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Off-Road
In Maine, off-road biking can be as thrilling as a sprint down a mountain slope or as relaxing as an afternoon cruising a scenic rail-trail. Perhaps one of Maine’s best-known places for off-road biking is Acadia National Park and its 45 miles of historic carriage roads. A gift of philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, Jr., the roads were constructed between 1913 and 1940, and were carefully designed to offer sweeping views of the dramatic Acadia landscape. Pay special attention to the 17 unique, stone-faced bridges that span streams, waterfalls and cliffs throughout the park.
More ideas for getting off road
- Search out Maine’s State Parks. Fifteen state parks and publicly managed reserves in Maine offer off-road biking trails and terrain, including Bradbury Mountain State Park in Pownal, a favorite of mountain bikers. Exploring the Bigelow Preserve in western Maine or Camden Hills State Park by bike is a fantastic way to see some of Maine’s most beautiful, pristine areas.
- Hit the ski trails! Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry offers over 25 miles of lift-serviced riding. And the Sugarloaf Outdoor Center in Carrabassett Valley provides access to a wide variety of well-marked and maintained trails for all abilities. Don’t forget the Nordic Ski Centers such as Pineland Farms ( in New Gloucester or Nordic Heritage Center in Presque Isle, where winter cross-country trails become shared, multi-purpose trails in the off-seasons.
- Investigate Rail-Trails. The Rail-to-Trail Conservancy describes 17 rail-trails suitable for biking in Maine. Part of nationwide effort to transform abandoned rail beds into shared-used public recreational trails, Maine’s rail-trail projects include the St. John Valley Heritage Trail and several others in Aroostook County; the Lagrange Rail-Trail; and the Kennebec River Rail Trail, to name just a few. A list and short descriptions of rail-trials in Maine can also be found at Trails.com.
Resources to help you plan an off-road bike adventure in Maine include Explore Maine; DirtWorld.com, which rates a number of Maine trails according to ability level; TrailLink.com, which has a searchable database and provides maps as well as rider reviews; and Trails.com, with a list and short descriptions of the most popular mountain biking trails in Maine.
