Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 16 : Spring 2013 | Page 66

Before Black Fly Season...
by Skyla Hamilton

Welcome to the St. John Valley, where your source of yearround outdoor adventure starts here. Wondering what to
do in the shoulder months when you’ve put the snowmobile,
skis, and ice fishing equipment away. Well in the Crown of
Maine we say get outside before the black flies start arriving
and carry you away.

If four wheeling does not stimulate you, then maybe
mountain biking will turn you on. With trails leaving from
the doorstep of 10th Mountain Lodge into the neighboring
forest, we can help select the right bike trip for you –
whether you’re a beginner or advanced rider. There are trails
which will keep you entertained for hours. Come on up
and check out the trail system and get on out and master the
Historically this area has been dominated by people who art of mountain biking while checking out the wilderness of
moved to this region to work, explore, and persevere Northern Maine.
in the wilderness of Northern Maine. These hearty folk
forged out a living while working within the elements Skinny tires and logging many miles might be what your
that naturally occur in the Greater Fort Kent Area. Our heart, desires both literally and figuratively. Within the
forefathers navigated the natural trail systems on their own Saint John Valley there are extensive road networks that you
two feet, horses, and by rail. Overtime the railways and can travel on all across the County. Many people enjoy
carriage trails have been converted into a vast trail system riding on r\Route 11, a scenic highway, where as others may
that now can be navigated by the methods of yesteryear or enjoy nice loops and sections of roads that parallel many of
the modern machinery of today.
our pristine lakes and valleys.
Now you can act like a local by bringing multiple modes
of transportation to the valley to keep you entertained
throughout mud season. We have endless amounts of
ATV trails, top quality road biking and mountain biking
trails, or go take a hike in one of our many parks and local
mountains.

Maybe you should just “go take a hike.” The Greater Fort
Kent Area is blessed with many mountains and trails that
allow you to migrate through thousands of acres of our
natural forested lands. Catch breathtaking vistas on the
tops of mountains located within the valley. Pack a lunch
and Haystack, Hedgehog, and Deboule mountains are just
a few hikes located within a quick drive. You can unlock
Staying at any one of our B & B’s, lodges, camps, or hotels the magic of changing one’s perspective just by climbing to
the trails generally lead right off from the driveway. With the pinnacle to see the view.
over 2,300 miles of trail networking, which cater from
the novice to the expert a person can enter the system in No matter what tickles your fancy, the best thing to do in
Allagash and ride clear across The County to Fort Fairfield the Fort Kent area is to get on outside and soak up the
passing by lakes, streams, and the occa