When a timber company with lands along the Androscoggin River began to divest itself of its Maine holdings in the late 1980s, local residents grew concerned that the woods they had long enjoyed for traditional recreation might be subdivided and developed. They circulated petition drives, created a video about the property, and sought help from Read More
ATVs
All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are allowed on some of Maine's public lands. Visit one of these locations to enjoy a day of exploring trails on your ATV. To learn more about Maine's ATV laws, visit the State of Maine website.
Aroostook Valley Trail
For half a century, freight and passenger cars ran a regular service through this rural region. The last freight service ended by 1960 and the rail lines were abandoned for decades. Community members saw the conversion of these rail beds into multi-use trails as a means to meet the recreational and fitness needs of local residents, lure Read More
Jay to Farmington “Whistle Stop” Trail
For more than a century, trains passed through meadows, wetlands, and dense woods en route between Jay and West Farmington. After train service was discontinued, the rail company that owned this 15-mile corridor generously agreed to sell it for less than its appraised value — enabling the State and local communities to protect this valuable Read More
Machias River Project
The Machias River ranks with the St. John, the Allagash, and the Penobscot as one of Maine’s most scenic and outstanding paddling rivers. Over the course of 76 miles, canoeists enjoy an array of water courses–from lakes and swamps to rapids and a waterfall. The river is rich in brook trout, bass, and pickerel, and each spring Read More
Morgan Meadow
Located within 20 miles of more than one-quarter million people, Morgan Meadow offers a remarkably wild setting–with nearly a thousand acres of unbroken woodland and a 100-acre freshwater wetland. The property provides a significant natural sanctuary in the midst of development spreading out from Greater Portland and Lewiston-Auburn. Morgan Meadow shelters old-growth white pine and Read More
Mount Blue Region and Tumbledown Mountain
Visitors from throughout Maine and beyond have enjoyed hiking up Tumbledown Mountain (3,068 feet) and surrounding peaks for the better part of a century, most of them never knowing that they were crossing private land. Hikers assumed that the land was part of nearby Mt. Blue State Park in Weld, a highly popular park that Read More
Newport/Dover-Foxcroft Rail Trail
When rails and ties were pulled up along the old Maine Central Railroad line between Newport and Dover-Foxcroft in 1993, area residents began to claim this rail trail (Four Seasons Adventure Trail) for their own. There are no other public lands in the area and people were eager to have a convenient site for outdoor Read More
Bradley Public Reserved Land
Location: Bradley, Penobscot County Description: The Bradley unit is comprised of four connecting lots totaling 9,277 acres and a separate 229-acre parcel known as the “Kittridge Farm” lot. The unit contains largely wetlands and peatlands, which are home to species of special concern: northern leopard frog, creeper mussel, and sedge wren. Recreational use of the Read More
Eagle Lake Public Reserved Land
Location: Township 16, Range 6 WELS, next to the town of Eagle Lake, about 15 miles south of Fort Kent, Aroostook County Description: The Eagle Lake Public Reserved Land unit spans 24,083 acres on the eastern half of Eagle Lake, an expansive body of water that is enjoyed by pleasure boaters, anglers, and campers. The Read More
