Deboullie Public Lands 2023

www . parksandlands . com

Special Considerations

Property History

Overview
Bureau of Parks and Lands
Maine Department of Agriculture , Conservation and Forestry
Backcountry hiking , fishing and camping by clear ponds and rugged hills

guide & map
Fees are required to access the North Maine Woods .
• Deboullie Public Lands lie within the North Maine Woods recreational system so visitors must pass through a checkpoint and pay the required day use or camping fees . The State of Maine is a member of North Maine Woods , an organization that manages recreation on nearly three million acres in northern Maine . Fees collected at checkpoints defray the costs of managing public access and maintaining recreational facilities . www . northmainewoods . org .
Know applicable laws .
• The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife ( MDIFW ) Warden Service does search-and-rescue operations and enforces state fish and game laws , boating laws ( on inland waters ), and ATV and snowmobile laws . To learn more about applicable laws and to purchase appropriate licenses www . maine . gov / ifw
Help stop the spread of invasive species .
• Eurasian Milfoil is an aquatic invasive .
• Clean all watercraft before they are launched and after retrieval . www . maine . gov / dep / water / invasives /
• Buy only local firewood , do not transport out of state firewood . www . maine . gov / forestpests
Pet owners should exercise caution
• Trappers are permitted to use Maine Public Lands so be careful with your pets .
Be a responsible visitor and Leave No Trace
• Learn more at www . lnt . org
Moose , bear and other large animals are abundant .
• Observe from a safe distance ; do not flush wildlife .
• Drive slowly on area roads , particularly at times of low light .
• Food must be securely stowed when camping .
• Tents must be kept free of food and food odors .
• Avoid areas with nesting birds , dens or young animals ( even those that appear abandoned ).
Logging trucks frequent area roads . Watch out for them and :
• Pull over and stop for trucks regardless of which direction they ’ re headed as they have the right of way .
• Avoid roads that are too narrow for two vehicles .
• Do not block side roads or stop in a spot with poor visibility .
• Be prepared for rugged gravel roads ( dusty , washouts ): travel slowly and carry a spare tire .
Trailerable and hand-carry boat launches are highly variable .
• Online sortable listing : www . maine . gov / dacf / boatlaunches
Red River Camps
• Red River Camps leases property from the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands and operates a traditional sporting camp on Island Pond .
Cell phones should not be counted on in an emergency .
• Coverage is spotty to non-existent . The North Maine Woods Fish and St . Francis Gates have communications , as does Red River Camps for emergencies only .
Wear blaze orange during hunting season .

The name Deboullie is an adaptation of the French word , débouler , which means to tumble down — referring to the talus ( rock ) fields . The geology you see today formed deep underground 370 million years ago when molten rock pushed up through a layer of slate , combining with it as it cooled to form “ hornfels ,” an extremely hard metamorphic rock . Over millions of years erosive forces gradually exposed the hornfels- the mountain peaks and ridges you see today . Glaciers carved steep-sided valleys and cliffs through the softer slate 12,000 to 25,000 years ago . Steep sections of the rock eroded to form the talus slopes and fields that still border many of the ponds .
While native tribes have inhabited this forested region for roughly 10,000 years , the Deboullie lands were more likely hunting and fishing grounds ( being too far from a major river to have a significant settlement ). After European settlers arrived in the mid-1800s , the area was logged for roughly a
Photo by Katie Nemmer

Timber Management on Maine ’ s Public Lands
century ( most recently in the late 1950s and 1960s ). Between 1910 and 1920 , two mills were constructed along with the dam on Pushineer Pond .
Rich fishing opportunities and scenic attractions have lured outdoor enthusiasts for more than a century . A cabin on Island Pond , now part of a private sporting camp , was originally built before 1900 as a private camp of the Whitman Textiles family of Boston . One of the early camp owners reportedly brought — not just their family — but a tutor for their children , a barber , and a piano player for evening dances .
The State acquired the initial Deboullie lands in 1975 as part of a larger land trade with Great Northern Nekoosa Corporation involving other properties around Maine . Similar trades in 1984 and 1985 enabled the State to assemble the current tract , which encompasses all of Township 15 Range 9 ( Deboullie Township ).

The 21,871-acre Deboullie Public Lands offer remote campsites on crystal-clear trout ponds surrounded by low rugged mountains . These lands , encompassing 17 ponds ranging in size from 8 to 341 acres , lie in northernmost Maine , east of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway and 30 miles from the Canadian border .

