Honeymoon ATV Trip

Thursday, October 6, 2011 by Northern Outdoors Trip Reviews

We came to Northern Outdoors for our honeymoon. We stayed in the Boom Chain Cozy Cabin and we loved it. It was just what we wanted. Nice bathroom, kitchen, and it was very clean. We came up for an ATV trip and we rode almost everyday. It was nice to come back after riding all day and get a nice meal and relax at the lodge. The food and beer were awesome. Having a place where we could eat, relax in the hot tub or shoot pool was a real nice touch.

I would love to come back sometime. Its well worth the trip from Vermont.

Jamie P
West Topsham, VT

Rating: 5 *****

ATV Trails

Another great time

Thursday, September 22, 2011 by Northern Outdoors Trip Reviews

We've been on two trips down the Dead and have had a great time. The staff, accomodations, equipment and food were top notch! Thanks for a great weekend! Next time Im thinking ATV'ing, or snowmobiling, or rafting the Penob...cant wait for our next trip up there, keep up the great work, you guys rock!

Steve S
Leominster, MA

Rating: 5 *****

Dead River Whitewater Rafting

Cruising the ATV trails.

Thursday, September 22, 2011 by Northern Outdoors Trip Reviews

Yes we both had a very nice cruise on the trails as this was our 1st time in this area. We drove 94 miles in 2 days, and would have driven more on Thursday--but it rained--These trails are different than in NH as many are dirt roads used by logging trucks.

We did both have a beer and food and both were great. The 1 beer I had was enough-WHOA--felt like 3 beers---what was in that Porter???

We stayed in a Cozy Cabin and the accomodations were excellent--though more shelving would be great in the kitchen area to the left of the stove/frig, as well as some hooks to hang towels as well as in the bathroom. And the outside light facing the parking spot needs to be replaced...Looking forward to returning in 2012, when the weather is warmer for us. For more ATVing and rafting next time.

We were the only ones there for 4 nights and enjoyed the quiet sounds of the darkness, along with using the fire ring....it was eerie but also serene.

Thanks for the relaxation.

Richard W
Nashua, NH

Rating: 5 *****

Maine ATV Trails
Kennebec River Pub & Brewery

Maine ATV Trails and Resort: Rail Trail Riding Best Bet For Now

Friday, May 27, 2011 by Northern Outdoors Staff

Maine ATV Trails and Resort - Northern Outdoors

Maine adventure vacations come in all shapes and sizes, and many folks that come to Northern Outdoors get here by ATV (all terrain vehicle). We love it! But due to the fragile nature of the trails this time of year, the connector trails leading to our Maine ATV trails and resort are closed for another several weeks or so. The ground is still pretty muddy and wet behind our lodge, and we need a bit more time for the trails to dry.

We understand you still want to ride though cause we do too! For the time being, our recommendation is to stick to more durable surfaces such as rail trail riding. A rail trail is characterized as a disused railway that has been converted into a multi-use trail. The good thing is that Maine's ATV rail trails tend to be flat, long and frequently running through historical areas.

If you plan to experience our Maine ATV trails and resort in the next few weeks, here's our rail trail recommendation:

After arriving at Northern Outdoors, trailer to the Moxie Lake Boat Landing and head to Greenville. This is an old rail line! Go straight down the Shirley Tote road and into Shirley. Then take the railroad bed into Greenville Junction.

The age old saying is "know before you go" so for the latest ATV trail info, just give us a call or check out www.atvmaine.org .

Maine ATV Trails and Resort
Maine Adventure Vacations
ATV Maine

We will be back

Wednesday, March 9, 2011 by Northern Outdoors Trip Reviews

We had a great time at Northern Outdoors and we will be back. I'd like some info on the ATVing up there.

