Discover Gravel Riding’s Ideal Destination

Maine is a story you think you know: lakes and peaks, sandy beaches, rocky coastlines with lobster on the dock. Behind the postcards, however, are miles of untamed roads and trails that connect it all. Think: narrow country roads through unbroken pine forest; packed-sand farm roads, punchy mountain climbs to payoff views; endless logging corridors with few signs of civilization. And all of it is uniquely suited to gravel riding.

“Every ride I do is like a mix of some trail, gravel, and pavement,” says Kyle Rancourt, Maine native and Founder of Pinebury, a Made-in-Maine merino cycling apparel manufacturer. “A gravel bike is the perfect tool for the job.” He’s not the only one discovering the Pine Tree State’s potential as a gravel rider’s must-do destination. Here’s how to ride the best of Maine’s unpaved paths yourself.

Downeast

Some of the most stunning (and beginner-friendly) gravel riding is in Acadia National Park, located Downeast (local lingo for Maine’s most eastern coastal region, ‘downwind and to the east’). Rancourt points straight to Mount Desert Island’s gravel and “immaculate” carriage roads as “arguably the best riding in America…they’re incredibly well-maintained by the National Park Service.”

Find more car-free riding beyond the park on the Sunrise Trail, an 88-miler through forest and mountain from the Ellsworth area to Passamaquoddy Bay. From there, refuel and recharge in nearby Lubec and Eastport. Just north, long gravel rides in Moosehorn Wildlife Refuge and Downeast Lakes add to the adventure.

North Woods

The crown jewel of the Maine Highlands: the 330 miles of mapped gravel routes that crisscross the Appalachian Mountain Clubs’ Maine Woods unit and surrounding region, punctuated by rental cabins, lean-tos, campsites, and three lakeside eco-lodges (serving delicious meals three times a day). Plan a lodge-to-lodge epic or camp-based exploration with the Gravel Field Guide. “I think it’s safe to use the word adventure,” says Erik Da Silva, Associate Education Director and one of the route gurus at the Bike Coalition of Maine (BCM). “In Maine, you really feel like you’re discovering it for the first time.”

The more northern Katahdin region offers quiet (and stunning) dirt roads through Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, and Baxter State Park, where the Tote Road runs 42 miles around Katahdin. New England Outdoor Center has two on-trail restaurants with incredible views: River Drivers and Knife Edge Brewing. New singletrack trails at Hammond Ridge and doubletrack at Penobscot River Trails just add to the area’s incredible mix.

Midcoast

To explore the cool, quiet nooks and crannies of the forested Midcoast, “having a gravel bike is kind of essential,” says local rider Ben Leoni, who shares the region’s top gravel hits: the serene, well-maintained forest road in Camden Hills State Park; the mountain trails along Ragged Mountain; and Appleton Ridge Road, alternating gravel and pavement, “with blueberry barrens on either side and epic views of the Camden Hills.” Fuel up at Owens General Store in Lincolnville (most remote Maine towns have a great one), or Seafolk Coffee in Rockport. Ride the rolling terrain with sweeping views, then cool off with an ocean dip to finish.

The Outside + VELO editors took Leoni’s Midcoast advice this fall, testing out a full quiver of gravel bikes on the roads, paths, trails, and farm roads in the area.

Greater Portland

The New Gloucester-Durham-Pownal area is the beloved home zone for most southern Maine gravel riders, with weekly rides as well as big events like the MAINEly Gravel in late summer. Unlike the routes farther north, much of this area traverses agricultural land and rolling farm fields, which means great farmstands and markets. Rancourt’s favorite refueling stop: the market/bakery at Pineland Farms, with its car-free dirt single and doubletrack. Farther south you’ll find the sandy-smooth camp roads of York County. Explore them at the Down For Gravel (DFG) event each fall in Newfield. Ride? Race? Party? Celebration? DFG is whatever you want it to be.

Western Maine

You could fill a year of riding the western Lakes and Mountains between the bike meccas of Rangeley, Bethel, and Carrabassett Valley. Rangeley hosts the Northwoods Gravel Grind each fall, giving racers and riders the opportunity to get way back into usually gated private land in a safe and supported way. The Eastern Divide Trail traverses this region as well, while its southern edge features the Ring of Saco—a signature BCM route that weaves through lakes and rivers, passing Ebenezer’s Pub, often voted the best beer bar in the world.

Peak Season

In early fall, the maples, beeches, and birches explode in color. AMC and BCM have numerous gravel-focused events during that time, with the Maine Woods Rambler as a full weekend festival, including an AMC-supported group ride, “if you’re interested in getting lost in the woods without actually being lost,” says Da Silva. The fall harvest also highlights some of the state’s most unique rides in the north, where the rolling potato, grain, and canola fields of Aroostook County hold many low-traffic roads, as well as a couple hundred miles of gravel multi-use trails leftover from the age of rail, refreshed with state and local support.

Expert Resources

Local shops like Maine Sport Outfitters in Rockport can provide invaluable assistance and rentals. Da Silva also points to the BCM’s curated gravel route library, which includes the Eastern Divide Trail, a gravel and trail bikepacking route running from Newfoundland to Florida that has incredible miles in northern and western Maine. Beyond gravel, Visit Maine also outlines the state’s standout cycling and mountain biking options, which also reflect the state’s diverse geography.

Responsible Riding

Another way that Maine is unique: how private property is managed, says Da Silva, adding that, “a huge majority of it is publicly accessible to anyone as long as you are practicing Leave No Trace, and aware of posted land.” Maine and LNT are partnering in support of an awareness initiative to remind all users that outdoor recreation access to privately owned land is “a privilege like no other place in the country.” Respect landowner’s rules and review the Look Out For ME best practices before your next ride.

Maine. Forged By Nature. This is where the beauty of nature and the muse of creativity don’t just surround you; they become part of you. VisitMaine.com