Travel the Aroostook Valley Trail
In northeastern Maine starting in Presque Isle
Region: Aroostook County
Activities: ATV riding, mountain biking, horseback riding, hiking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, dog sledding
Note: Dogs are allowed on leashes (or on a dog team)
The Aroostook Valley Trail wanders for 28 miles through northeastern Maine, through deep woods and past open fields and potato farms. Once a railbed, this gravel byway is used for many sports, primarily in warmer months for ATV riding. But it also draws mountain bikers, horseback riders and hikers. In the winter, it’s a corridor for snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and dog mushing.
The trail was part of the Aroostook Valley Railroad, originally built in 1910 to haul logs to a Presque Isle sawmill. The line eventually reached the towns of Washburn, Caribou and New Sweden, hauling freight, passengers and potatoes before closing in 1996.
Although the trail starts in Presque Isle and passes through or near other communities, most of it today is very rural and even remote. Users wind their way through big stretches of timber, over an old railroad bridge, near bogs and streams and along a section of the Aroostook River. Because of that remoteness, it’s recommended that users bring gear appropriate for the backcountry. Check here for more information on the route, parking and trail access.
Driving Distances:
From Bangor: 175 miles
From Lewiston/Auburn: 275 miles
From Portland: 300 miles
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