Visit Dole Brook
The 1.6-mile-long Dole Brook offers opportunities to see wildlife and cross through wetland areas. A very popular access point is the Riverton Rail Trail which can be reached from multiple different roads including Wall, Libby, Harris, and Newton Streets.
At the first bend in the trail and just west of Regan Lane you can find a crossover spot with Dole Brook with a granite archway above the stream. While this trail isn’t entirely out of the hustle and bustle of the city, it does provide a rich history in the form of kiosks and interactive signage of the rail line that once passed through this area.
In the same vicinity as the Rail Trail is the PATHS High School Trail. This relatively short (1.5 miles) and flat route starts on the north end of Casco Bay High School and within a few minutes’ walk bisects Dole Brook before connecting to the Pine Grove Trail on Skylark Road. The PATHS trail provides some of the most densely forested parcels in the city of Portland with plenty of songbirds and small mammals for you to see!
Lastly, for those looking to enjoy Dole Brook on groomed trails with or without a golf cart, the Riverside Golf Course is for you! Located in the northwestern part of the city, the course provides great access to accompany the brook before it joins the Presumpscot River. The easiest way to access this trail is by the Presumpscot River Trail which has a multitude of access points throughout its 2.5 miles. Once you are at the golf course, you can park at the Sebago to Sea Parking area and follow along the golf course trails which parallel Dole Brook!
