More than 3,000 acres make Scarborough Marsh the largest contiguous salt marsh system in Maine. The Scarborough Marsh Focus Area provides important year-round habitat for fish, shellfish, mammals, and birds. Alongside the beaches, the marsh offers another focus for a trip to Scarborough: a salt marsh landscape with wildlife and outdoor activities.
Visitors come to Scarborough Marsh for hunting, birdwatching, boating, and fishing. If you’re planning time outdoors, you can combine these interests with a detour to the Eastern Trail: the trail provides access to the marsh from Pine Point (ME-9) or Eastern Road in Scarborough.
Salt Marsh and Eastern Trail
A more than 8-mile off-road section of the Eastern Trail runs between Saco and Scarborough. The trails there are flat and easy to walk; the route connects Saco, Old Orchard Beach, and Scarborough. The access points to the marsh mentioned here are Pine Point and Eastern Road, while the connection between the three towns describes the extent of the longer trail section. This distinction can help you plan for the specific marsh access points and the longer trail route separately.
There are several activities to choose from at the marsh: in addition to birdwatching, boating, fishing, and hunting are listed as reasons to visit. The trail, in turn, offers a way to combine a visit to the marsh with a walk. The best option depends on whether you want to focus on time on the water, observing nature, or walking a longer stretch of trail.
Sandy Beaches with Different Characteristics
The beaches also differ considerably. Scarborough Beach State Park is a long, sandy stretch of beach. Pine Point Beach is also long and sandy, lies on Saco Bay, and stretches from the pier at Pine Point to Old Orchard Beach. Its location on the bay and the named endpoints provide a more precise sense of Pine Point; at the state park, the emphasis is on the long sandy beach.
Ferry Beach is a sandy beach on the Scarborough River channel. It has gentle waves and shallower water at low tide. Unlike the long stretches of beach, Ferry Beach’s character is shaped by its location on the channel and its shallower water at low tide. Keep the tides in mind when planning your beach visit.
Higgins Beach is in a residential neighborhood dating back to the late 19th century. 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 beach access areas, including stairs and an ADA ramp. Before your trip, it’s a good idea to check the current status of the access areas and facilities on site.
Practical Information for Visiting the Beaches
Ferry Beach has a municipal boat launch. Rules for its use and permits may change; check the current requirements before using it. Pine Point Beach has a municipal parking lot on Avenue 5, which branches off King Street. Since parking regulations may change, check local information before you arrive. This makes it easier to plan separately for the specific beach characteristics and practical questions about access, the boat launch, and parking.
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