Rasika DalviHappy Thanksgiving, guys! Not too many people know, but Maine gets fewer leaf peepers than other New England states, so very few people on the road and an abundance of nature. A perfect combination!! After having an out-of-the-world experience of Leaf peeping last year in Maine; this year also headed to Maine in the fall. But this year we were a week later than the peak. So sorry guys I won’t be able to share beautiful autumn pictures like last year. But do not drop your excitement even by a bit (as we never did). On this trip we did some amazing stuff like staying right in front of the lake, stargazing, enjoying a bonfire and barely surviving a moose encounter too. Sounds thrilling? Let’s begin our journey then.
Misty Cottages, Rockwood:
We were totally blown away by the beautiful cottage and its surroundings. So here are these cute little rustic cottages on the shore of Moosehead Lake. We can see Mount Kineo right from our couch. Watching the sunrise, stargazing while having a bonfire on a chilly night, drinking hot cocoa while we are freezing in front of the lake, our stay in a super cute rustic cottage, view of the stunning Moosehead Lake…for us, all these things were purely mesmerizing.
Old Canada Road (Route 201):
Amidst hillside curves, mountain vistas, water views, and scenic overlooks meant for lingering; the Old Canada Road National Scenic Byway offers an unmatched road trip. Starting 15 miles above Skowhegan in Solon and traveling 78 miles north to the Canadian border, the drive follows Route 201. The byway begins its journey along the eastern side of the Kennebec River heading north to The Forks, known for whitewater rafting, slowly climbs to Jackman, in the remote Moose River Valley. Route 201 is truly spectacular, as it snakes along the Kennebec River.
The byway starts where Route 151 intersects with U.S. 201 north of the town of Lakewood and ends near the Canadian border. Here are some suggested stops along the route:
Wyman Lake:
Wyman Lake in Moscow, Maine, was created in 1929 when Central Maine Power blocked the Kennebec River between Pleasant Ridge Plantation and Moscow. This 13-mile long, man-made lake was named for Walter Scott Wyman, then president of Central Maine Power.
The lake is rimmed by rounded ridges reflected on the surface of the lake, creating a scenic beauty that inspires serenity and a sense of the continuity of time.
Moxie Falls:
With a spectacular near 100-ft. drop Moxie Falls is Maine’s highest and most easily accessible waterfall. It can be found only a couple of miles up from the Forks. The reward of this beautiful hike is Maine’s most picturesque waterfall, a great way to end leaf-peeping in the fall. There is a little bit of up and down, but nothing steep and none of it is long. The steepest part is the end, as you descend quite a few stairs to get to the viewing areas. The main trail goes straight through and descends toward the falls. As you continue, you will reach wooden steps and walkways that wind along next to the stream. The falls will be heard before they are seen. At the head of the falls, there’s a boardwalk off to the left that leads to two viewing platforms.
There are two excellent viewpoints. The first is the multilevel falls and it was incredibly beautiful with the foliage and the sound of flowing water! The second viewpoint has a couple of decks over the big drop. The water rushes here and it is impressive.
Jackman :
Have you ever visited a tiny, old-styled town and felt ‘wow’ about it? You will get that feeling in Jackman. Jackman may not be as popular as other cities in the United States, but don’t let that fool you. You will be surprised by some of the unique things to do and places you can explore at this hidden destination. Jackman is situated along the Old Canada Road just before the U.S./Canadian border and has built a reputation of being a Sportsman’s Paradise. The adventure takes many styles here like hiking, riding an ATV, snowmobiling Hunting, fishing, and boating. In short, you will find opportunities for adventure abound at every turn.
As you head into Jackman, be sure to make a stop at the Attean View Rest Area, just south of town. It is a great place to stop and stretch your legs and take a peek at the finest view of Attean Lake and the network of ponds connected by the Moose River, with the western mountains as the backdrop. It is an unforgettable prelude to some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.
Set on the shores of Wood Pond, Jackman provides swift access to over 60 lakes, ponds, and streams. Believe me, you will never regret taking a side trip to this beautiful town. Scenic rest areas, overlooks and small parks along the byway feature informational signage in English and French and the distance mentioned in the metric system tells the tale of the road’s logging heyday and its role as a significant Canadian immigration and trade route.
Lily Bay State Park:
Lily Bay State Park is located along the east shore of beautiful Moosehead Lake just 9 miles north of Greenville with a generous expanse of 925 acres. With 117 square miles of water and hundreds of miles of rugged shoreline, Moosehead is the largest lake in New England. Visitors of the Park are treated to a full array of fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling.
The Moosehead area is famous worldwide for its local native, the moose, and visitors hope to see these majestic animals in their native habitat. Along with moose, bears, deer, and other wild animals live in the area. Perhaps the most spectacular peak in the area is Mt. Kineo, which rises abruptly from the middle of the lake. Kineo’s cliffs tower 800 feet above the water and are a must-see on visitors’ vacation lists.
Kokadjo:
Kokadjo and First Roach Pond are located primarily in Frenchtown Township, about 18 miles north of Greenville. Township Kokadjo is short for Kok (kettle) Wadjo (mountain) pegwasebem (lake); together “Kettle Mountain Lake.” Kokadjo is full of wildlife. Moose, foxes, bald eagles, loons, deer and so, so, so much more. Moose outnumber the people in Kokadjo and they are frequent visitors to the town and local roads. You’re almost guaranteed to see one!
B52 Memorial
On the southern slope of Elephant Mountain, just 15 minutes from downtown Greenville, lies the wreckage of a United States Air Force Boeing B-52C Stratofortress. The pieces of wreckage and aircraft debris cover several acres of forest. You are free to wander through this living memorial of a Cold War tragedy.
This unpaved path to the memorial is rutted and rugged, but the breathtaking landscape is worth the bumpy eight-mile drive up Elephant Mountain. Along the way, you will be entertained by gorgeous pine, spruce and oak trees, and every color and variety of Maine wildflower. The road is popular with ATV and snowmobile enthusiasts and there are numerous side paths along the way.
As you travel deeper into the woods along a wide, smooth footpath, the enormity of the tragedy hits you: there are torn and shredded bits of metal in every direction, everywhere you look: on the leaf-covered ground, tangled in the branches of trees, in and around and under the forest. There are areas where nature has reclaimed the site, where wreckage encircles new growths and pines grow out of unidentifiable pieces of aircraft.
In the end, I would like to mention a wonderful thing about our trip is that “never get disappointed if things won’t work out as you wanted; probably more stunning things are waiting to be experienced”.
Happy Traveling!
