The County - Aroostook Visitor Guide 2020 Visitor Guide to Aroostook County | Page 11

BIKING
THE MANY COMMUNITIES OF THE COUNTY
make for perfect road cycling and mountain biking.
Each unspoiled mile will leave you breathless.
ROAD BIKING
The County’s big sky and rolling countryside beckon cyclists to enjoy historic
communities and very little traffic. Smooth roads of southern and central
Aroostook loop through Maine’s potato country. Explore the towns along the
North Maine Woods region and up into the St. John Valley, where you will
pedal through magnificent forests. Try the newly designated U.S. Bike Route
501, which connects the Katahdin Woods and Waters Scenic Byway and St.
John Valley Cultural Byway, ending at the Dickey Bridge in Allagash. Other
rides include the Tour de la Vallee, the challenging Century Ride, and the
Haynesville Loop in Houlton.
OFF-ROAD BIKING
Aroostook also offers access to an extensive system of off-road biking on three
amazing rail trails. One of the best is the Southern Bangor & Aroostook
Rail Trail. Starting in Houlton, the trail travels 40 miles north through
to Presque Isle on packed gravel trails. Once in Presque Isle, connect with the
Aroostook Valley Rail Trail, where riders should prepare for a ride through
remote areas along a system of 75 miles of trails. A ride that deserves mention
is the St. John Valley Heritage Trail running west from Fort Kent to
St. Francis along the banks of the beautiful St. John River. Die-hard
mountain biking enthusiasts will not want to miss the 20-plus miles of
single track at the Nordic Heritage Center in Presque Isle.
FAT BIKING
Our northern locale often delivers snow until late into April, offering fat bikers
a more prolonged than average trail riding season. Combine plenty of snow
with an extensive system of trails and riders will find delightful conditions for
this thrilling sport. The Nordic Heritage Center offers stand-out rides on
their growing collection of year-round trails.
VISITOR RESOURCES:
New England Mountain Bike Association | NEMBA.org/trails/maine
Explore Maine | ExploreMaine.org/bike/aroostook
Maine Trail Finder | MaineTrailFinder.com
Visit our website for more information on biking in the region.
VisitAroostook.com
VisitAroostook.com
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