Saint John Valley Heritage Trail

Want a nice walk?

  If you have ever read a book written by Cathie Pelletier these are the places she uses a lot.  If you like to hike, walk, camp or see the "rooftop of Maine", keep reading.
  This trail is 17 miles each way, you will need to carry with you some food and other camping supplies, or walk a long ways in one day.
  At the Fort Kent end you'll start near the restored railroad station of the Fish River Railroad, and the trail itself is the former railbed.
  You can get to Fort Kent by following route 161 from Caribou to reach the trail head.  You could also use route 11 or go to the northern end of US 1.  Either way you go you're in for a treat, of course I am biased because I think this is some of my favorite country.  I have not walked this trail but I have driven the road that it parallels.
  The trail keepers have asked that it not be used in March or April to preserve the surface from ruts or other damage during mud season.
  As an aside if you haven't read books by Cathie Pelletier give those a try, very good read, it's fiction based on personal history in part.  The books are in a series so check online, or ask your librarian.

Walk along the stream 

Through the woods.

Cross the river

All photos from www.traillink.com

Newport/Dover-Foxcroft Rail Trail

Click to enlarge - www.traillink.com

  More than a weekend walk, this 26.5 mile trail is in good condition.  In fact it may be better for walking if not on a weekend when ATV traffic is heavier.
  You would walk through five towns, cross two rivers and skirt three lakes.  There is plenty of Central Maine scenery to please your eyes. 
  This is a year-round trail, snowmobilers and dog sledders in winter, walkers and ATV riders, horseback riders and commuters in the summer.
  Worth a try!

Entering a town.  www.traillink.com

Taking advantage of the trail on a late summer day.  www.traillink.com

Over the river.... www.traillink.com

Little Moose Public Reserved Land

Map for trail - click www.maine.gov

  This parcel is located just northwest of Greenville on Route 15, it is named for Little Moose Mountain which is contained in the parcel.  There are the two lakes and about 9 miles of trail, available year round. (always keep in mind mud season).  The trail is easy to tough, the first part which Linda and I went on was easy.  The trail gradually goes uphill and near the "loop" there is a steep climb - but good enough for most people.
  As you will see by the photos we went in the fall, but any time, after black fly season, would be good, it's not overused that I could tell because it's not a State Park.  There are campgrounds located there, but I know nothing about them.  Go to Maine.gov, State Agencies, Dept. of Conservation, Public Reserved Lands and search for Little Moose..., and you will find more information, or better yet just Google the Title of this blog!
  The weather here today is kind of like "random number order" it was sunny and 60 degrees one day and now there is snow on the ground and frost heaves, not to mention pot holes.  Have a great day, I'm going for a walk.

Linda took this photo, it's not far from the entrance.

An overlook by the lakes. www.maine.gov

It's in here!   Family photo

Narrow Gauge Pathway

Carrabassett to Sugarloaf 6.6 miles   www.traillink.com

  Here is a nice easy walk, slightly uphill the whole distance, well downhill one way, but not a horrible stressful walk.  The scenery is great as you walk along the Carrabassett River, and the mountains and woodlands are there too.
  This tail, well maintained, is open year round, but still try to remember mud season - there are blackflies then anyhow.
  So take a ride on Maine Route 4 to Kingfield and get on Route 16 west and you'll be there in no time, I have been through there a lot of times, but Hollie doesn't stop to walk.

Late summer, my guess the River is down www.traillink.com

...through part of Bigelow Reserve  www.traillink.com

...and back to the River.  www.traillink.com

Lagrange Rail Trail

Only eleven miles, or twenty-two round trip

  This trail runs to or from Medford to Lagrange.  The trail starts/ends at the Piscataquis River in Medford at the Ferry Landing, in the shadow of the Trestle Bridge.  Years ago the citizens of Medford on the north side of the river had to travel 40 miles to conduct business on the south side of the river; but, the railroad had a bridge.  When the railroad left in the 1940's the town and state turned the bridge for use by motor vehicles.
  The trail goes through several bogs and crosses small streams too.  It's a scenic trail to me, maybe not to all and remember to stay away in mud season.  Having been a resident of Medford I have walked parts of this trail repeatedly.  In the early 1990's my workplace had a Wellness Committee, and I commited to walk two miles a day - it's a very walkable trail.  Remember lunch/snacks and water.

In my favorite spot.  It's on the road about 30 feet from the tail.

Under the bridge to the Ferry Landing. Damn spray paint!

Along the trail

A wet area.  www.raillink.com

As always go to www.traillink.com for more information.

Kennebec Valley Trail

Anson to Bingham - click the map!

  Walk in the footsteps of Benedict Arnold and his march to Quebec in 1775 on this trail.  The Indian Trail became a railroad track and now it's a trail again.
  At 14.6 miles long it's at most a two day trip (one way) and scenic too, a good chance for "something different this weekend".  Parking is available at each end and a the midpoint in Solon.  The trail closely follows the Kennebec River as it winds it way down from Moosehead Lake, it's a large river with opportunities to see wildlife at its finest.
  When the hike is over take a little extra time to drive 15 miles north and walk in to Moxie Falls, that is an easy mile or so, even my wife and daughter did that with me - some years ago.
  Check out www.traillink.com for more information.

A good looking trail.

A crossing of the river.

Around a bend

And Moxie Falls

Photos from www.traillink.com and the State of Maine

Down East Sunrise Trail

Quite a trek!

  85 miles long and filled with the sights of Eastern Maine, some of the best of Hancock and Washington Counties.  The trail at some point will extend to Brewer and the Penobscot River but for now 85 miles it is.
  There will be some grades of incline, but remember this was a railroad at one time so there would be not severe inclines as you might expect.   Parts of the trail hug the coast while some are also inland, oh the sights you could see.  I am personally tempted to try some of this myself but age and health concerns may not make it possible, but a few miles couldn't hurt.
  So give it a try - you have nothing to loose (maybe a few pounds), and a whole lot to gain.
Look it up on www.traillink.com.

In the shadow of Schoodic Mountain.

Some parts are inland.....

...some are on the coast.

      All photos from www.traillink.com/trail/down-east-sunrise-trail.aspx