The Kennebec Explorer 2015 Visitor's Guide to Maine's Kennebec Valley | Page 50

Photo by: Daniel J. Marquis Photography
Canaan and Hartland: Sportsmen Welcome
Canaan and Hartland are a welcoming pair of quiet little towns that make the
perfect base camp for sportsmen of all kinds. Looking for a quiet day of fishing?
Head out onto Great Moose Lake — making sure you stay around long enough
to experience one of the prettiest sunsets in the region — and listen for the loons.
Hartland’s 3,500-acre lake is well suited for those fishing for brown trout, large
and smallmouth bass, white perch, cusk, landlocked salmon and others.
If guided hunting or sport shooting is more your style, try pheasant hunting on
a local preserve in Canaan. Also, ATV trails located on the north side of town
connect to Hartland and offer access to many other trails. Local snowmobile trails
link to the ITS (Interconnected Trail System) and provide an entry point to limitless
destinations throughout Maine.
Within a half-hour drive, you can reach any number of fairs, festivals and antique
shops. Enjoy a stop at a local dairy farm or farmers’ market. Within easy reach
of Skowhegan, Pittsfield and even Bangor, these two towns offer a nice respite
from the in-town shuffle without much travel time.
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Lake George Regional Park
Nestled between Skowhegan and Canaan
along Route 2, a short and beautiful drive
from the region’s Route 201 artery, sits
Lake George Regional Park, a delightful
outdoor wonderland well suited for nearly
any kind of day use. The park’s 320 acres
include two sand beaches on a crystalline
lake, an extensive trail system for hikers
of all skill levels, and fishing, boating and
picnicking facilities. In the winter check out
the park’s ever-popular Winter Carnival if
you happen to be around at the right time,
if not, the park is perfect for snowshoeing
and Nordic skiing.