Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Presque Isle
Aroostook State Park
offers 16 miles of groomed ski trails for all abili-
ties. Snowshoeing and snowmobiling allowed. Warming lodge open on
weekends. Maps available at park.
768-8341.
Snowmobiling
This is premier snowmobile country. There are more than 1,600
miles of groomed and marked trails and many more local and
club paths.
The folks in “The County” practically live on snow machines in winter,
with many high school kids using them to commute to class. From
Presque Isle and Caribou north trails fan out in every direction. One, ITS
81, roughly parallels the border with New Brunswick for more than 100
miles. The comparatively flat terrain is in marked contrast to the moun-
tainous travel in other parts of the state.
Unlike trails to the south where riders heading in opposite directions
share one groomed path, travel lanes are often separated in Aroostook
County, allowing very fast riding. It is not unusual for riders to put 150 or
even 200 miles a day on their machines with only a fraction of the fatigue
endured by riders on bumpier, more serpentine trails.
Most businesses have special parking areas for snowmobiles. Riders of-
ten park at a clubhouse in Houlton and head north, spending the night at
a camp or hotel in Fort Kent before returning by a different trail the next
day. More than 100 motels, inns and sporting camps are accessible by
snowmobile.
Detailed trail maps, available from Aroostook Chamber
of commerce and from snowmobile clubs, also note loca-
tions of warming huts, fuel stations and restaurants.
The clubs have earned a reputation as maintaining the best trail network
in the Northeast. The work involves operating large grooming machines
and pulling drags to smooth the snow behind snowmobiles. Most of the
work is done at night to avoid traffic. Since groomers are able to do only a
few miles per hour, sometimes the volunteers can begin at supper time
and not return until breakfast!
Most clubs in Aroostook take care of more than 100 miles of trail each. In
Presque Isle, the snowmobile club there boasts 400 members and has its
own clubhouse on ITS 83.
Clubhouses, which usually feature warming rooms, snack bars, and
restrooms, can be found at Castle Hill, Squa Pan Lake, Fort Fairfield,
Limestone, Allagash, Frenchville, Fort Kent, and Black Lake. In St.
