Maine’s Scenic Byways
Towering pine trees, ocean waves crashing against rocky cliffs, stunning sunsets in shades of lavender and crimson, eagles soaring overhead — in Maine, all of this can be yours without even leaving your car.
The state of Maine is home to some of the most beautiful scenic roads in the country, if not the world. And I’m not the only one who thinks so — four of Maine’s routes have been officially designated as United States scenic byways.
Acadia’s Cadillac Mountain. Photo by Matt Tillett
One of Maine’s most beautiful natural landscapes is the Mount Desert Island area, home to Acadia National Park. The road to the island and through the park will reward you with incredible scenery — you’ll drive across a causeway to reach the island, where you’ll find an abundance of mountains, lakes, ponds, and beaches. Leave your car in the parking lot and ride your bike through the miles of stunning parkland, or drive right up to the top of the famous Cadillac Mountain, the tallest mountain on the eastern seaboard. If you get there early enough, you can be one of the first people in the United States to see the sun rise — even if you miss it, there’s still an incredible vista of the many islands surrounding Acadia.
If you’re aching to drive even farther north, you’ll want to travel along the beautiful Route 201. On this road, you’ll feel as if you’re going back in time when you drive through the charming turn-of-the-century towns along the way, passing along the Kennebec River, the Dead River, and Wyman Lake, and through thousands of acres of unspoiled forest land. Make sure to stop in one of the tiny towns along the way, like Solon (population 940), for a taste of rural New England charm. And just because the road ends, your adventure doesn’t have to — Route 201 leads you directly to the Canadian border. Why not see what it’s like on the other side?
The thirty-five mile stretch through the Rangely Lakes only takes two and a half hours to drive, but you’ll want to allow an entire day for exploring and taking photographs of the beautiful landscape you’ll find here. On the Rangely Lakes Scenic Byway, you’ll find canyons, streams, fields, farms, and a cornucopia of wildlife, from moose to eagles. The area boasts thousands of opportunities for outdoor activities, including fishing, hiking, and skiing in the winter months.
If you want to see a side of Maine that’s still hidden from the summer tourists, take a ride down the Schoodic Scenic Byway. Driving along Maine’s eastern seaboard, you’ll find a land of lighthouses, lobsters, small antique shops, and welcoming bed & breakfasts. If you’d like to check out the wildlife around the area, this byway has no shortage — with a visit to Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge, you’ll be sure to see a variety of eagles, osprey, and other rare birds. You can even take a boat tour, where you’ll view the sea birds’ nesting rocks.
Even though these are the officially designated scenic byways, there’s no need to stop with these four routes — nearly anywhere you go in Maine, you’re bound to come across the sort of scenery that takes your breath away. In a land with so much natural beauty, you don’t need to go far to find it.
To find out more about the scenic byways and download printable maps, see:
http://www.visitmaine.com/tag/attractions/sightseeing_tours/scenic_byway
Written by Kathy Hawkins on June 18, 2007
Filed Under Maine, Lakes, Land, Mountains, Rivers
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