Back Cove Park
Rate this placeNearby: Winslow Park Oakleigh Park
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Back Cove Park is a beautiful, 34-acre park located in Portland, Maine.
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Summary
It is a popular destination for both locals and tourists due to its stunning views of the city skyline and the surrounding natural beauty.
There are several great reasons to visit Back Cove Park, such as the numerous walking trails that wind through the park, which provide ample opportunity to take in the stunning scenery. There are also plenty of areas for picnics, sports, and other outdoor activities. Additionally, the park is home to a variety of wildlife, including birds, fish, and other aquatic creatures.
Some specific points of interest to visit at Back Cove Park include the Back Cove Trail, which offers stunning views of the Portland skyline, and the Back Cove Estuary, which is a popular spot for birdwatching. The park also features several playgrounds and picnic areas, as well as a boat launch for those who want to explore the nearby waterways.
One interesting fact about Back Cove Park is that it was once a tidal marsh, but was later filled in to create the park. Despite this, the park still features a variety of wetlands and other natural features that provide a habitat for a wide range of plant and animal life.
The best time of year to visit Back Cove Park is during the summer months, when the weather is warm and sunny, and the park is bustling with activity. However, the park is open year-round, and visitors can enjoy the changing seasons and the unique beauty of the park during each season.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Winslow Park
Oakleigh Park
Bayside Playground
Cunningham Playground
Monument Square