Maine Lighthouse Trail

Bikes are not allowed on the East Point Sanctuary Trail. However, if you are planning a visit to Wood Island and an afternoon at Biddeford Pool, then the flat roads around Biddeford Pool, Fortunes Rocks, and Hills Beach provide a scenic area for some easy biking. The peninsula of Biddeford Pool is crisscrossed with a neighborhood of roads, with views of the Atlantic Ocean and the long span of Biddeford beach. Bathrooms are available at the Biddeford Pool beach house (when life guards are on duty), and porta-potties at Fortunes Rocks Beach. Parking is very limited in Biddeford Pool. Parking at one of the beach parking spots requires a permit between June 15th and Labor Day. A parking permit can be purchased at the Biddeford City Hall.

For cyclists, Biddeford Pool is a destination for many group lead rides originating out of Kennebunkport. Make viewing Wood Island Lighthouse the next destination for a long afternoon ride. Kennebunkport, Biddeford, Saco, and Old Orchard Beach are all within a reasonable cycling distance.

For mountain bikers, Biddeford’s Clifford park is a favorite local destination. Multiple hilly, loop trails will challenge avid mountain bikers. Riders can also visit the small waterfall located in the park. Clifford Park is located on Pool Street, near downtown Biddeford. The park has free public parking and restrooms.

Wood Island and Biddeford Pool are popular destinations for avid bird watchers. Other than the buildings of Wood Island Lighthouse, the rest of Wood Island is protected as a bird sanctuary by the Audubon society. Visitors will find hundreds of seagulls and their babies on the island during the breeding season, as well as other birds that nest or stop on their migratory paths. The surrounding areas of Biddeford Pool which includes wetlands, dunes, forests, sandy beaches, and the saltwater pool itself all provide ideal habitat for birds and other wildlife.

Fisherman often fish from the sandy beaches of Biddeford Pool or at the Vines landing Boat launch.

Ice skaters will enjoy Biddeford's Westbrook Skating rink, which is located on Route 9, just outside of downtown Biddeford. This lighted, outdoor rink is almost a football field in size and is a full service outdoor rink, with ice skate rentals, a concession stand, heated club house, and outhouses. Enjoy a classic new england skating experience with a $3.50 admission. Weather and ice permitting, the rink is open 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday - Friday and 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Wood Island Lighthouse and the area around Biddeford Pool are a popular destination for sea kayakers. In particular, the “Pool” offers a scenic kayaking area shielded from the ocean ‘s waves. Others enjoy kayaking in and around Winter Harbor with longer excursions leading up (or down from) the Saco River. Kayakers can also venture out and around Wood Island, but should be cautious of the larger swells present on the Atlantic side of the island. Kakers may land on the boat ramp at Wood Island, but kayaks must be pulled high up and to the sides of the ramp. The ramp must not be blocked as it is regularly used by the Friends of Wood Island’s tour boat.

All Kayakers should utilize a local kayak guide when kayaking in unfamiliar areas.

Nearby Biddeford Beach and Fortunes Rocks Beach are great locations for kite flying. There is nearly always a sea breeze, unlike some of the more sheltered beaches in Maine. While some of Maine’s most popular beaches can become too crowded on the hottest summer weekends for kite flying, this beach always has plenty of space for running up the kites. Please see the Swimming Focal Point for more information on parking.

The Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse offer lighthouse tours in the months of July and August. Wood Island is one of only two island lighthouses in Maine that offer such a tour, and one of the few lighthouses that allow guests to climb to the top of the lighthouse tower.

Wood Island tours leave from the Vines Landing boat ramp in Biddeford Pool, and include a short boat ride to Wood Island. Guests walk the half mile elevated boardwalk from the Wood Island boat ramp to the lighthouse, where they can then explore the interior and exterior of the lighthouse. Please visit the Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse web site for more information. www.woodislandlighthouse.org

Two public boat launches with ample parking are located on the Saco River, allowing power boaters to gain access to Saco Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. One boat launch is located on Route 9 / Pool Street in Biddeford and has ample vehicle and trailer parking. The second is located in downtown Saco just off of Route 11 / Main Street, with limited parking. Wood Island is located east of the Saco River’s mouth, for those interested in viewing the lighthouse from the comfort of their own boat. Power boats can visit the island, but should use the boat mooring and not leave their boat on the Wood Island boat ramp. The ramp must be kept clear.

