Excerpted from Mountain Bike! Maine by Sarah Hale and David Gibbs

Creating a circular tour through northern Aroostook County, this 52.5-mile journey allows bicyclists to pedal the old path of the Aroostook Valley Railroad and the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad. The loop follows a wide, graded, gravel trail that was constructed as part of the rails-to-trails initiative to create recreational trails along portions of abandoned railroad beds. This rail trail provides a level alternative to the hilly countryside surrounding it. Although the ride requires no more than a beginning level of technical skill, its total length is a challenge that only experienced riders in good physical condition should attempt. Riders familiar with self-contained bicycle touring may opt to use the trail as a starting point to explore the back roads of this part of the county. Camping facilities away from the lakes and major towns are virtually nonexistent, however, so campers should be prepared to rough it. Intrepid cyclists who attempt the whole ride should set aside the whole day to complete it.

The Aroostook Valley Trail passes through woods of spruce and cedar, past abandoned potato fields, and through countless bogs. Throughout this stretch of the ride, you will pass several rest areas where picnic tables have been set up. In Woodland, several miles north of Washburn, the trail crosses the Nature Conservancy Woodland Bog Preserve. The preserve was created to protect a variety of rare plants, including several species of national significance. North of Woodland, the trail ends and requires riders to pedal a few miles on pavement, before reconnecting to the rail trail in New Sweden. Farther north, the trail enters the small community of Stockholm and swings southwest to parallel the Little Madawaska River. This section of the trail follows the old route of the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad. It is common to see moose, muskrats, and beavers along this portion of the ride, which is more remote.

	Trail Practicalities

Finding the trail: The trail can be accessed from trailheads located in Washburn, Caribou, and Stockholm, as well as from many other points along the route. We chose to start the ride in West Caribou, where a parking area provides convenient access to the trail. To reach this trailhead, drive west on ME 164 from Caribou for approximately 4 miles. Just after crossing the Washburn town line, look for the Aroostook Valley Trail sign on the right. Turn right into a gravel parking area. Begin riding west.

Notes on the trail: From the West Caribou trailhead, begin pedaling west toward Washburn. You will ride past several picnic areas and cross several roads, including Creed Road and McIntire Road. After approximately 3.2 miles, turn right where another trail branches off on the right. Trail signs at this junction may direct you to New Sweden, Stockholm, and Colby. You will be traveling north. This trail is rough and grassy, and you will notice that ties remain from the railway that once traversed this route. Continue riding until you reach the end of the trail at West Road in New Sweden. Turn right onto West Road, which is paved, and cross ME 161, continuing straight on Station Road. You will ascend a moderately steep hill on Station Road (the views from the top are spectacular) and then descend steeply. At the bottom of the hill you will pass East Road on the right before coming to the railroad bed. This is the site of the old New Sweden train station. Turn left onto the trail, once again riding north. This trail is much wider than the Aroostook Valley Trail and thus presents more open vistas of the surrounding countryside. Continuing north along the rail trail, you will cross the Madawaska River as you reach Stockholm.

In Stockholm, there is a small grocery store visible from the trail to the right. This is the last opportunity you will have to purchase food or water until Washburn, 22 miles away. After riding through Stockholm, past a playing field on the left, you will come to a fork in the trail. The right fork continues to Van Buren, 17 miles northwest. You will want to stay left, following signs directing you to Perham and Washburn. Once again you will cross ME 161, after which the trail parallels the Little Madawaska River. The buildings at the intersection of ME 161 are the last significant buildings you will see for the next 16 miles, until you reach Perham. This portion of the ride follows the route of the old Bangor and Aroostook Railroad. Service along this line was discontinued in the early 1950s. The trail that now follows the abandoned route is quite wide and considerably more open than the first part of the ride. The trip to Washburn, though long, is an easy cruise, and you should be able to make good time. The easiest way to gauge your progress is to carefully note the many roads you cross as you proceed southward.

Sixteen miles after leaving Stockholm, you will start to encounter an increasing number of homes and other buildings close to the trail. We noticed that, after passing through Perham, the last 5 miles to Washburn flew by as the prospect of reaching a source of food and water grew closer! As you arrive in Washburn, notice the complex of abandoned potato houses that greet you as you enter what was once the old rail yard. Sights like this make one appreciate the magnitude of the potato industry in Aroostook County during the early part of this century.

To return to the starting point and to your vehicle, return to the railroad bed, heading back in the direction from which you came. Look carefully for the signs for the Aroostook Valley Trail, which will fork to the right. This is a pleasant trail, much narrower than the old Bangor and Aroostook Railroad trail, passing through a series of bogs and along the edge of pastures. This is also a great place to see wildlife. Eventually, you will reach the intersection where the trail heads north toward New Sweden, Stockholm, and Colby. Stay right, and retrace your tracks to your car.

Congratulations, you made it!

Aroostook Valley Trail Trail Map Length/configuration: 52.5-mile loop. Aerobic difficulty: For fit riders — the distance requires endurance and conditioning. Technical difficulty: Little or no technical skill required — graded, gravel rail trail. Scenery: Wooded corridor interspersed with wetlands and potato fields. Special comments: Sections of this loop can be ridden separately for a shorter ride. General location: This ride passes through northeast Aroostook County. Elevation change: There is little appreciable elevation gain, as this trail uses abandoned railways. Season: The Aroostook Valley Trail can be ridden between mid-May and October. Autumn is the best season in which to ride, as the weather is cooler and the black flies and mosquitos have abated. Services: Services are scarce along this route. Groceries are available in Caribou, New Sweden, and Washburn. The nearest bicycle shop is located in Van Buren. Cyclists should carry all necessary supplies with them, including food, adequate water, and bicycle parts such as spare tubes and cables. Due to the remoteness of some sections of the ride, it is prudent to take the extra time to ensure that your bike is in sound mechanical condition. Hazards: The trail surface is primarily loose gravel, with some sandy sections and others overgrown with grass. Although the riding is not difficult, you can be sent flying if you are not paying attention. All-terrain vehicles use this trail frequently and, particularly along wide, straight stretches of the trail, may be moving at very high speeds. If you are planning to do the entire route, take plenty of food and water. Although water is plentiful along this route, it is of dubious quality, even if filtered or chemically treated. The weather can change very quickly, particularly in the summer, when late-afternoon thunderstorms are a common occurrence. Bring enough clothing. Rescue index: You will be far from assistance, as much as 10 miles along parts of the trail. Your best bet, if you need assistance, is to stay on the trail until you come to a farmhouse or road crossing. There are many woods roads that cross the trail. Blindly trying to follow one of these without knowing where you are will certainly make matters worse. Land status: State recreational trail. Maps: Although completely devoid of place names, the Department of Conservation's Maine ATV Trail Map is adequate. The entire route is shown in DeLorme's Maine Atlas and Gazetteer (map 64, sections A-4, A-5, B-4, B-5, and C4; map 65, section B-1; map 68, sections E-4 and E-5). Note: The DeLorme map incorrectly shows where the railroad grade passes through New Sweden. It does not pass through New Sweden village, as shown on the map, but actually crosses Station Road in the vicinity of East Road, approximately 1 mile east of where the map shows the grade crossing Station Road. Trail Map