Beach trips during the summer in Maine are an obvious way to get the best of the state. And when we go through a string of days that are hot and sunny it’s almost a necessity. It might be too cold to actually swim for any extended period of time, but just being near the water is pretty great. Of course, with all our coastline, there’s certainly no shortage of places to go! This summer paddle trip in Maine offers a truly unique (and secret!) way to get to this popular beach.
It’s summer in Maine! One of the first things you’ll want to do is find a friend with a way to transport a kayak or paddleboard. Or, you can always manage it yourself.
Michelle Starin
Them, hit the road! You’l be heading straight to Scarborough where you’ll be looking for the Spurwink River.
Michelle Starin
You see, there’s a special way to access one of our favorite southern Maine beaches and to do it, you’ll need a paddle or two and access to a semi-secret put-in location.
Michelle Starin
The Spurwink River is really a saltwater creek in Scrarborough, starting in the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge salt marsh and ending at Higgins Beach.
Michelle Starin
This is a great way to make your way to Higgins Beach without having to worry about parking. And, it’s a great way to make the day a little more active.
Michelle Starin
The easy-to-get-to location would make you think tons of people would take this method of getting to the beach, but it’s typically fairly quiet.
trails.com
The creek is fairly wide in most areas and it’s completely surrounded by marshland. Off to the distance you’ll see Route 77, but things here are still calm and quiet.
Michelle Starin
The route from the launch to the beach is about 2 miles, but if you plan your trip with the tides most of the journey will be smooth sailing as you’re pushed towards the beach.
Michelle Starin
If the current is moving the opposite way, you’ll still be able to manage. In fact, this adds a little competition if you’re with friends!
Michelle Starin
As you near the end of the creek, you’ll come to the open ocean area. If you choose to go all the way to the main beach, be sure to watch for waves. Otherwise you can choose to stop at the sandy area just before you get to the end.
Michelle Starin
There’s no lifeguard here, so be careful! Spend some time on the water and then pack it up and head back to where you started. All of this without even having to contend with beach parking!
Michelle Starin The launch can be a bit busy on nice summer days, so be sure to get there early if you can. Most folks here are respectful and you’ll find that once they’ve unloaded their gear, they head to park along the road leading into the launch.
The Spurwink River put-in spot is located on Route 77. The boat launch is right beside the bridge over the river. The route is about 4 miles round trip, but if you plan ahead you could have a friend park at Higgins Beach and load up your gear at the end. Make sure to follow the tides for the easiest time paddling. You can check them out here. Address: Route 77, Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107.
Michelle Starin
trails.com
The launch can be a bit busy on nice summer days, so be sure to get there early if you can. Most folks here are respectful and you’ll find that once they’ve unloaded their gear, they head to park along the road leading into the launch.
For more ways to beat the heat, check out these 9 lazy rivers to enjoy in Maine.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
