specific walking or cycling time.

Depending on whether you are mainly looking for a beach, marshland, or a longer trail, different parts of Scarborough may make a suitable base for your stay. Consider the destinations described here in light of the experiences that matter to you, and choose your vacation rental to match your planned outings. Discover more destinations: Bridgton, Falmouth, Gray, Freeport, Westbrook, New Gloucester, Cape Elizabeth and Standish.

Return to the main travel overview: Cumberland.