Maine
Published: Wednesday, October 03, 2007
The "Pine Tree State," Maine will wow you with its extensive trail system of nearly 13,000 miles that will keep you sledding so long you could end up with a sore throttle thumb. Our advice is to start exercising it now.
We think you'll enjoy looping around the hills and valleys of Mt. Katahdin, the highest mountain in Maine. You can find this great mountain in Baxter State Park, which also features an alpine forest and 46 mountain peaks. Take a nice deep breath of the crisp pine tree freshness.
The Moosehead Lake area, nestled in low lying mountains, is another great area with riding conditions for all skill levels. Moosehead Lake is the largest lake in Maine and provides stops along the 160-mile Moosehead Trail that wraps around the lake. This trail connects with the Maine Interconnecting Trail System too, which not only hooks up with the rest of Maine, but with areas in New Hampshire or Canada, if you are up for the adventure. Greenville Junction is located in the greater Moosehead region too and provides places to load up or take a load off for the night.
In Aroostook County in Northern Maine you can go to the top of the state to visit Madawaska and come back through Caribou and Presque Isle.
On the trails of the Rangeley Lakes region, you can explore areas that are only accessible by snowmobile. Traverse the New England Snowmobile Trail Network (NEST) and Black Fly Loop, or try your hand at the Ronald W. Sargent Trail System.
We were able to take a ride this past season to The Forks trail network, about 2 hours north of Portland (See AmSnow Dec. 2007, p. 66). It's part of Maine's Interconnecting Trail System (ITS 86, 87 and 89), offering more than 130 miles of high quality riding. The system extends north to Jackman, west to Eustis, east to Moosehead Lake and south to Bingham.
Maine does not have a trail speed limit, but authorities will sometimes write a summons for excessive speed and driving to endanger, so be cautious and courteous on the trails.
Helpful Sites
Snowmobile Maine: www.mesnow.com
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife: www.maine.gov/ifw
Maine Chamber of Commerce: www.mainetourism.com
Rangeley Lakes Snowmobile Club: www.rangeleysnowmobile.com
Maine Snowmobiling: www.mainesnowmobiling.com
Lodging
Cozy Moose Cabins
PO Box 29, Greenville
207-695-0242
www.mooseheadcabins.com/maine_snowmobiling.html |
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