The paved path along the Penobscot in Brewer opened in 2013 as one short section, from Hardy Street to the Joshua Chamberlain Bridge. It now runs under that bridge to Veteran's Park, and this year it was reported to reach the city sidewalk on South Main Street. The next section is still on paper. It's a new trail and park at the site of the old Penobscot Dam on North Main Street, paid for with a state grant and in engineering since spring.
The Brewer Riverwalk has never been a finished project. It has grown about one section at a time for more than a decade, and each fall walk covers a little more ground than the one before. Below is how to walk what's there now, two quieter Brewer Land Trust trails for a change of pace, and where the next pieces stand as of October 2026.
The Riverwalk grew one section at a time
Laid out in order, the building history explains why the trail feels like several short walks joined together:
- 2013: The first section opens, running from Hardy Street to the Joshua Chamberlain Bridge.
- 2018 to 2019: Work starts on an extension, and in 2019 the city opens the link through the Joshua Chamberlain Bridge to Veteran's Park. A tunnel under the bridge joins the two halves.
- 2022: The Bangor Daily News reported that a 900-foot southern extension was under construction, with paving, lighting, Wi-Fi, benches and trash cans planned.
- 2026: A March 2026 visitor comment on Maine Trail Finder says the paved path now continues south to the city sidewalk on South Main Street.
That history also explains the distance. Maine Trail Finder lists the Riverwalk as 0.75 miles one way, paved and level. The listing may not include the newest southern stretch, so treat that number as a minimum.
Walking it this fall: where to start
You can start from either end, and they don't feel the same.
Starting point | Parking | What's close by |
|---|---|---|
South end, Hardy Street | Limited spaces in front of Mason's Brewpub | Penobscot Landing and the Children's Garden, about 100 yards from the bridge |
North end, Veteran's Park | Betton Street lot | The tunnel under the Joshua Chamberlain Bridge |
The parking details come from the Maine Trail Finder guide and the Brewer Land Trust's page for Penobscot Landing.
The Children's Garden is about halfway along. It has themed plantings, short side paths, a small waterfall, and open space the city uses for events. Granite steps lead down to the river, and they double as a hand-carry boat launch. If you have a kayak or canoe and only a short window before the water gets too cold, this is the launch already built into the path.
Because the trail is paved and level, wet leaves are the main fall hazard, not the grade. That makes it the easiest option in this guide for strollers, slow walkers, and anyone who wants the river without the climbing.
When you want roots and rocks instead of pavement
The Riverwalk is the town's paved riverfront. Two Brewer Land Trust properties offer something rougher, and the three walks differ more than their mileage suggests.
Trail | Length | Surface and terrain | Setting |
|---|---|---|---|
Brewer Riverwalk | 0.75 mi one way, as listed | Paved, level | Penobscot shoreline, Children's Garden |
Indian Trail Park | 1.8 mi | Forest trail, medium difficulty, steep sections, rocks, exposed roots | Wooded loop with Penobscot viewpoints |
Sherwood Forest Park Trail | 0.5 mi loop | Mulched path, wooden bridge | 11-acre wetland parcel |
Indian Trail Park is the longer river walk. The Brewer Land Trust lists it as a 1.8-mile, medium-difficulty trail system with three access points: Indian Trail Lane, the Penobscot Conservation Alliance, and the Penobscot Salmon Club. The park itself is four acres of city-owned land with picnic tables, benches and views of the Penobscot, and the walking trail continues past the park boundary. An older Bangor Daily News trail write-up describes a forest loop with riverside lookouts, steep stretches, rocks and exposed roots, and warns that some steep side trails get slippery in winter. That article is from 2013, so check the Land Trust page for current conditions. In late fall, real footwear makes sense here in a way it doesn't on the Riverwalk.
Sherwood Forest Park Trail is the short option away from the river. Maine Trail Finder describes a half-mile loop on an 11-acre wetland parcel, built with help from the Brewer Land Trust, with a wooden bridge and a mulched path. It fits a quick lunch break or a dog walk when the Riverwalk lots are full.
Taken together, they cover a range. The paved river path is for an easy loop, Indian Trail is for an hour in the woods with the Penobscot below, and Sherwood Forest is for twenty minutes of quiet. The next riverfront project is planned as a mix of those styles.
Next up to the north: Pier Park at the old Penobscot Dam
Pier Park is planned for a 4.2-acre Brewer Land Trust parcel on North Main Street, at the site of the former Penobscot Dam. The Bangor Daily News reported in January 2026 that the first phase received a $250,000 grant from the Maine Trails Program. The same report described it as a rustic waterfront trail and park, a different feel from the paved Riverwalk.
The city's January 2026 newsletter lists what phase one is meant to include:
- A kayak launch
- About 1,100 feet of trail
- A boardwalk overlooking a wetland
- 12 parking spaces
- A picnic area with a gazebo
That gives Brewer two places to launch a small boat on the river, one at the Children's Garden steps and one at the north end of town.
Here is where the project stands. At its May 12, 2026 meeting, the Brewer City Council awarded the engineering and design contract to Acorn Engineering, the lowest-priced qualified bidder, for $52,700. The council approved spending up to $58,000 of the grant to cover the bid plus a 10 percent contingency. The work covers planning, permitting, engineering and design for a multi-use trail system along the Penobscot. The city can only go ahead once it receives a fully executed project agreement with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.
In January, the BDN reported that construction was expected to begin later in 2026, with the design not yet final. We haven't found a public report that construction has started or a completion date. For now, Pier Park is a funded plan in the design stage, not a place to walk this fall.
And to the south: a proposal at 75 South Main Street
The south end of the Riverwalk now reaches toward South Main Street, and there's a redevelopment plan along that stretch too. In July 2025, the Bangor Daily News reported plans to turn the former box factory at 75 South Main St. into a boutique hotel with a restaurant and cafe, with direct access to the Brewer Riverwalk. That report gave no opening date, and we haven't found a newer update. It's a project to follow, not a stop to plan around yet.
After the walk, a new stop off the river
The newest place to eat in Brewer isn't on the water, but it's new enough to mention. Benjamin's Brewer is at 46 Acme Road. It opened July 1, 2026, and according to the Bangor Daily News, it nearly sold out its first two nights. The veteran-owned brewery and restaurant serves pub food, including sandwiches and pizza. Beer is brewed on site seven days a week, with six house beers on tap and room for up to 20. The building used to house an HVAC business, and the owner spent five years converting it, doing most of the work himself.
If you start at the south end of the Riverwalk, Mason's Brewpub is already right at the Hardy Street parking.
A holiday gathering by the river, still in planning
The waterfront may also host a winter event. In March 2026, the Brewer Culture & Arts Committee proposed a holiday party for November 28. A committee member offered a spot near the riverfront where a holiday tree might go. The same minutes said the tree location hadn't been decided and the event calendar still needed City Council approval. By the May meeting, details for the holiday decorating contest were still listed as to be determined. As of early October, it wasn't on the city's online calendar for November. Check the city calendar closer to Thanksgiving for a confirmed time and location.
We follow Brewer's riverfront projects because they change what daily life on this side of the river looks like, and we're happy to share what we're hearing about Pier Park, the South Main Street plans, or the trails we walk ourselves. Reach out to Elisha J Hardy and our team any time. Contact Us.
