Find the top rated cross country skiing trails in Houlton, whether you're looking for an easy short cross country skiing trail or a long cross country skiing trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a cross country skiing trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
One thing to always keep in mind about most trails in ME and NB-they are maintained by ATV/Dirt bike/snowmobile clubs for those machines, and they also allow bicycles. If you are expecting something like the GAP, ECT, or OECT, you will be disappointed. It was more like the C and O Canal Trail, but rougher. Expect large, loose rock, deep pot holes, and ATV traffic. We rode it as part of Day 1 of a 4 day, 220 mile loop through ME and NB. I rode it with a touring bike, 40 mm gravel tires, tubed, and a moderate load. If I ever ride it again, it will be with a gravel bike with 50 mm tires (min. width), tubeless, at low pressure. I made it, but the ride can be jolting in places. We rode on a mid-summer weekday, but I imagine the motorized traffic is much heavier on a nice weekend day. The access behind the Hannaford grocery is not a rail trail. It is a rough ATV trail with all of the above issues plus alot of up and down with tight curves. I recommend starting where the trail crosses B Rd. or, as we did, where it crosses Gogan Rd. The back roads here have almost no traffic, but there is no parking at either road crossing (we rode from a friend's house in Hodgdon). There is not much for food along the trail. The Blue Moose is closed some weekdays, so we went to the Cooperage which is a converted gas station that required a good climb off the trail on a road. Food was good. The scenery on the trail is not great, basically a green tunnel except around the bogs and some fields. The trail ends a few miles southeast of Presque Isle, so we took an ATV trail and roads into town. The ATV trail is OK, just on a side slope paralleling a field. The roads had little traffic, but were steep, at least for us flatlanders. I recommend this trail IF you have the proper bike, outfitted for rough rock, and some experience riding in these conditions.
Didn't absorb the fact that eastbound from Presque Isle that the trail is private. After barely riding over a short bridge with exposed spaces between the planks and nails sticking out, I came across a section that was mudded out (in late July) and the ATVs had run over posted signs stating that the soils were too saturated for use. I turned west and it was much better. Hard packed dirt, smooth sailing. At worst there were a few rocky areas but nothing major. Very little horsefly activity when compared to the Ellsworth end of the Sunrise trail. Very well-maintained by the Star City ATV club.
We drove up to the county , to try out one of the rail trails. Finding appropriate parking took a little bit. The trail was beautiful. Quiet journey through the main woods. The ATVers were great. Sharing the trail and information. All in all a really fun day. Hybrid tires are a must. Don't try this with road tires.
I have to say, these trails are amazing for everyone, every age, every level, and any size group. Get out and ride these very user friendly flat scenic wide trails.
Rode the trail from New Sweden to Presque Isle and back on a Sunday. Of the four rails to trails I've done so far in Maine this was my favorite. There is no official parking at the New Sweden trail head but there is a church just up the road with a large parking lot. The trail can be a little bumpy at times due to some larger rocks but the firmness of the trail more than makes up for it and is what makes it so great and so easy to move quickly if you want. There is plenty of great scenery from remote forest to large rivers and small marshes and some towns. It gets a little tricky to stay on the trail in Ashland. You navigate onto the Bangor Aroostook trail just before and I missed the turn back onto the Aroostook Valley. The rails to trails map is right on but I missed it. As a result had to back track a few miles to get back on the Aroostook Valley. They had some major storms recently in the area and there were several trees down. The ATVers which I assume were part of the clubs did a phenomenal job clearing the trails literally as I was riding them. Great job guys!
"Please note that there are actually two distinct trails in this system. One is the Bangor/Aroostook Trail and the other is the Aroostook Valley Trail. The Bangor/Aroostook Trail currently runs from Mapleton to Van Buren on the south and west side of the area and from Caribou to Stockholm and then on to Van Buren on the east side.
The Aroostook Valley Trail connects to the Bangor/Aroostook Trail in Washburn and has trail heads in Mapleton, Caribou and New Sweden. The Bangor/Aroostook Trail is approximately 61 miles and the Aroostook Valley Trail is approximately 25.5 miles."
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