News
unnamed (3)
Contributed photo Panoramic view of the north shore of Long Pond where future campsite improvements are planned.
Contributed photo Panoramic view of the north shore of Long Pond where future campsite improvements are planned.

Exciting new recreation areas in the Moosehead Lake Region added to Maine Public Lands

Contributed • February 28, 2022

By Rex Turner, BPL Outdoor Recreation Planner

Hikers, anglers, campers, paddlers, and anybody who appreciates outdoor destinations dedicated to public use now have more places to enjoy in the Moosehead Lake Region. Following years of scouting, discussion, collaboration, planning, and in some cases lots of trail work, the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands now has a number of new trails and sites that provide outdoor experiences or preserve the future option to provide and manage public outdoor recreation in beautiful, remote settings.

A recent donation by the Weyerhaeuser Company to the Bureau completed a donation process stemming from the now extinguished Moosehead Lake Region Concept Plan (previously approved by the Maine Land Use Planning Commission). The donation gives the Bureau of Parks and Lands:

  • Fee ownership of 31 locations ranging in size from just under one acre to roughly four acres.
  • Trailhead parking for over 26 miles of new hiking trails on trail easements previously donated by Weyerhaeuser.
  • Access to pristine trout ponds
  • Campsites – existing and locations for future additions
  • 33 miles of permanent vehicular road easements
    • Sites not directly accessed by road easement are accessible by trail easement and/or by water.

All of these sites and trails are embedded in a larger conservation easement of over 350,000 acres held by the Forest Society of Maine. They also complement many existing Bureau properties, including Lily Bay State Park, Moosehead Lake Shoreline Public Lands, Mount Kineo State Park, Little Moose Public Land, and Cold Stream Forest Public Land.

Improvements to these trails and sites, from campsite development to trailhead construction to trail signage, are anticipated for 2022 and beyond. As these improvements occur, the Bureau will share information through its website, Department social media, this newsletter, and partner sites such as www.mainetrailfinder.com. Inquiries should be directed to the Bureau’s Outdoor Recreation Planner, Rex Turner, at rex.turner@maine.gov.

Get the Rest of the Story

Thank you for reading your 4 free articles this month. To continue reading, and support local, rural journalism, please subscribe.
Create an account and subscribe