This was a unexpected find! Without some of the mills and dams it once had, the section of this river through Falmouth was a kayaker’s and birder’s dream. The river’s headwaters were at Sebago Lake; its estuary and outlet were at Casco Bay. Along its course through town, we saw ducks, geese, herons, and other birds. Above the lower falls, several persons waded in its murky waters. Those waters were fairly clean, but not pristine. Above the waterfalls, river access was on Blackstrap Road or Gray Road; below the falls, access was on Allen Avenue Extension. A portage place past the falls was at the Presumpscot River Preserve. We liked all that we found here; we disliked nothing.

Time has changed the Presumpscot – and for the better. The historic, 25.8-mile (41.5 km) river runs from Sebago Lake to Casco Bay. It drains a watershed of 648 square miles (1,678.3 sq km). During summer, we visited its scenic and fairly rural lowermost reaches. We explored several parks along it. The estuarine, 65-acre (26.3 ha) Maine Audubon Society Gilsland Farm Sanctuary has 3.5 miles (5.6 km) of wonderful walking trails via meadows and woods. The 4.4-acre (1.8 ha) Walton Park has 0.5 miles (0.8 km) of wooded trails. On the opposite bank, the 60-acre (24.3 ha) Presumpscot Preserve has 3.6 miles (5.7 km) of multi-use wooded trails. And the 41-acre (16.6 ha) Riverpoint Conservation Area has 1.4 miles (2.25 km) of blazed trails through fields and woods. More riverside parks and trails are farther upriver. Hiking trails on the river’s upper reaches form parts of the 28-mile (45.1 km) Sebago to the Sea Trail. The area also has a paddle/portage River Trail. The entire river was clean enough to swim, kayak, canoe, and fish. It was hard to believe that textile mils, paper mills, lumber mills, and other industries once dominated its banks. We liked everything about the green spaces we found along the lowermost reaches of the Presumpscot River.