Bradbury Mountain State Park in Pownal, Maine is an easy to moderate dog friendly hike with spectacular views. With over 21 miles of trails, Bradbury Mountain offers hikers a variety of options, ranging from a wide gradual ascent to the summit, to more challenging trails with some steep descents over rock ledges and rock staircases. At the summit there are views of Casco Bay and the skyline of Portland, as well as great opportunities for bird watching.
On the September day that we visited, we hiked the Northern Loop Trail, taking a brief detour on the Bluff Trail to enjoy the scenic overlook, then on to the summit. On the descent we followed the Tote Road to the Ski Trail, which connects to the Northern Loop to lead us back to the west side parking lot. Overall our hike was just over 2 miles, well-marked, and easy on the paws.
Dogs are allowed on-leash, and as always owners must clean up after their pets. Please note that horses are allowed on some of the trails. Parking is available at 528 Hallowell Road, Pownal, Maine. There is also a nominal entrance fee for this park that is open year round from 9:00 AM to sunset. During the off-season visitors may park outside the gate, but please do not block it. Located near Freeport, this popular trail can get crowded, so we recommend visiting during off-peak times, and during the off-season.
For more trails in the Freeport area, please visit our Dog Friendly Places reviews.