Carl H
Dover, NH

Rating: 5 *****

Maine Snowmobiling
Maine ATV Trails

Inspiring - or Just Plain Fun - Stories for Maine Family Vacations

Monday, November 15, 2010 by Northern Outdoors Staff

Maine is a great place to be a kid, even if it's just for a long weekend. There are ponds and pools to swim in, loons to spot, moose to watch for, kayaks to paddle, rivers to raft, trails to hike, ATVs and snowmobiles to ride...the list goes on and on. There are also great books to read, good for a laugh, a gasp and fun for the entire family.

Here is a great list of books set in Maine and often written by Maine writers that will amuse and inspire youngsters of all ages on Maine family vacations.

Some of our favorites include:

Andre by Lew Dietz, the story of the world's most famous seal.
Baxter Bear and Moses Moose by Evariste Bernier about a bear who collects hats and a moose with cold feet.
Counting Our Way to Maine by Maggie Smith the perfect book for a roadtrip to Maine
Lost on a Mountain in Maine by Donn Fendler and Joseph Egon is the classic an unforgettable story of a boy's survival after becoming lost in the Maine woods. Based on a true story - with a happy ending!

There are a lot of great Maine stories out there, and we would love to hear about them. Which is your favorite?

Maine Snowmobile Clubs Tread Lightly! for Open Access

Wednesday, November 3, 2010 by Northern Outdoors Staff

Those who love Maine Snowmobile riding and the Maine ATV Trails and resort settings offered along the trail systems, are probably familiar with Tread Lightly! For those who are not, the Tread Lightly! was program begun in 1985 by the United States Forest Service. The goal of the program was "to encourage off highway vehicle (OHV) users to conduct themselves on National Forest Land in a way that minimizes trail, and more importantly, off-trail damage." (Tread Lightly!® In Maine - article by Steve Salisbury)

Currently, Tread Lightly! is operated as a non-profit which encourages training and responsibility with its 5 TREAD pledge (Yes TREAD actually equates to more than walking!) In this case TREAD means: Travel responsibly, Respect the rights of others, Educate yourself, Avoid sensitive areas and Do your part.

Not bad advice for anyone travelling anywhere, but, in this case, Tread Lightly!'s work is specific to people who enjoy the outdoors in mechanized vehicles, i.e. trucks, powerboats, jet skis, ATVs, snowmobiles, etc. The organization offers a variety of educational and certification progams to encourage TREAD princples and to help OHVs users preserve and conserve the land so they can have long-term use of it for their activities. Maine Snowmobile and ATV clubs encourage this type of education and smart usage of the land in order to help maintain Maine's unique system of open access to trails on private lands.

Tread Lightly! offers periodic training sessions throughout the country for those interested. A full list of programs information is available at the Tread Lightly! website.

New England Vacations Offer Year Round Adventure For Everyone

Monday, November 1, 2010 by Northern Outdoors Staff

Unlike some areas of the world where the word vacation is attached to a specific time of year, New England is a region of adventures for all seasons.

Here in Maine, winter means alpine, nordic and back country skiing and snowboarding, snowshoeing, dog sledding, ski jouring, and of course riding on Maine snowmobile trails. It's a season of first tracks, swishing edges, kicked-up sprays of snow and hot chocolate in front of fireplaces.

Spring offers bright sunny days filled with the sound of rushing water for Maine whitewater rafting, the first festivals of the year, hiking, triathlons and bird watching. Waterfalls begin to flow free with all the spring runnoff. This is when everyone breaks out the bicycles and motorcycles for fun in the early sun.

Summer is getting out from coast to mountains, exploring lakes and rivers through kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and Kennebec River rafting, hiking long trails, boating on the lakes and ocean, beach combing, cycling, berry picking, geocaching, golfing and ATVing. Don't forget the moose spotting! Summer in Maine is fun in endless ways.

Come fall, leaf looking is in season, whether from horseback or from a raft, along a lonely mountain trail or a winding back road. Dead River Rafting comes to a close with what are usually the biggest releases of the season, and fairs are everywhere this time of year — especially popular are the ones offering up the large bounty of Maine's harvest.

New England vacations have something for everyone all year round. It's one more thing to love about living here.

