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Maine Parking Info
- Section - 1: Mt. Katahdin to Southern Nahmakanta Lake
- Section - 2: Nahmakanta Lake to West Branch of Pleasant River
- Section - 3: West Branch of Pleasant River to Monson
- Section - 4: Monson to Kennebec River
- Section - 5: Kennebec River to Maine 27
- Section - 6: Maine 27 to Maine 17
- Section - 7: Maine 17 to New Hampshire Line
Mile Marker | Directions, Comments, Source, and Year Last Reviewed | Number of Vehicles |
---|---|---|
0.00 miles US 201 Caratunk |
Follow US 201 north from Bingham for 16 miles. Hiker parking is located up a steep incline on the right side (eastside) of the road, just north of the junction of US Route 201 & old 201 at the north end of the village of Caratunk. Cross US 201 and go in on the left .3 mile to the Kennebec River and the official start of section #5. --- Caratunk is the home of Steve Longley "The Ferryman". He will take you across the Kennebec River on the official AT canoe ferry. Link to www.matc.org/alerts.htm for the latest time schedule to take the ferry. There is a white blaze on the floor of the canoe! Do not attempt to wade or swim across the Kennebec as this is dangerous! Major AT access point for Kennebec Canoe ferry & being a major US highway, well used. Lock your car and avoid placing valuables within. Route 201 is known as "moose alley". Look out for moose when driving from dusk to dawn. They could be dangerous to your car. --- Aaron Schoenberg --- |
20 |
0.00 miles US 201 Caratunk |
Forks Area Scenic Trail - alternate parking off of Rt 201 1.3 miles north from official parking area. GPS N45.25317 W69.989872 el.532 9/28/2011 --- cr --- |
25 |
0.00 miles US 201 Caratunk |
Just N of jct of US 201 & old US 201, on steep incline on E side of rd. --- We parked our car there twice (four days each time), and everything was fine. 01/13/10 --- Phil Arnold Coach --- |
1 |
0.00 miles US 201 Caratunk |
GPS N45.23853 W69.99570 el.526
9/28/11 --- |
|
3.00 miles Pierce Pond access |
2/15/08 --- |
|
3.00 miles Pierce Pond access |
From the south side of Bingham take ME 16 across the bridge over the Kennebec River. Then make a right turn along the west side of the river. You will soon be going along the west bank of Wyman Lake for a couple of miles before turning west. Then you branch right at an intersection 4.5 miles from Bingham on Carry Pond Road. This road soon turns to gravel, and at 12.1 miles the town road ends and continues as a private logging road. The road forks at 15.4 miles. The right fork heads north uphill towards Pierce Pond and crosses the AT at 19.4 miles from Bingham, immediately after crossing Pierce Pond Stream. --- This road access is excellent for a quick approach to Harrisons Pierce Pond Camp. If you have two cars you can do the short hike I highly recommend from Caratunk, US 201 one way, stay at the camp and come out here so you dont have to retrace your steps back to US 201 the second day. 4/17/2006 --- Aaron Schoenberg --- |
I did not check out or use this road access point beyond the fork at 15.4 miles, but got the information on it from the ME AT Map #5. |
7.90 miles Main logging road |
From the south side of Bingham take ME 16 across the bridge over the Kennebec River. Then make a right turn along the west side of the river. You will soon be going along the west bank of Wyman Lake for a couple of miles before turning west. Then you branch right at an intersection 4.5 miles from Bingham on Carry Pond Road. This road soon turns to gravel, and at 12.1 miles the town road ends and continues as a private logging road. The road forks at 15.4 miles. The left fork (west) continues on the private logging road, crossing the AT 18.2 miles from Bingham. --- Northbound: This is a good breaking point for a pleasant dayhike along this stretch of the AT. From US 201 to the Main Logging Road and including a couple of spur turnoffs to waterfalls and the first 0.3 mile from US 201 to the start of section 5 at the Kennebec Canoe crossing this hike involved an aggregate 8.8 miles and a modest 1700 feet of elevation gain. Southbound: From here to East Flagstaff Road, involves an 11.7 mile hike, but only 1520 feet of elevation gain. Highlights of this hike are the East & West Carry Ponds, the bog bridges thru the Arnold Swamp, and the views of Little Bigelow overlooking Flagstaff Lake from its southeast shore. Bingham is not mentioned as a trail town, because it is a distance from the AT where the trail goes directly through Caratunk. However, if slackpacking the AT through this region you will find you will save considerable driving and can use Bingham as a base for all hiking from Moxie Pond Road (Section 4 - MM 24.8) thru East Flagstaff Road (Section 5 - MM 19.6). The three shuttles take you thru Bingham. I also want to put a pitch in at this point for Pine Grove Lodge which is where we made our base for this area of the AT. It is located four miles north of Bingham and 1/2 mile up the road on your left after you depart from the shore of Wyman Lake en route to the 7.9 Main Logging Road access point. The owners of the lodge offer breakfast & dinner buffet style as well as shuttle service. They have rooms in the main lodge as well as private cabins with full bathrooms. Website: www.pinegrovelodge.com. From Bingham to this road access point it took me approximately 40 minutes. Keep an eye open for this trail access point when driving as it is easy to drive right by it (like we did). Limited parking here. Park well off the road. You may want to go 100 yards or so west of the AT to a road on the right. You can park on the corner of that road, without blocking it. Remember when parking that logging trucks do make wide turns. --- Aaron Schoenberg --- |
4 |
7.90 miles Main logging road |
From Long Falls Dam Road (MP 17.2) drive 3.5 miles north to gravel Cottage Rd, turn right, follow Cottage Rd 2.6 miles until it bears right and becomes Carrying Place Rd, follow Carrying Place Rd 4.8 miles to the side road where you can park. The AT is a few hundred feet past the side road on Carrying Place Rd (easy to miss) --- The Maine logging road, also known as Carrying Place Rd, is a good gravel road from the AT west to Long Falls Dam Rd. Be sure to park on the side road when leaving a car (reminder that logging trucks make WIDE turns). The AT is easy to miss, for a two-car drop off from Long Falls Dam Road see instructions at mile 17.2. 08/31/20 Editors note: Google Maps indicates the AT crossing location may have a name change from Carrying Place Road to Scott's Road. --- Sean Carolan --- |
2-3 |
17.20 miles Long Falls Dam Road |
Go north on Long Falls Dam Road (all paved) 19.8 miles from North New Portland. --- Being that a long no-road access stretch begins at East Flagstaff Road just 2.4 miles further along southbound and parking availability is limited (parking along narrow gravel shoulder) at this access point. I dont recommend using this location for accessing the AT. When thru-hikers come to this point northbound, painted straddling the double solid yellow lines in the middle of the road is "2,000 miles". It is close to that distance to this point from Springer Mountain, Georgia. Of course the trail has minor reroutes all the time that changes the mileage some, but it is close to that mileage at this location. It certainly is a major milestone to be witnessed by the northbounder. --- Aaron Schoenberg --- |
|
17.20 miles Long Falls Dam Road |
(FYI) MP 7.9 (Main Logging Road) is a convenient 2 car drop off location for a day hike from this location. See mile post info for directions from this location. 08/31/20 --- Sean Carolan --- |
there is room for maybe two cars, but do not park here overnight |