The area has a reputation for outstanding fisheries , with native brook trout in many ponds and landlocked salmon and lake trout in Togue Pond . Several ponds have populations of blueback trout ( landlocked arctic charr ), an unusual variety that is the world ’ s northernmost freshwater fish . A 30-mile trail network leads to many remote ponds and to Deboullie Mountain ( 1,981 feet ) where a former fire tower offers expansive views of the surrounding region . Hikers can enjoy mountaintop blueberries in August and still find “ ice caves ” in denser woods — narrow , shaded crevices where snow and ice can remain year-round ( supporting unusual plants such as the arctic sandwort ). Several small waterfalls offer attractive places to cool off during warm-weather hikes .
During winter , snowmobilers frequently pass through Deboullie Public Lands , enjoying the scenic beauty of its remote ponds on their way between Eagle Lake and the Allagash . The only maintained trail is the primary public access road , which forms an important connector in the State ’ s Interconnected Trail System ( ITS ).
The ponds , streams , marshes and forests at Deboullie support an array of wildlife , and visitors may spot black bears , loons , moose and birds of prey . The wetland habitats support the rare northern bog lemming while upland forests offer shelter to the elusive Canada lynx . The Deboullie Public Lands incorporate one of the State ’ s Ecological Reserves , a 6,903-acre area that encompasses the shorelines and waters of 11 ponds . These sensitive ecosystems ( including old-growth spruce and mature hardwoods ) will remain in their natural condition and be monitored over time . Ecological Reserves are established to ensure the habitat of both plant and animal species that need additional protection and as an area for long-term environmental monitoring , scientific research and education .

Deboullie

Public Lands

Aroostook County Region

Directions

Access is via gravel logging roads ; yield to oncoming logging trucks . From the north , travel on Route 161 to the St . Francis checkpoint , paying the North Maine Woods user fee . Proceed south approximately eight miles on the St . Francis Road to
Lat 46.958481 / Lon -68.838026 reach the western boundary of the Deboullie Public Lands . This road is open late spring through fall .
From the south , take Route 11 North from Ashland to Portage and turn left onto West Road ( before Portage Lake ). After 1 mile , turn left onto a Fish Lake Rd / Rocky Brook Rd ( by signs for several sporting camps ). After about four miles , stop at the Fish River checkpoint to pay use fee . After two more miles , turn right onto Hewes Brook Road and follow that approximately 12.5 miles to T15 R9 Rd / Red River Rd , then 7 miles to Deboullie Public Lands .
NOTE : The map in this guide shows selected access roads . For complete road information carry another map such as The Maine Atlas Gazeteer .
Sunset Kayaking on Togue Pond Photo by Katie Nemmer

Visitor Rules

Fires Kindle fires only in authorized campsites with fire rings . Do not cut live vegetation . www . maine . gov / forestpests
Pets Pets in campsites must be leashed and attended ; outside of campsites , pets must be under control .
Trash Carry out all trash .
Firearms Do not discharge weapons within 300 feet of any picnic area , camping area , parking area , marked hiking trail or other developed area . Loaded firearms are not permitted at campsites or on hiking trails .
Fishing Several ponds are fly fishing only . All those fishing must have a valid license and review the State ’ s open water fishing regulations . Fishermen are asked to use lead-free sinkers and jigs to prevent metal poisoning of loons , eagles and other wildlife . www . maine . gov / ifw /
Power Equipment
Limit of Stay
Abandoned Property
Use no chainsaws , generators or other power equipment around campsites .
Campers may not exceed a 14-day stay in a 45-day period
Bureau of Parks and Lands staff may take custody of any personal property left unattended for more than 3 days ( unless advance written permission is given ).
Photo by Katie Nemmer
Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands ( BPL ) actively manages its public land units to achieve multiple sustainable benefits : resource protection , public recreation , wildlife habitat and marketable forest products ( revenues from which help fund public land management ). The Bureau employs scientifically based practices to achieve exemplary forest management that foster the health and viability of landscape-scale ecosystems . BPL ’ s forest practices are green-certified by two independent auditors : the Forest Stewardship Council TM and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative TM . No-harvest zones are regularly established to buffer sensitive natural resources and recreational areas in addition to the Bureau ’ s ecological reserve system .