Fall Foliage Adds Pop to New England Vacations

Friday, October 1, 2010 by Northern Outdoors Staff

Maine Back Road, September 2010, The Forks, Maine

Whether visitors are headed to Maine for the last release of the season for Dead River Rafting, to play at Maine ATV Trails and resort adventures or to try their feet at Hut to Hut hiking trips, fall is the time to really savor being here.

From the interstate to two lane black top to the gravel backroads, seemingly endless waves of color cover the landscape.

Lakes and rivers reflect the trees, sometimes making it hard to know where land begins and water ends. Kennebec River rafting through the Kennebec River Gorge this time of year is nothing short of spectacular. Even just sitting on the porch of a rental cabin, sipping a hot drink and listening to the breeze in the leaves and watching them fall is a special time.

New England Vacations A Different Kind of Adventure in Fall Foliage Season

Tuesday, September 21, 2010 by Northern Outdoors Staff

Sometimes when people think of Maine adventure vacations, they think big and wild — huge whitewater, rocky hiking trails, skiing above treeline at Sugarloaf — but not every adventure has to be hardcore and not every adventurer has to be a rugged outdoor adrenaline fiend.

For those who live where the leaves do not change and who have never experienced the thrilling beauty of a crisp fall morning, we offer the simple joy of a fall foliage vacation. There is nothing like waking and walking outside with a hot cup of coffee to watch mist roll through brilliantly colored maples and birch, hear loons cry on the lake below and just sigh in bliss. A walk along the Kennebec River on the Old Canada Road trail, a site-seeing drive along Route 201 to Jackman, a geo-caching scavenger hunt among the fallen leaves — all of these are the mellower side of adventuring in Maine.

The other options also exist — Maine whitewater rafting through a fall foliage shrouded gorge - ATV rides through fallen leaves, a climb to the peak of a mountain — for those who want high adventure, but they are not required for a great fall adventure in Maine.

Maine Cabin Rentals - What the Heck Is A Cabin Tent?

Monday, May 31, 2010 by Northern Outdoors Staff

Cabin Tent, Platform Tent at Northern Outdoors in The Forks, ME

Heading to the Maine woods to ride on Maine ATV trails or indulge in Kennebec river rafting, means traveling a few hours from home. Most people make a weekend of it, and turn their time here into mini Maine adventure vacations.

One way to make a weekend getaway affordable is to choose to camp out instead of staying in a motel or renting a cabin. But then there's all the bother of setting up tents, rolling them up damp from dew the morning it's time to leave, drying them out at home and packing them away... Enter the cabin tent!

Made from rugged canvas, these cabin tents — also called platform tents — are semi-permanent structures set up off the ground on wooden platforms. They have wooden doors, often a window or two and have 2-4 wooden cots with mattresses upon which to spread out sleeping bags and dream the night away. Each also has it's own picnic table and fire ring.

With access to a shared bathhouse complete with hot showers, cabin tents offer the cost savings of tent camping, but without a big part of the hassle. Add to that the sound of the Kennebec River in the background and a short walk to the main lodge where great food, fresh beer, a hot tub and great company await, and cabin tents become a great adventure lodging option!

Northern Outdoors profiled in ATVSource.com

Friday, December 18, 2009 by Northern Outdoors Staff

ATVSource.com recently carried a profile of Northern Outdoors including a brief history and background on the company and its decision earlier this year to cater to ATV's and UTV's looking for a convenient base-camp from which to explore Maine's extensive network of ATV Trails.

Northern Outdoors is long established as one of Maine's most popular one-stop Snowmobile Resorts and is now aiming to appeal to powersports enthusiasts year-round with the addition of a spring / summer / fall spur trail which connects to Maine's extensive network of over 6,000 miles of dedicated ATV trails.

