The Eastern Promenade, known locally as the Eastern Prom, is the waterfront park around Portland’s Munjoy Hill, with a paved trail, East End Beach, Fort Allen Park and views over Casco Bay. Sources disagree on how long the trail is and how big the park is, so here is what each one says, plus parking, the beach, dogs and what else is there.
The Eastern Promenade at a glance
- What it is: a historic promenade and public park of about 68 acres on the northeastern slope of Munjoy Hill, at the east end of the Portland peninsula, according to the Friends of the Eastern Promenade.
- Designer: the Olmsted Brothers landscape firm. The Friends group dates the design to 1905.
- Historic listing: Wikipedia says it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 16, 1989.
- Facilities: tennis and basketball courts, baseball fields, a playground, shoreline trails, East End Beach and Fort Allen Park, per the Friends group.
- Season: the Friends group says it is used in all four seasons, including sledding in winter.
For the neighborhood’s history, the Portland Observatory and Eastern Cemetery, see our Munjoy Hill guide.
How long is the Eastern Promenade Trail?
Four sources give four answers:
- Portland Trails (trails.org): 1.9 miles.
- Friends of the Eastern Promenade: a two-mile trail that starts in downtown Portland.
- Wikipedia: a paved trail of 2.1 miles.
- Maine Office of Tourism: its listing describes a “4-mile paved trail.” The figure appears in the listing’s description, and the page does not say how it was measured.
We would plan on about two miles. The four-mile figure is the outlier, and none of the sources explains the gap.
Portland Trails calls it paved, with parallel stone dust paths along the water’s edge, and says it is mostly flat, with one small rise near the Portland Water District treatment plant and another near Tukey’s Bridge. It is an Improved Access Trail, meant for wheelchairs, walking devices, strollers and new cyclists, and it connects to the Back Cove Trail near Tukey’s Bridge. The City of Portland maintains it.
How big is the park?
The Friends group says 68 acres. Wikipedia’s text gives 68.2 acres, while its infobox lists 32.3 acres, and the article does not explain the difference. A search-result description of Creative Portland’s listing says 78 acres, but we did not find that figure on the listing page itself. We use about 68 acres. Fort Allen Park, at the end of the promenade, is 9.33 acres according to Wikipedia.
Parking and getting there
Portland Trails says there are parking lots and street parking on Cutter Street, which is the access it lists for the trail. We did not find sourced figures on fees or time limits, so check posted signs. For buses, the Friends group says METRO routes 1 and 8 serve the park, and Portland Trails lists Route 1.
East End Beach, restrooms and boating
According to the Friends group, East End Beach is off the Eastern Promenade and Cutter Street and is popular for swimming, sunbathing, kayaking, rowing and sandcastles. Its facilities include a public boat launch, a boat mooring field, public restrooms and changing areas. Portland Trails says the trail reaches the beach, a public dock, a boat ramp and a rocky shore.
Dogs on the Eastern Promenade
The sources do not agree, and the city posts its dog rules separately:
- Friends of the Eastern Promenade: the park is dog friendly, with an off-leash area next to Fort Allen Park and East End Beach.
- Portland Trails: dogs must be on a leash on the trail. Its amenities table says dogs may be off-leash at the beach, while its description says dogs are allowed on the beach in the off season, and the page does not reconcile the two.
- Maine Office of Tourism: “leashed dogs are permitted.”
- Wikipedia’s Munjoy Hill article: dog owners and their pets use East End Beach after 5 p.m.
Follow the signs posted at the park and the beach, which we could not check.
What to see and do
The Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad runs along the park’s edge, with special trains all season, according to the Friends group.
The park has tennis and basketball courts, baseball fields and a playground, and the Friends group says it is used for picnics, kite flying, running, biking and winter sledding. It lists the Summer Community Concert Series among the programs the park hosts, without dates. Portland Trails mentions the Gathering Stones art installation nearby. Fort Allen Park, at the end of the promenade, has the remains of Fort Allen’s earthworks, a Civil War monument and the mast of the cruiser USS Portland. We cover those in our Munjoy Hill guide.
Eastern Promenade: FAQ
How long is the Eastern Promenade Trail?
Portland Trails says 1.9 miles, the Friends group says two miles and Wikipedia says 2.1 miles. A Maine Office of Tourism listing says 4 miles and does not say how it was measured.
Is the Eastern Promenade dog friendly?
Yes, but the rules differ by source. Dogs must be leashed on the trail, and the Friends group describes an off-leash area next to Fort Allen Park and East End Beach. Follow the posted signs.
Where do you park for the Eastern Promenade?
Portland Trails lists parking lots and street parking on Cutter Street. We found no sourced fees or time limits.
Is there a beach on the Eastern Promenade?
Yes. East End Beach is off the promenade and Cutter Street, with a boat launch, public restrooms and changing areas, according to the Friends group.
Are there restrooms on the Eastern Promenade?
Portland Trails says public restrooms are available, and the Friends group lists them among East End Beach’s facilities.
Is the Eastern Promenade Trail paved and accessible?
Portland Trails says it is paved and an Improved Access Trail, meant for wheelchairs, walking devices, strollers and new cyclists.
Who designed the Eastern Promenade?
The Olmsted Brothers landscape firm designed it. The Friends of the Eastern Promenade date the design to 1905.
Our details come from the Friends of the Eastern Promenade, Portland Trails, Wikipedia (Munjoy Hill), the Maine Office of Tourism and Creative Portland. Dog rules, parking and events change, so confirm before you go.