Katahdin WOODS & WATERS
Loop Road TRAVELING THE
BY JOSH DEAKIN
T
he Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument is a relatively new attraction to the state with its formal inception being August of 2016. Within the national monument are over 87,000 acres of wilderness and a 16-mile Loop Road, full of sightseeing spots for tourists and locals alike. The Loop Road begins at the Sandbank Stream Picnic and Camping area. This area has been repurposed from its former days as a resource for building logging roads along Sandback Stream. The recommended time to drive the road as well as enjoying the stops along the way is two and a half hours. If you plan on doing any hiking on your trip, you may want to set aside even more time. ESKER TRAIL The first stop along the loop is the Esker Trail. This trail is named after the esker (long, winding ridges of stratified sand and gravel) that is found all over the monument. The trail is a mile round trip hike to a marsh and back. This is a great location for wild blueberries as well as some bird spotting, including Eastern Wood Pewee and the rare Black-Backed Woodpecker. This is the first of several short hikes along the loop road. SCENIC VIEWS At the first mile marker, there will be a small pull off on the Loop Road to take in a beautiful scenic view of Maine’s own Mount Katahdin,
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Katahdin WOODS & WATERS
2020
PHOTOS: AISLINN SARNACKI / BDN FILE
TRAVEL ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR FEATURES OF THE KATAHDIN WOODS AND WATERS NATIONAL MONUMENT