For more information on Northern Outdoors visit www.NorthernOutdoors.com or call 800-765-7238

Maine Kennebec River - Old Canada Road National Scenic Byway

Saturday, October 17, 2009 by Northern Outdoors Staff

Cruising north out of Skowhegan on U.S. Route 201, you top a hill and a view opens up before you - mountains roll to the horizon and the sky doubles in size. On your left, in a grassy area, is a sign announcing you are now driving on the Old Canada Road National Scenic Byway. A few hundred feet past the sign is an unmarked turn onto a gravel road that twists up to a picnic pavilion and another spectacular view. Everything is new and this is obviously the beginnings of a larger project - below the picnic area you can see signs of work in the woods. where walking trails are in the process of being cut. Hmmm...a place to return to and explore some more on future trips. Informational plaques on stands offer information about the mountains before you and the history of the area, it's clear they are the first of many you can stop and read along 201 north.

Breath in the view for a while, then continue north, into history, into wilderness and into adventure. A National Scenic ByWay has to be more that a pretty drive - it has to be a route with history significant to the region and offer much to see and do. The Old Canada Road is a prime example, with historical markers, spectacular scenery, and endless opportunities for outdoor adventure from Kennebec River rafting, ATV trails and resorts, and Hut to Hut Hiking trips to wintertime Maine snowmobile vacations. The houses and towns along the way are small and hardy, the people tough and friendly, the journey worth taking!

Maine Family Vacation Surprise

Tuesday, October 13, 2009 by Northern Outdoors Staff

Benedict Arnold Historical Marker Kennebec River Maine

Driving up 201 toward Northern Outdoors on a New England vacation adventure, Wyman Lake and the Kennebec River hug the right side of the road for long stretches. There are several unmarked turnouts, and one vaguely marked 'Historic Site'. A small brown sign points the way to a narrow gravelled pullout with room for maybe two cars. The historic marker there is simple, a plaque mounted on a small boulder on a bluff overlooking the Kennebec. The view of the river is more impressive than the marker, but once you take a few moments to read, surprise takes hold.

Who crossed the Kennebec River at this lovely spot, and marched up the very route you are driving on the way to your Dead River rafting trip? Benedict Arnold - on his way to fight the British in Quebec! What is this? A moment not only in Maine history, but the history of our country? A surprise find in an area of Maine known more for Maine ATV trails and resorts designed for outdoor adventure. So when you're driving up see us at Northern Outdoors - take a moment to stop at this site and feel the history!

The Forks Fall Foliage Forecast

Wednesday, September 16, 2009 by Northern Outdoors Staff

It was a rainy summer here in Maine, but all that rain has an upside folks planning a fall New England Vacation. We're not at peak yet, but give us a few weeks. We'll keep an eye on the trees and let you know what's happening.

Rangley Lake Fall Color, New England Vacation

Bill Ostrofsky, a forest pathologist with the Maine Forest Service was asked by mainefoliage.com what we can expect for fall color this year: "Good foliage development is a prerequisite for good fall color. The plentiful summer rain allowed the foliage to develop vigorously, and most crowns now appear full, dense, and very lush. All regions appear to be on track for another spectacular season."

Now that's what we like to hear! There's nothing like whitewater rafting New England style to the backdrop of orange and red maples, bright yellow birch, deep green balsam. And when we're playing on land not water, the ATV trails and hiking trails just glow gold when we travel them.

We expect the first weekend of October to be peak color here in The Forks and that heppens to coincide with Octoberfest and the season's final dam release on The Dead River! A perfect time for a long weekend Maine family vacation!

More from Dirt Trax TV

Saturday, June 27, 2009 by Russell Walters

A couple of weeks back I wrote about a trip we were hosting with Dirt Trax TV and ATV Maine in The Forks.

I recently checked Taera's blog at Dirt Trax and she has posted three separate articles about her trip south of the border.

In her first article Taera details her drive south from Ontario and her arrival at Northern Outdoors.

The second and third articles include details on a trail ride to Greenville, a profile of two Dirt Trax viewers, Rodney & Becky, from East Lebanon, Maine and a nice "wrap up" by ATV Maine president Jim Lane. We'll be sure to post an alert when the episode airs on TV some time in the fall.

