Mountain bikers hitting the trails in the Moosehead region

GREENVILLE — The first of three zones of miles of free-to-ride mountain bike trails on Little Moose Mountain Public Reserved Land opened this past year thanks to the efforts of the Moosehead Outdoor Alliance — a nonprofit formed with a mission to design and build a premier trail system. 

Bicyclists will be able to ride on some new trails later this year as the project expands, Chuck Wagenheim told the Greenville Select Board during a Feb. 15. meeting.

He said the alliance first came to the select board in 2017 to discuss trail ideas, and town officials have supported the concept since the earliest stages, along with various organizations and businesses in and around Greenville.

A feasibility study was conducted while organizers talked with other small communities that had done similar initiatives. In 2019 the Moosehead Outdoor Alliance achieved 501(c)3 nonprofit status “with the mission of building a first-class bike trail system.”

Partnering with the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, a plan was devised for a $1 million project to construct 25 miles of trails on portions of the 15,000-acre Little Moose Mountain Public Reserved Land. 

“We now have three designated zones in the Gravel Pit Pond and Little Moose Public Land that they have given us permission to build 25 miles of trails,” Wagenheim said, with each interconnected designated area being between 300 and 400 acres in size.

A trail designer was hired for mileage in the first zone, located near Gravel Pit Pond due to the easy accessibility and because of the relatively flat terrain. Wagenheim said a second parking lot will be built south of the existing lot near the pond so all people can park vehicles there.

Five miles of trails were constructed in accordance with safety and environmental guidelines, along with an additional four miles on other private land, to join an existing 3-mile rim trail for 12 total miles for mountain bikes to use.

The mountain bike trails would cross existing ATV/snowmobile trails so signage would be posted to let motorized and non-motorized riders know of each other’s presence.

Wagenheim said volunteer labor helped keep costs down.

He said about $300,000 has been raised for work in zones 2-3, estimating the cost to be $10 per linear foot of trail. Grant opportunities and fundraisers are being pursued. Another $25,000 has been raised for a pump track and a skills course that will be part of a Red Cross beach revitalization project.

Zone 2 trails would be built this year and next, with about 6.5 miles to be constructed in 2023 and 2024. Work would start in the third zone with design commencing a year from now. These zones would feature beginner and intermediate as well as expert trails.

“The response from the public has been great. The zone 1 trails are open,” Wagenheim said. He said the current trails feature stretches for beginning and intermediate riders. The routes through the trees have been groomed to be open for snowshoeing and cross country skiing.

“We built these trails wider so kids and families and beginner riders can enjoy them,” Wagenheim said.

Insurance is provided through the New England Mountain Bike Association, of which Moosehead Outdoor Alliance is a member. The bike association is a non-profit recreational trail advocate with more than 7,000 members and 28 chapters, including others across Maine.

“That partnership will also be really important in marketing,” Wagenheim said. He said this spring a trail map will be available.

When asked, Wagenheim said the mountain bike trails are not built for snowmobiles. He said they can use the perimeter trail, but the bike trails are not designed for snowmobiles so these riders would likely notice this.

He said last year a couple of teenagers took ATVs on the routes, and after learning they were not supposed to take the motorized vehicles on the paths, the teens volunteered some time for trail work.

“We haven’t had a big problem. The signage is going to take care of that,” Wagenheim said.

Wagenheim said the Moosehead Outdoor Alliance will have some organization-owned bikes that high-schoolers can use to get them excited and interested in the sport. Clinics on a specialy designed skill course will allow these and other riders to practice their balance, jumping over logs, cornering skills and more.

When asked if the course could host any races, Wagenheim said the Moosehead Outdoor Alliance only has about 35 members so it would be difficult at the present time, but competitions could be possible in the future. 

“Once the trial system is built I think people will get more and more into it,” he said.

“Kudos to you and your club and your team,” Select Board Chairperson Geno Murray said. “We’d love to have you come back when the next phase starts for updates. It’s a great thing — not only the economic part but also for health and wellness and fitness.”

The Moosehead Outdoor Alliance has a mission statement of bringing economic stimulus to the Greenville area; bringing in a younger demographic for permanent residence; providing active lifestyle opportunities for healthy living; providing youth training and teaching programs; and to put on events and festivals to draw tourists and active participants.