East Point Sanctuary

January 24, 2024

East Point Sanctuary, Biddeford, Maine

We absolutely loved this walk at East Point Sanctuary! The parking area is pretty small, but we were able to get one of the few spots, making it is easy to do with kids! There were a few people running this trail, but I was getting my workout in pushing three kids in the wagon!

parking

Street parking around Biddeford and the coast is very limited. There are about only 6 street parking spots for East Point Sanctuary at the end of Lester B Orcutt Blvd, near the corner of Ocean Ave. We got there early, around 9:30am on a Tuesday in the summer and there were a few spots left. I can imagine it would get full early on a weekend day. Street parking around the area also requires a day or season parking permit. Some websites I was reading recommend getting a day parking permit online just in case it is busy. According to the town website it is $35 for an out of town resident to get a day pass. It also costs $245 for an out of town resident to get a season pass.

It would actually be a good idea to grab a day parking pass if you wanted to then check out some of the beaches in Biddeford. For beaches close by there is Biddeford Pool Beach, Fortune’s Rock Beach or Middle Beach. Linked below is my post on Pool Beach since we stopped there after this walk.

Wagon friendly

I had all 3 kids by myself so I took a chance bringing our Veer wagon and it was perfect! I don’t know how people hike or go on long walks with kids, as my kids tell me they are tired and ask to be carried most of the time! A stroller would not work here as there is a small trail through the woods. There are a few spots I had to get the kids out of the wagon to walk when going over roots of trees, but for the rest of it I was so glad to have the wagon.

The walk

The walk itself is only about 1 mile out and back. You enter through a gate, go through a short path in the woods, then it opens up to gorgeous ocean views with a path along the water. This is important: the path is not close enough to the water that you would have to be worried about kids falling into the water or running and falling off a cliff! I know that some people (one of my best friends in particular) definitely worry about that with little kids. There are plenty of small bushes on the path along the water so it is not dangerous with kids. There are a few paths leading to the water. All are all very rocky, obviously, but we could all do it. Wear your water shoes or some good shoes for rocky beaches! My favorite water shoes are linked on my Tips page!

lighthouse views

We pack a lunch everywhere we go. They usually eat their peanut butter and jelly sandwiches the second we get places but I made them wait for some nice views and it paid off! Once you walk around the point itself, on the northern side of the walk, there is a beautiful spot to rest and have some lunch with a view of a lighthouse. The lighthouse is called Wood Island Lighthouse. It is a little far across the water, but still beautiful!