Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Passing through the paper mill town of
Madawaska
, where for many
people French is the first language, the road continues west until it ends
in
Fort Kent
.
Allagash Village
, the traditional terminus of voyagers enjoying the
Allagash Wilderness Waterway, is another 25 miles or so down State
Route 161.
Route 11, Fort Kent to Sherman Station
60 miles, 1½ hours, one way
Highlights:
Scenic drive through remote area with small villages but big
views.
Route:
Instead of backtracking on US 1, head south on Route 11, also
known as the
Aroostook Road
. It cuts due south from
Fort Kent
, pass-
ing through the attractive villages of
Soldier Pond
and
Eagle Lake
.
The scenery, particularly along the lake, is spectacular.
Route 11 winds through hilly country roughly paralleling the south-
flowing Fish River. There are several picnic areas and scenic turnouts
along the way.
Drive carefully on the older sections, where
unpaved shoulders wait to grab the steering
wheel from unsuspecting drivers.
Further south, in
Portage
, the road passes the popular seaplane base on
its way toward
Ashland
, headquarters for the Maine North Woods, an
organization that oversees recreational use of the millions of acres of for-
est industry land to the west. Except for the occasional picnic area, the
only landmark south of the tiny village of Masardis is the Oak Hill Fire
Tower which is occasionally visible to the right. On this lonely road log-
ging trucks frequently outnumber cars.
WISE WORDS:
If you haven't already, fill up the gas
tank in Ashland and check your spare tire as the next
50 miles or so pass through some of the wildest and
most undeveloped terrain in the state.
Patten
is a full-service town and is home to a logging museum. A right on
Route 151 here takes you to Shin Pond and the north entrance of
Baxter
State Park
. Interstate 95 is only another 10 miles or so straight ahead
on Route 11.
