WRITTEN BY AISLINN SARNACKI

While enjoying an exciting metropolis like Portland, visiting a local park or wildlife preserve is a nice way to escape the crowds and recharge. Luckily, you don’t have to travel far to experience the beauty of wild spaces. Trails thread throughout the city, and green spaces dot the landscape. You might be surprised by how quickly you can transition from busy sidewalks to quiet, forested pathways. Here are a few pockets of nature in and around Portland.

Mackworth Island

This 100-acre island at the mouth of the Presumpscot River is a state-owned bird sanctuary. “A dozen different species may be encountered during a leisurely stroll,” according to the Maine Birding Trail website. A smooth path of packed gravel circles the island, offering great views of Casco Bay. With no major barriers to wheelchairs or strollers on the main loop, it is highly accessible.

Along the pathway is a section of forest where children — and creative adults — can build fairy houses out of natural materials such as sticks, rocks, and shells. Once home to former Gov. Percival Baxter, the island also features a pet cemetery for his beloved dogs and horse. A side trail leads to this interesting landmark, which is surrounded by a rock wall.

Mackworth Island was deeded to the state of Maine in 1943 and is currently home to the Baxter School for the Deaf. Its trails are open to visitors from dawn to dusk, and the perimeter path is maintained by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands. Entrance fees vary from $1 to $4 per person, depending on age and residency. For more information, visit trails.org/trail/mackworth-island-trail.

Fore River Sanctuary in Portland

Home to Portland’s only natural waterfall, Jewell Falls, this 85-acre preserve is a green oasis surrounded by city streets. The land is owned by a mix of private landowners, Portland Trails, and the city, making it a great example of how collaboration can conserve green spaces in the midst of human development.

Home to a network of intersecting trails totaling more than 5.5 miles, the preserve is a popular place for local residents to hike, jog, and walk dogs. According to the Portland Trails website, the trails travel through some of the most diverse habitats in greater Portland. It is a lowland area where saltwater and freshwater marshes meet, attracting a wide variety of animal species.

Visitors can access the preserve from several locations. Access is free. For more information and a map showing access points, visit trails.org/trail/fore-river-sanctuary.

Gilsland Farm Audubon Center

The Maine Audubon operates eight public wildlife centers and sanctuaries throughout the state, and one is just five minutes from downtown Portland. What’s more, Gilsland Farm is the organization’s headquarters, offering regular bird walks and other nature-themed programs.

The 65-acre sanctuary features an environmental education center, a gift shop with nature-themed items, and 2.5 miles of trails that pass a pond, forest, meadow, orchard, and salt marsh. While there, don’t forget to check out the rotating nature-themed art exhibit in the education center.

Dogs are not permitted at Audubon wildlife sanctuaries. Trails are open from sunrise to sunset. Access is free. For more information, visit maineaudubon.org/visit/gilsland-farm.

Crescent Beach State Park

Featuring one of Maine’s finest sandy beaches, this park opened in 1966 and is just south of Portland in Cape Elizabeth. While many visitors simply sunbathe on the sand and listen to the crashing ocean waves, others enjoy nature along the park’s forested trails, which total more than 2 miles.

Amenities such as picnic tables and grills, a children’s playground, and a bathhouse with cold-water showers make this a popular place for people to unwind in the summer. The park’s signature feature and namesake is a milelong, crescent-shaped beach. It also neighbors Kettle Cove State Park, which features a smaller beach and rock ledges.

Dogs are not permitted on the beaches from April 1 to Sept. 30. Entrance fees vary from $2 to $8 per person, depending on age and residency. For more information, visit maine.gov/crescentbeach.