The East Point trail at Biddeford Pool is a great spot for a short ski or showshoe outing. The East Point trail is a short 3/4 mile trail that presents the winter enthusiasts with the best vantage point to view Wood Island Lighthouse. Many will just travel the short distance to East Point to view Wood Island Light and the steely gray Atlantic. Others will continue down the trail as it meanders alongside the rocky north side of the Biddeford Pool peninsula. The trail is virtually flat, and is usually well packed down by snowshoes to the point that even those in boots will have an easy walk to East Point. The trail is mostly out in the open, but for a small wooded section at the start, and along the north end of the trail. So on windy days the exposed East Point can be quite cold! So dress in warm layers. The trail is often popular right after a snowstorm, as people break out for some fresh air and to view the newly fallen snow on Wood Island Lighthouse. So if you want fresh tracks in the snow, plan on getting there early!

The restrooms at Biddeford Pool Beach are closed in the winter. Parking is limited along the side of the road, at the entrance to the trail. Do not park along side of the road during a snowstorm when the snowplows are out and about, or your car may be towed.

The shore of the East Point, accessed by the Sanctuary Trail in Biddeford Pool is a popular spot for artists capturing the charisma of an island lighthouse. It is a short walk down the trail to the best spot for capturing a profile of the lighthouse juxtaposed in a dramatic combination of rock, sea, and sky.

The most popular spot for photographing Wood Island Lighthouse is from the shore of the East Point Sanctuary Trail in Biddeford Pool. It is a short walk down the trail from the road and the location provides the best spot for capturing a profile of the entire lighthouse with a dramatic combination of rock, sea, and sky. It is beneficial if the camera used has a high powered zoom.

The next best option is to either photograph Wood Island Lighthouse from a boat or from the island itself. Taking a tour with the Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse will provide the photographer with many great opportunities in addition to capturing the lighthouse itself. Wildlife, the scenic boardwalk spanning the length of the island, and the boats in Winter Harbor all provide interesting subjects for the photographer to consider.

A picnic on the rocks of East Point, or on one of the secluded rocky beaches located on the East Point Sanctuary trail makes an enjoyable way to enjoy the view of Wood Island Lighthouse and the Atlantic. There are no picnic tables and only a few benches on the trail. There is also no public bathrooms at the trail. Parking at the trailhead is limited and the trail is closed at dusk. Another option is to have a picnic at Biddeford Beach, followed by a walk from the beach to East Point in order to view the lighthouse. Those who choose to Kayak over to Wood Island, can enjoy an island picnic on the front lawn of the lighthouse.

Biddeford Beach (north end) and Fortunes Rock (south end) Beach are located in Biddeford Pool, and together make up a two mile long sandy beach. Unlike most of the other beaches located in southern Maine, this beach is never crowded, even on the hottest days of the summer. This is a great beach for actives such as kite flying, sand castle building, walking, or tossing a Frisbee or football around. Fortunes Rock is a popular spot for surfers. Life guards are on duty during the summer months, at tree spots along the beach. At the Biddeford Pool end of the beach, there is a bath house with restrooms, which is only open when the life guards are on duty. At Fortune’s Rocks there are public portable restrooms.

Parking at one of the three beach parking areas requires a permit between June 15th and Labor Day, and is strictly enforced. A permit can be purchased at the Biddeford City Hall, with residents having the first pick at parking before noon. Parking along the side of the streets is not allowed through much of Biddeford Pool. Please observe all no parking signs. During the off season, anyone can park at the beach parking lots during the daylight hours.

The scenic sandy beaches and roadways of Biddeford Pool provide an ideal location for walking, running, and nordic walking with great views of Saco Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Mile Stretch Road, the only street leading into the Pool, is a narrow road and likewise can be very busy with cars, bikes, and walkers. Please be respectful and share the road by walking on the very side of the road.