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Summertime in the BelgradesContentsfor Printing Article Summaries |
Creative Recharge: Take A WalkEn plein air, in the outdoors, the open spaces, the natural surroundings, the remote reaches, the manmade refuges — that's where artists and poets, writers and actors, playwrights and photographers find solace and inspiration, creativity and motivation. Everyone else can, too. Walks promote equilibrium of mind, peacefulness of body, and the discovery of great adventures in Central Maine, be they mountain paths overlooking lakes, rail beds following winding rivers, fitness trails, parks, campus and community walking routes and much more. Here are some suggestions of places to go: The Kennebec Corridor: Augusta/Hallowell /Farmingdale/GardinerA unique trail connects these four historic and picturesque river towns. The Kennebec River Rail Trail, is a 6.5 mile mostly level route that follows the rail line, offering walkers and bikers the opportunity to enjoy the quiet scenery and wildlife of the Kennebec River, to access dining, shopping and historical sites. For more information visit www.krrt.org or call Other popular trails and parks in this section of the Kennebec Corridor include Vaughn Woods in Hallowell, waterfront park in Gardiner, Capitol Park, the Arboretum, Old Fort Western area and the East Side Greenway in Augusta. The Belgrades: Belgrade/Rome/New Sharon/ViennaWalking and hiking getaways abound in the Belgrade Lakes region. Many of the trails are wooded; most lead to great lake views. Shortest is French's Mountain, Watson Pond Road, Rome, 0.8 mile round trip. The Mountain, off Route 27, Mountain Road, Rome, a 1.6 mile round trip, offers a remote dirt road and wooded trails. Mt. Phillip, Route 225, Rome is 2 miles round trip, an easy to moderate climb through woods with a view of Great Pond from the top. In the Kennebec Highlands, Sanders Hill, a 2.8 miles round trip, moderate hike, and Round Top, 4 miles round trip, are both accessed from the Watson Pond Road in Rome. For information, maps and special activities contact the Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance (BRCA) at Franklin County: Farmington/Wilton/JayTrails both rural and in-town are numerous in Franklin County, with an impressive packet of almost twenty walking maps available through the Healthy Community Coalition. One of the more popular routes for families and trail enthusiasts is the 14-mile Jay Farmington Rail Trail, with major trailheads in West Farmington and Wilton. The route provides a mix of terrain and is known for its proximity to wildlife. In-town Farmington, both one-mile and half-mile walking routes have been mapped by the HCC. Somerset County: Hinckley/Skowhegan/NorthL.C.Bates Museum in Hinckley (half way between Waterville and Skowhegan on Route 201) is a good starting point as well as a good source of information for the approximately 25 miles of rural, mostly wooded and relatively flat trails that are part of the school campus. For information, contact In the Skowhegan area, sixteen walking, biking and canoeing options are outlined in the Department of Parks and Recreation brochure, which includes six walking trails and an in-town tour. For more information call Kennebec Messalonskee Trails: Waterville/Oakland/Fairfield/Winslow/BentonOff-road trails for walking, running and biking along the Kennebec and Messalonskee Rivers in the communities of Waterville, Benton, Fairfield, Oakland and Winslow are part of the Kennebec Messalonskee Trails network. KM Trails also link to a variety of institutional and community trail options, such as the Colby Trail Network, the Messalonskee High School Trails, the Airport Mountain Bike Loop, the Oxbow Nature Trail, the Waterville Ridge Loops, walks within all the towns and the one-mile Waterville Jr. High Trail. To learn more about the Kennebec Messalonskee Trails, visit www.kmtrails.org or call The Kennebec Land Trust Trails: Winthrop, Wayne, Sidney, Manchester, Mount Vernon, ReadfieldThe Kennebec Land Trust has over 3,000 acres of protected land located in over a dozen towns. Most are open to the public for appropriate use; many sites have maintained trails. For maps and information, visit www.tklt.org or call | ||