Multi-use Rail Trails

With the increasing number of multi-use rail trails across Maine, you never know who, or what, you’ll meet. Trails aren’t just for hikers anymore. Maine rail trails are as varied as the terrain they cover.

Mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding, snowmobiling, ATV riding, and cross-country skiing are among the activities designated for the Aroostook Valley Trail. This 72-mile Maine rail trail is mostly in remote wilderness, promising a genuine backcountry experience.

Offering different perspectives on the same region are the Kennebec Valley Trail, which stretches 14 miles along the banks of the Kennebec River, and the St. John Valley Trail, which is 18 miles of rolling hills and farmland that also follows the St. John River for several miles.

Houlton-Phair Junction Trail extends 40 miles north from Houlton. In addition to outdoor enthusiasts, you’re also likely to encounter logging trucks and other motorized vehicles there.

Looking for a new route to walk, run, or bicycle? Check out the latest addition to Maine’s rail trails: the Downeast Sunrise Trail. A former railroad bed from Whitneyville to Pembroke, the entire 87-mile long trail is expected to open in the fall of 2010.

Such trails are just a sampling of the multi-use rail trails in Maine waiting to be trod upon, ridden over, or galloped on. You choose the method… Maine rail trails will provide the path.