Scouting the Intro to Dirt Touring - Maine Course

November 4, 2014

In late October, I had the opportunity to leave Missoula for a week and head back east to Maine to do some route research on one of our new tours in 2015, Intro to Dirt Touring – Maine. The route is one that I created back in April of this year, and one that I’m very excited about offering in 2015.

As with all of our routes, it is important to scout and research the area to make sure that the first running goes off as planned. It’s one thing to look at maps and satellite images and another to be on the ground and seeing it with your own eyes!

The planning process

The trip, one of Adventure Cycling’s Educational Tours, takes place in Western Maine. In the summertime (the tour will run June 14-19, 2015) the area boasts an amazing golf course, slope-side summer activities like zip-lines and hiking, and a huge network of mountain bike riding! We’ll start the course in Carrabassett Valley, learning trailside the ins and outs of bicycle dirt touring.

After a day and a half of learning, we’ll hit the road and trail to put our new skills to use. The terrain will sure be exciting as we zig zag throughout the bountyful Maine woods.

The route has great scenery and very quiet roads

Small town Maine will be fun to pass through as we venture in and out of the woods. Forests and streams will pass by and be our home for the majority of the trip - far away from the normal hustle and bustle of everyday life.

One of the creek crossings along the route

The route has magnificant views of some of the great lakes in Western Maine, as well as some of the highest peaks - Sugarloaf Mountain and the Bigelow Range, just to name a few. As we travel in these remote parts, we'll also get a chance to stop and see the remote luxary deep in the woods...

Hut on Flagstaff Lake

...and take advantage of a great network of trails.

A bridge crossing the Carrabassett River

Growing up in Maine, I always have loved this area in Western Maine, and I’m excited that we are now able to offer a tour there! I hope you’ll join us!

Post by Mike Lessard | Top photo by Lydia Hess | Photos 2, 3, & 5 by Mike Lessard | Photo 4 from Maine Huts and Trails

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ON THE ROAD is written by the tours team — Lydia, Darrah, Mike, Mandy, and Arlen — tours specialists and intrepid bicyclists, covering all things related to the Adventure Cycling tours department. Check out our 2015 Guided Tours today!