Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
twists and turns of the Middle Branch of the Union River. Watch out for
moose!
Route 9 from the Whalesback on can be a very lonely road. For much of its
length it is even abandoned by telephone and electric poles and wires. It
crosses the upper reaches of most of the canoeable rivers in Down East
Maine, including the Narraguagus, Pleasant, Machias and East
Machias. Lead Mountain to the north is the dominant hill.
INTERESTING FACT:
Prior to the outbreak of the
Civil War, Confederate President Jefferson Davis
came to Lead Mountain to spend the summer tenting
near the top in the belief the airs and waters would
help his ill health.
About the only bright lights on this stretch come from the
Airline Snack
Bar
, which is a small sit-down restaurant and convenience store. They
also rent a few rooms and cabins.
AUTHOR'S TIP:
Keep an eye out for Viola Sargent.
The 92-year-old Maine Guide likes to drop by for a
sandwich and cup of coffee between trips guiding her
“sports” on moose and deer hunts.
The next place to rest up or get some gas is in Wesley. There is also a
small state picnic area on the north side of the road about halfway be-
tween Brewer and Calais.
The real jewel as far as stops go, however, is where Route 9 crosses over
the
Machias River
. On the east bank there is a small campground with
a handful of drive-in sites and one or two obscure carry-in sites closer to
the highway. These may take a little bushwacking to find, but there are
obvious paths from the road between the river and the campground en-
trance. One particularly nice site sports a lean-to only 50 feet from the
river. There are pit toilets, fire rings and picnic tables and best of all-no
fees. The water in spring flows fast here as it courses through the Airline
Rapids (Class III in high flows).
There is also a nice launch ramp for hand-carry boats just below the rap-
ids at the south end of the campground. Look carefully for the entrance
road, especially in the off-season when the road side sign is removed for
safe keeping.
Along Route 9 several state routes peel off to right and head south
straight to US 1. All offer good scenery, especially Route 193, which heads
to
Cherryfield
. Along the way it passes through
Deblois
with its hun-
dreds of acres of wide open blueberry fields. When the plants turn bright
crimson in the fall its almost like standing on Mars.
