Get in your car and drive!

Keen to get away from it all. We offer hundreds of miles of twists and turns painted in the brilliant hues autumn.

Lakes and Leaves   |   Lower Somerset Loop   |   Exploring the Maine Woods 
The International Excursion   |   Kennebec-Chaudière International Corridor

Featured Drive: Lakes and Leaves

This tour begins in Skowhegan and goes north through Peaks-Kenny State Park and Moosehead Lake, then west to Jackman, and south along the tree-lined Kennebec River. Start this loop in Skowhegan, a Native American name that means “A Place To Watch".  Skowhegan is a quintessential rural Maine community, where you can immerse yourself in the flavor of a real hometown. From there, take Route 150 to Athens, then pick up route 151 east through Hartland and north through the pristine Maine woods and the quaint town of Newport. Head up Route 7 to Dexter and Dover-Foxcroft, where Peaks Kenny State Park offers a great picnic area and beach on Sebec Lake. Head west on Route 6 to Guilford, stopping to see the town’s covered bridge.

Follow Route 6/15 north to Greenville, nestled on the shores of 40-mile-long Moosehead Lake. The area’s tourism history dates to the 1890s, when you could take a train from New York City directly to Greenville to enjoy the lake and the grand hotel at the base of Mount Kineo. Trains to the region are a thing of the past, but this has not decreased the area’s popularity—Moosehead Lake provides swimming, boating and fishing grounds to a host of families and sportsmen and women. As you might guess from its name, the Moosehead area also boasts a large population of moose; local guides offer Moose Safaris via float plane, canoe or kayak. During your stay at one of the area’s lodges or inns, visit the S/S Katahdin, a gracefully restored 1914 steamship that now serves as a floating museum. The "Kate" also offers scenic tours of Moosehead Lake (through September). From the Lake’s western shore, you can also explore majestic Mount Kineo, where you can hike, play a round of golf on a scenic 9-hole course, or just wander the grounds of the once-grand Mount Kineo House.

From Greenville, continue north on Route 6/15 to Jackman, where you can canoe the popular (and very beautiful) 42-mile Moose River Bow Trip, which begins and ends at the same point. From Jackman, take Route 201—a designated Old Canada Road-National Scenic Byway—south to The Forks, where the tree-lined banks of the Kennebec River offers some of the most beautiful fall foliage in the state. Several local rafting companies provide gear, expertly trained guides, lodging and meals. (Ask about special packages for families with children.) The Forks is also home to 96-foot Moxie Falls, accessible via a worthwhile half-mile walk.

The drive south on Route 201 to Bingham follows one of Maine’s Scenic Highways—made particularly brilliant this time of the year by the spectacular fall color. This recent addition to the National Scenic Highways list boasts unparalleled views of the Kennebec River and surrounding mountains and is not to be missed this fall. Follow this route back to Skowhegan, where you can refresh yourself at Lake George Park, stop by the Skowhegan Fairgrounds (where the oldest state fair in the country takes place each summer), or view the Skowhegan Indian. At over 62 feet tall and standing on a 12-foot base, it’s the largest sculpture of an Indian in the world.

Driving Loop 1: Lower Somerset Loop

Starting in Skowhegan take Route 150 North to Athens, turn onto Route 151 in Athens and proceed to Mayfield, continue to Mayfield Corner to the junction of Routes 151 and 16. Turn left onto Route 16 to Bingham. At the junction of Routes 16 and 201-the Old Canada Road Scenic Byway-proceed to Solon. Continue on Route 201 approx. 6 miles to the new scenic area at Robbins Hill where there are unsurpassed views of the valley. Return to Route 201 and head south to Skowhegan.

Driving Loop 2: Exploring the Maine Woods

Starting in Bingham, take Route 201 north on the Old Canada Road Scenic Byway through Moscow, home of Wyman Dam, and then north along Wyman Lake which has many overlook pullouts and historical sites, such as the Benedict Arnold river crossing site. Proceed North to Caratunk Village and then on to The Forks, where the Dead and Kennebec Rivers converge. Take a right just before the Kennebec Bridge onto the Lake Moxie Road and proceed approx. 2 miles to the Moxie Falls Scenic Area parking lot, where a short .6 mile hike will take you to Maine’s highest waterfall with a 92 foot vertical drop, and is well worth the 20 minute walk. Return to Route 201 and proceed north to Parlin Pond. There are great opportunities for moose sightings along this route.

Proceed to Attean Overlook and rest area and then on to Jackman Village. From Jackman take a right onto Route 6 and 15 and proceed to Rockwood with views of Mt Kineo. From Rockwood continue to West and East Outlets- the head of the Kennebec River flowing from Moosehead Lake- and on to Greenville. From Greenville Center continue on Route 15 south through the villages of Monson and Abbott. Take a right in Abbott onto Route 16 to Kingsbury Pond and rest area, and continue on Route 16 to Bingham to complete the loop.

Driving Loop 3: The International Excursion

Starting in Skowhegan follow Route 201 north to the Madison/Solon town line which now becomes the Old Canada Road Scenic Byway(Route 201 North), through the towns of Solon, Bingham, Moscow, Caratunk, The Forks and the West Forks. Continue on to Jackman and on to the Canadian Border. Be sure to have the proper credentials to cross the border.

Continue on into Canada on Route 173 to Armstrong. From Armstrong turn left at the junction of Route 269. At St. Gideon turn left on to Route 204 to Lac Megantic and turn left on to Route 161 to Woburn and on to Coburn Gore in Maine. At Coburn Gore follow Route 27 to Eustis and on into Kingfield. In Kingfield turn left onto Route 16 to North Anson to the junction of Route 201A. Turn right on Route 201A to Madison and on to Norridgewock. At the junction of 201A and Route 2, turn left to Route 2 and back to Skowhegan to complete the loop.

Kennebec-Chaudière International Corridor (Rt 201)

This scenic drive actually begins southeast of Somerset County on the Maine coast and extends all the way through Somerset County to Quebec. This route was an international trade route as well as an escape route for US slaves. For immigrant workers who came to Maine for the opportunities in logging camps, on Maine farms and in factories. Today this area is rich in cultural centers, historic sites and museums with many area tourists destinations having a tie to the history first brought here by this corridor. The corridor is primarily responsible for the diverse heritage of French Canadian and Irish immigrants that are such a big piece of the past for so many families in Somerset County. The corridor starts on Popham Beach and takes Rt 201 out of Maine and heads into Quebec via Rt 73.

These are just some of the rides you take through the Moose River & Kennebec Valleys region but with such an abundance of natural beauty on display you can find scenic vistas at almost every turn. Happy Exploring!