Spending time outside in Maine is always a good idea. And it’s pretty lucky that there are so many ways to do it. From summiting mountain tops to strolling through your own backyard, there’s an outdoor adventure for just about everyone. If you’re in southern Maine, there’s a great park we love visiting when we’re in need of some quiet time.
Fort Foster Park in Kittery was built from 1898 to 1901 to keep America’s coastline secure. It was an active fort from this time until 1946. Visiting the park offers a dose of history, though only one of the structures is open to visitors.
Lynn Frese / alltrails.com
But that doesn’t make a trip uninteresting!
Tyson Shelby / alltrails.com
Fort Foster Park offers a network of trails for visitors to explore the coastal region of Kittery.
Danielle Epstein / alltrails.com
There’s a lot to see, and visiting in the spring, summer, and fall offer three completely different experiences.
Jacquie Counsell / alltrails.com
We particularly love the 2-mile Fort Foster & Kittery Point Shore Trail, which is a flat loop.
Lynn Frese / alltrails.com
The route includes access to our favorite feature of the park, the pier that seems to stretch out endlessly into the water.
Mike Ryder / alltrails.com
This is a great way to enjoy some time outside while taking in one of the most quintessential coastal Maine views. When you’ve completed the loop, you’ll be back at your starting point making the entire visit convenient.
Melissa Butler / alltrails.com
Fort Foster Park is officially open in the spring, summer, and early fall. If you miss your window you can still visit until the first snowfall by parking just outside the gatehouse. Remember that there are no restrooms or trash bins available during this time. You can learn more about visiting the park by checking out the official website. You can also find out more about the trails by clicking here for alltrails.com.
Lynn Frese / alltrails.com
Tyson Shelby / alltrails.com
Danielle Epstein / alltrails.com
Jacquie Counsell / alltrails.com
Mike Ryder / alltrails.com
Melissa Butler / alltrails.com
Beyond just Fort Foster there’s quite a bit of history in Kittery. It’s the oldest town in Maine and everyone should visit at least once!
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Address: Whaleback Light Observation Point, Fort Foster Park Pier, Piscataqua River, Kittery Point, ME 03905, USA
