On Maine’s Penobscot River Trails, visitors can experience the same magnificent riverscape that inspired the writings of Henry David Thoreau. The wild, remote waterway provides a mix of tranquility and thrill, with miles of trails to hike, bike, cross-country ski, canoe and kayak.
East Branch of the Penobscot River
Pines and Ridges Warming Hut
View of Mt Katahdin from Long Meadow Warming Hut
Outdoor Education Program at Long Logan Campus
Visitor Center at Penobscot River Trails
Outdoor Education Program paddling the East Branch
Cycling on the Riverside Trail at PRT
Seboeis Riverside Trail
Seboeis River
Shin Brook Bridge at the Seboeis Riverside Trail
Aerial view of Seboeis Riverside Trail Grand Lake Rd. Trailhead
Seboeis Riverside Trail
Seboeis Riverside Trail
In 1857, Henry David Thoreau and his Penobscot guide, Joe Polis, paddled down the East Branch of the Penobscot River, in the shadow of Mount Katahdin. Thoreau’s experience in this remote part of Maine formed the material for his masterpiece, The Maine Woods. Today, Penobscot River Trails (PRT) provides a breathtaking venue where outdoor adventurers can experience the same sense of peace and excitement that shaped Thoreau’s life and perspective almost 170 years ago.
The PRT park affords 40 kilometers of riverside trails for hiking, bicycling and cross-country skiing. During most water levels, canoeing and kayaking are superb. Paddlers can launch upriver near the top of the park and paddle 13 kilometers downstream to a lower takeout. Likewise along the shore, cyclists and skiers follow meticulously maintained trails, punctuated by exquisite facilities and gorgeous views of the East Branch of the Penobscot.
Moreover, PRT is within just a 30-minute drive of one of the great wilderness destinations in the nation, Baxter State Park. Mt. Katahdin, the park’s focal point, stands at 5,200 feet, making it the tallest mountain in Maine and one of the tallest in the northern half of the Appalachian range. The picturesque Lake Millinocket lies nearby with inviting options for lodging and dining.
Seboeis Riverside Trail
Located on the outskirts of Mount Chase about 45 minutes from PRT, this 11.5km/7.2mi trail travels directly along the Seboeis River and intersects with the Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument. The Seboeis Riverside Trail features a campsite at the Grand Lake Rd. trailhead as well as a warming hut (the Snowshoe Lodge) about 2 miles into the trail.
Own & Operate
Penobscot River Trails
Penobscot River Trails
2540 Grindstone Rd, Stacyville, ME 04777
Seboeis Riverside Trail
49V8+8X, Mt Chase, ME 04765
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The Penobscot River Trails are exceptional in winter. Created by Butler Conservation Foundation, they consist of a network of ski and snowshoe trails along the East Branch of the Penobscot River in Grindstone and a scenic snowshoe path on the Seboeis River a few miles west of Shin Pond.
Bangor Daily News
In recent years, the Butler Conservation Fund has created two extraordinary outdoor facilities in Maine: Penobscot River Trails in Grindstone and Cobscook Shores in the Cobscook Bay area of Washington County. I’ve had the good fortune to hike the Cobscook Shores trails and have benefited from multiple excursions biking and skiing the Penobscot River Trails.
