Ownership
Town and CELT owned
Location
This out-and-back trail connects 7.8 miles of Cape Elizabeth with Ft. Williams at one end and Kettle Cove at the other.
Access
Lot Parking is available at both Fort Williams Park and Kettle Cove State Park from dawn to dusk.
Description/History
Providing a scenic tour of Cape Elizabeth’s most spectacular conservation areas, this 7.8-mile trail passes through the Robinson Woods, Spurwink Marsh, and Gull Crest conservation lands as well as along the shores of Great Pond. The idea for a Cross Town Trail in Cape Elizabeth first surfaced in 1974, 11 years before the Land Trust was founded. Through the years, the trail has been completed through a patchwork of different types of conservation land, including land owned by CELT or the Town, land with easements held by CELT or the Town, former “paper streets,” land set aside to offset development, state-owned lands, and even a utility easement. The full trail can be walked at a leisurely pace in 3-4 hours. The mid-point of the trail passes through Town Center and past the Land Trust office, providing an opportunity to rest or refuel.
A PDF Trail Guide is available with detailed directions, points of interest, and additional historical context.
Each spring and fall, CELT offers a guided walk of the entire trail beginning at Ft. Williams and concluding with a picnic lunch at Kettle Cove and a shuttle ride back to Ft. Williams. For more information, contact CELT.
Rules
Please cherish and help care for the natural areas along the trail:
● Leave trails as you found them and carry out all trash.
● Limit trail use to daytime hours only.
● Stay on marked trails and respect adjacent private property.
● Please no:
● Foraging
● Commercial use of property
● Motorized vehicles
● Fires and camping
● Alcoholic beverages or illegal substances
For Cyclists:
● Most of this trail is maintained for both pedestrian and mountain bike use.
● Sections of the trail may be closed to bicycles during some wet parts of the year.
*Notice for Dog Owners
Sections of the trail require dogs to be on-leash only, particularly where the trail passes through private property or on public sidewalks. Otherwise, please keep dogs within sight and under voice control at all times.
● Remove all pet waste.
● Keep dogs out of sensitive habitat areas, including streams.
● No commercial dog walking at any time on CELT properties.
● Maine law requires dog license and rabies tag on collar at all times.
● Refer to the Town ordinance page for more information.
