The Kennebec Explorer 2018 Visitor's Guide to Maine's Kennebec Valley | Page 9

But we know that finding the best spot to ride is harder than it seems. Thankfully, resources online like those at MaineTrailFinder.com will point you in the right direction. Those planning on biking in the region also need to pedal over to CeMeNEMBA for great places to ride and for lists of guided ride events coming up. Out in the snow Time spent outside can take you off the beaten path, make for an afternoon well spent with family and friends, and allow you to see a place in a whole new way. Whether you’re into hiking, biking, snowshoeing, or cross-country skiing, the Kennebec Valley offers hundreds, perhaps thousands of miles of trails to be enjoyed in any season. Snowshoeing is more than just great cardio, it’s a chance to see the beautiful and often busier-than-we-imagined world of birds and animals during the cold winter months. Most trails that are hiked in the summer can be used in the winter for snowshoeing. Another way to enjoy the winter on foot is to find a full-moon snowshoe excursion with a warm cup of cocoa waiting at the end. For the more robust, jumping on a pair of cross-country skis and taking to the trails—also called Nordic skiing—is like snowshoeing in that it offers great exercise and is a great way to see the pristine winter world captured under a brilliant white blanket of snow. Shared-use trails Most trails are open to all kinds of non-motorized use. However, another class of trails under development is multi-use or shared-use trails, which are available for activities ranging from walking, horseback riding, and Nordic skiing all the way to ATV riding and snowmobiling in the winter. If you plan to use these trails, please abide by the posted signage. Motorized use trails For those looking to rev up their vacation time, there is a vast and well-mapped network of trails for motorized use only. ATV and snowmobile clubs throughout the region have great local maps and resources that can often be found online or in stores near the places you wish to ride if you want to go it alone. Hiking How can you not love hiking? Think of it. Aside from a pair of sturdy shoes —and maybe some bug spray—no special gear is required. It’s a sport that you can enjoy in almost any season. And it takes you into nature and away from the crush of everyday life. Go for a hike and embrace the sense of adventure that comes with discovering a new place from the outside in. We promise you’ll return a changed person. In fact, one of the world’s most famous (and life-changing) hikes, the Appalachian Trail, crosses through the Kennebec Valley. VISITOR RESOURCES: Central Maine New England Mountain Bike Association – CeMeNEMBA.org Mountain biking Lake George Regional Park – LakeGeorgePark.org Our terrain in the Kennebec Valley runs from flat to full-on vertical and everything in-between. Which makes it a great place to hit the trails on a bike. Maine Trail Finder – MaineTrailFinder.com | Messalonskee Kennebec Trails– KMTrails.com Quarry Road Trails – QuarryRoad.org | Registered Maine Guides – MaineGuides.org For more about outdoor adventure visit KennebecValley.org 7