In the upper northeast part of the U.S. is the state of Maine – home to a vast network of snowmobile and ATV trails that allow people to explore the state’s outdoors. Private landowners and statewide snowmobile clubs have opened up more than 14,000 miles of well-preserved snowmobile trails, calling it the Interconnected Trail System (ITS).
The trails include thousands of miles of forest, mountains, country hamlets, and lakes that entail a plethora of enjoyment for residents and visitors to partake in. Where are some of the places you can ride your snowmobile in Maine?
Let’s see the most popular snowmobile trails in Maine!
Where can you snowmobile in Maine?
Without further ado, here is our list of the best 18 snowmobile trails in Maine:
- Aroostook County
- Bald Mountain Loop
- Beddington Area
- Bingham Wind Mills
- Burnt Meadow/Brownfield
- Coburn Mountain
- Frye Mountain Area
- Grand Falls
- Greenville (Site of B-52 Crash)
- Katahdin Region/Millinocket
- Kennebec River Trails
- Lake Parlin
- Levant
- Moosehead Lake
- Mount Blue State Park
- Moxie Falls
- Rangeley Lakes
- White Mountain National Forest
18 Best Maine Snowmobile Trails
1. Aroostook County
Aroostook County’s landscape is enormous – an area of farmland, waters, and woods that include a copious amount of snow in the winter. Thanks to the well-marked trails of this county, many newbie snowmobilers come in for their fun and frolic. The space with its snowfall ensured the county’s success in the snowmobile market when consumer snowmobile sales rose during the 1960s. Aroostook County was also the place where sleds became popular first.
2. Bald Mountain Loop
There are many scenic places along Bald Mountain Loop off ITS 87. Go northward to Bald Mountain Trail on ITS 86 and make a loop back toward ITS 87. This loop will take you around Bald Mountain, Moxie Lake, Pleasant Pond, etc. The entire trip will take roughly 45 minutes to an hour.
3. Beddington Area
Beddington area is located in Washington County and offers 44 miles of snowmobile trails through Maine’s scenic-countryside near old logging roads. Take a ride near the different lakes – Pleasant River Lake, Beddington Lake, and Spruce Mountain Lake.
4. Bingham Wind Mills
If you want Maine’s untamed areas, you can’t get much more untamed than Bingham’s trail system. It was the first trail system in the state that still allows access to vacationers and snowmobilers. As you explore the area, you’ll come across the Kingsbury Plantation of the Bingham Wind Farm, a well-known spot for snowmobilers.
5. Burnt Meadow/Brownfield
The trail system of Burnt Meadow is found in Maine’s Western Mountains near the New Hampshire state line. A small committed group of snowmobile club members cares for the trail, which connects to the state’s more than 1,300 miles trail system. The club welcomes new members and is ready to teach newbie riders are to enjoy their “new toy.”
6. Coburn Mountain
Maine’s highest snowmobile track is Coburn Mountain. The trail dead ends and is only two miles long but reaches 2,500 feet up. If you’re uncomfortable with the climb, you can turnaround at a point. In the first mile, there is a radio repeater tower, which is ideal for every rider level. The second mile should only be attempted by more experienced snowmobilers. That’s because the road narrows, winds and steep. The trail is taken care of when the conditions are right.
7. Frye Mountain Area
Frye Mountain, which is close to Liberty, has over 20 miles’ worth of snowmobile trails connected to Lake St. George State Park. The Bureau is tasked with making sure the trails are safe for riders.
8. Grand Falls
One of Maine’s most-go-to-places for snowmobiling is the Grand Falls waterfall in West Forks. It’s a scenic, off-the-beaten-path destination that offers a wild time. The Northern Outdoors is about 70 miles long and offers much to see while snowmobiling.
9. Greenville (Site of B-52 Crash)
If you enjoy learning some history while snowmobiling, you can go to Elephant Mountain and see the site where the B-52 airplane crashed. It’s about a 15-minute snowmobile ride from Greenville near Moosehead Lake. A large memorial was erected in honor of the plane’s crash victims, and parts of the plane still can be seen.
10. Katahdin Region/Millinocket
There are more than 350 miles of maintained snowmobile trails in the Katahdin area, including the Katahdin Loop Trail. With so many amazing views to be seen, you can make more than a day of it and stay at a waterfront home, RV site, camp, or cottage. Check out the different beauties of the region – fauna, flora, forest, streams, rivers, etc. The best trails of New England can be found here.