Partners and Supporters
• Maine Conservation Corps AmeriCorps members have constructed and rehabilitated trails since 2006 , expanding the hiking trail system from 7 to 30 miles .
• Boy Scouts of America ’ s Fort Kent Troop set rocks for one of the first trails across the Deboullie rockslide in the 1960s .
• University of Maine , Presque Isle conducts glacial geology and geophysical research in the Deboullie Lakes Ecological Reserve .
• Maine Natural Areas Program performs natural resource inventories and monitoring .
• Federal Highway Administration ’ s Recreational Trails Program , administered by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands , provided funding assitance to Deboullie trail project and this brochure .

Regional Destinations
The Deboullie Public Lands lie in the heart of Aroostook County , Maine ’ s largest and northernmost county ( referred to throughout Maine as “ the County ”), which encompasses much of the Allagash and St . John River watersheds . Nearby destinations include :
• Allagash Wilderness Waterway ( AWW ), a nationally designated Wild and Scenic River and popular canoe route , parallels the western border of the Deboullie Lands , about six miles west of the boundary .
• Eagle Lake Public Lands , south of Fort Kent , consists of 24,000 acres including most of Eagle Lake . The unit abuts Square Lake to the east with a thoroughfare connecting the two lakes .
• Fort Kent State Historic Site , is one of Maine ’ s few National Historic Landmarks . The original wooden blockhouse was constructed in 1839 to secure Maine ’ s claim to the northern forest during the “ Arostook War .”
• Round Pond Public Lands , takes its name from the 744- acre oxbow pond along the Allagash River . This 20,000 acre parcel straddles both shores of the AWW and is a popular hunting area in the fall .
• Scopan Public Lands , south of Ashland , offer 16,700 acres of rugged terrain with primitive waterfront camping on Scopan Lake , and opportunities for fishing , hunting , ATVing , and snowmobiling .
• Aroostook State Park , Maine ’ s first state park , near Presque Isle , offers a 700-acre expanse where visitors can enjoy hiking , lakefront camping , boating and winter sports .

When to Visit

Boaters and campers enjoy visits during warm weather months , followed by hunters in October and November . Surface fishing for salmon and trout is usually best in the weeks following ice out ( typically early to mid-May ) or when waters cool in September . Be prepared for black flies and mosquitoes , particularly in May and June .

Fees

Day use and camping fees are charged at the North Maine Woods recreational system checkpoints ( see Special Considerations ).
• www . northmainewoods . org
View online information for all Maine Parks and Lands sites
• www . parksandlands . com
Camping at State Parks : www . campwithme . com

Contact

Northern Public Lands Office Bureau of Parks and Lands 45 Radar Road Ashland , ME 04732-9722 207-435-7963 www . maine . gov / deboullie
2016
Snowmobilers in Deboullie

Relevant Contacts

Fort Kent Area Chamber of Commerce P . O . Box 430 Fort Kent , ME 04743 207-834-5354 www . fortkentchamber . com
North Maine Woods , Inc . P . O . Box 425 Ashland , ME 04732 207-435-6213 www . northmainewoods . org
Photo by Katie Nemmer

Other Points of Interest

• The Town of Fort Kent , has hosted multiple national and international nordic and biathlon events and international sled dog races . As of 2014 , the 250-mile Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Race race passes through Deboullie Public Lands .
• Visit www . goaroostookoutdoors . com for more information on outdoor opportunities available in Aroostook County .
• Maine ’ s Million Dollar View Scenic Byway , a 12 mile stretch of Route 1 between Danforth and Orient provides unsurpassed views of lakes , rolling hayfields , mountains , and Mount Katahdin .
Photo by Katie Nemmer

Services & Facilities

• 30 primitive single-party campsites with privies ( 23 of which are drive-to ) on or near Togue , Denny , Perch , Upper , Pushineer , Deboullie and Gardner Ponds . One group campsite is available on Perch Pond .
• 30 miles of hiking trails ( including pond destinations and Deboullie , Black , Gardner , and Whitman Mountains )
• Drive to campsites can accommodate small RVs . These are primitive sites , no hookups available .
• Four trailerable boat launches ( on Togue , Perch , Pushineer and Deboullie Ponds ) www . maine . gov / dacf / boatlaunches
• Three hand-carry boat launches ( on Sixth Pelletier Brook Lake , Denny Pond , and Perch Pond )
• Ten miles of the ITS 120 snowmobile trail run through Deboullie .