South Branch Trail

This urban trail is part of the South Portland Land Trust’s network of trails.
You can access this trail in multiple areas. The main kiosk is located across from JC Penny at the Maine Mall. You can also access it behind TJ Maxx although that entrance has gotten difficult over the last few years. Another entrance is located by Cinemagic as well as one in a grassy patch along the parking lot directly across from Home Goods in the Clark’s Pond area.
The trail is packed dirt and easy to follow. I hear there is a geocache by one of the bridges. The trail starting by JC Penny will take you in to the woods and behind the businesses along John Roberts Road. It will open up to a newly renovated retaining pond behind the cinema. (warning, there are a paid of Canadian Geese who nest here and they can be quite offended when you are around) Back just inside the woods again you follow the stream as it babbles over rocks. There was a nice bridge that went to the left and behind TJ Maxx but as of last week, the bridge was down and laying in the river. If you go to the right you will skirt along just inside the tree line and come to a spot where you could walk out at the Cinema or you can go to the left and follow the trail and wooden walkway along and come through the bamboo in to the grassy area across from Home Goods.
At this point, you are sort of dropped in to the parking lot with no sidewalks… don’t fret! You can turn around and walk back the way you came, walk out to John Roberts Road and follow that back to JC Penny or you can cross over by Home Depot and walk along the handicap accessible part of the Clark’s Pond Trail which will also bring you to John Roberts Road.
It’s easy to make this walk longer and in to a loop if you choose. It’s kind of fun to walk along just inside the trees while there is a lot of activity just yards away in an retail centric part of the city.