11. Kennebec River Trails
The Kennebec River Valley is rich with snowmobile trails; regarded as one of the best in the eastern U.S. It gets up to 10 feet of snow each year. It runs into the Rangeley Lakes region (of the west) with Jackman and Forks to its east. Tourists can rent log cabins after they’ve enjoyed any number of the guided snowmobiling tours offered.
12. Lake Parlin
Parlin Pond is regarded as a basecamp for snowmobilers on holiday with its offers of lodgings and cabins to stay warm in. Here, snowfall can reach 10 feet, and the trails are clearly maintained to ensure rider safety. If you’ve never gone snowmobiling before, Lake Parlin offers places to rent a snowmobile for the day.
13. Levant
Levant is a town located in Penobscot County and a starting place for many trails along with the ITS network. The Hungry Hollow 76ers Snowmobile Club maintains more than 20 miles of snowmobile trails and offers a clubhouse for family and friends to get together and make memories. The nonprofit organization is an active Maine Snowmobile Association member.
14. Moosehead Lake
The largest lake of Maine is Moosehead Lake, with 65-miles of well-preserved snowmobile trail network the local snowmobile club deals with. Expand your snowmobiling trip by venturing on any one of the interconnected trails. Go to Greenville, Jackman, or others to make the most of your ride.
15. Mount Blue State Park
There are 35 miles of difficult snowmobiling terrain on the 5,000-acre Mount Blue State Park. Travel the rugged mountains and come upon Avon and the ITS89 while also watching the wildlife frolic in the forest. Mount Blue State Park is located 20 miles west of Farmington and north of Rumford.
16. Moxie Falls
If you love waterfalls, you need to check out Moxie Falls – the state’s tallest waterfall and located about 10 miles from the Northern Outdoors resort. If you want to check out the waterfalls, go west from West Forks on ITS 86, then a left turn onto the Moxie Falls Spur Trail. This will allow you to get up close to see the spectacular views the falls offer.
17. Rangeley Lakes
This is an area that’s full of winter recreation trails and logging roads. Located in the western part of the state, Rangeley Lakes offers trails for newbies and experts alike, and different events are held during the year, beginning in November at Thanksgiving. Rangeley Lakes’ most popular snowmobile routes include Beaver Mountain Loop, Bald Mountain Loop, City Pond Loop, Quimby/Dodge Loop, and Rangeley Lake Loop.
18. White Mountain National Forest
Along the New Hampshire/Maine border is the White Mountain National Forrest, which offers 35 miles of groomed snowmobile trails with amazing scenery of the area. The trails are a part of the ITS system, which means you can ride for however long you want (or can).
5 Frequently Asked Questions About Maine’s Snowmobiling Destinations
When Do Maine’s Snowmobile Trails Open Up?
The snowmobiling season in Maine typically opens in January, but check out https://www.mesnow.com/WherestheSnow.html of the Maine Snowmobile Association trail conditions page to find out more information.
Are There Any Snowmobile Rental Shops In Maine?
The following link of our latest post provides a list of the best snowmobile rental shops in the U.S. –
https://powersportsguide.com/snowmobile-rental-near-me/
Are There Any Snowmobile Trail Maps To Help Me?
The state has put together a plethora of snowmobile maps for snowmobilers to peruse. You can also check out Google Maps to find any of the ITS trails. Download and print the following PDF to find snowmobile trails to explore – https://www.visitmaine.net/its_snowmobiling_map.pdf.
How Can I Learn What The Snow Conditions Are In Maine?
When you need to know what the snow conditions are at any given time, visit the official Maine Snowmobile Association website or any local snowmobile club.
Can I Find An App To Find Out Snowmobiling Information In Maine?
There are many apps that provide you with snow conditions and maps about the state’s vast number of trails.
Conclusion
Maine offers a beautiful winter season that millions of people have come to know and love. As such, it’s become a prime place to go for snowmobiling. Maine’s weather conditions and amount of snowfall make it the one state that snowmobilers should head to for prime trails. Its ITS trail system is well-known and taken great care of, connecting to many other trails not a part of the system.
Getting around has never been easier. Stop off for lunch, fill the tank and take in a club event volunteers put together for riders. It’s the kind of experience you won’t find in many other states. So let’s go and visit one of the best places to ride a snowmobile in Maine!
References:
https://www.visit-maine.com/state/snowmobiling/winter-activities
https://www.mesnow.com/WherestheSnow.html