DirtTrax rides in Maine

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 by Russell Walters

We've been thick into the ATV world for the past couple of days - hosting Taera McLean, and her camerman Doug, from DirtTrax TV as they film a DirtTrax TV segment on riding in Maine. Yesterday Jim Yearwood (Snowmobile trailmaster, ATV enthusiast, founder of our KBR brewery, and one of our owners) guided the group to Greenville and today they headed out to the new Moxie Falls trail.

In this photo you can see Taera, doing her morning introduction with Jim Yearwood, in the background speaking to Joy and Alyssa Harvey from ATV Maine. We invited ATV Maine to join the filming to give their perspective on the developing statewide ATV Trail system and current issues effecting the sport here in Maine. (see last summer's blog interviews with Jim Lane for more info on ATV Maine.)

Raft, Draft and Dirt

Wednesday, May 27, 2009 by Russell Walters

This afternoon, I checked out the course for the fun run component of the upcoming Kennebec River Brewery, Raft ‘n Draft weekend. With all the dry weather we’ve had this past few weeks I have to report there’s not a lot of mud in sight, although Wednesday and Thursday it looks as if it will rain, so things could change dramatically.

The 3.7 mile run starts in the campground at Northern Outdoors at 10.30am and winds north along The Forks Area Scenic Trail for about 1.85 miles. The first section is undulating with some nice views of The Kennebec River. The course then crosses route 201 and climbs a steep dirt road for what seems like an eternity, but is in fact just 0.9 miles and an elevation gain of just over 500 feet.

Finally, it’s all downhill, back to The Forks Resort using the ATV Trail. Be advised, this last section is rocky, muddy, slippery and steep, but once back at the lodge there’s plenty of hot showers and perhaps a cold handcrafted beer as a fitting reward for your morning run. See you on Sunday.

Maine's ATV Season is Underway

Sunday, May 24, 2009 by Russell Walters

The Maine whitewater rafting season is underway and now with the Memorial Day holiday weekend comes the unofficial opening of Maine's ATV Trail System. Reports from riders in the area this weekend are that The Forks Area trails are generally in good condition with just a couple of wet spots. We had over twenty five riders stop in off the trails for lunch coming from Solon, Bingham, Rockwood and Greenville.

The connecting trail from the Boise Road to Northern Outdoors will be closed through the week due to an active logging operation and is only open on Saturday's and Sunday's and Monday May 25th. Riders leaving from Northern Outdoors will need to trailer their ATV''s a short distance to access the trail system during the week.

Area ATV Trail Maps are available at the main lodge at Northern Outdoors. We are also working to get them online.

Please remember riding on private land in Maine is a privilege, our rural economies and lifestyle depend on your respect for private property.

Have fun, ride responsibly, ride safe, and respect private land.

The 2009 Maine Whitewater Rafting Season is underway

Saturday, May 2, 2009 by Russell Walters

We kicked off the 2009 Maine Whitewater rafting season today with a trip down the Dead River with 56 adventurous souls.

After weeks of preparation it's always nice to get the first trip of the year on-the-water.

Now we can look forward to three more Dead River trips in May, whitewater guide training which starts on May 14th and our first ever Raft-n-Draft event on May 30th sponsored by our very own Kennebec River Brewery. There will be beer tasting, live music, a pig roast, brewery tours, did I mention the beer tasting? rafting on the Dead River and for those with any energy left on Sunday there's a 4-mile mud run/walk/crawl to celebrate spring in Maine.

In addition to rafting we're also gearing up for spring fishing, our new hut-to-hut hiking program and the arrival of Maine's ATV season at the end of the month.

So, don't sit around lamenting the woes of the world, grab a paddle, your hiking boots, a fishing rod or your ATV keys and get up here to The Forks to shake off the winter cobwebs and start to enjoy the benefits of Maine's great outdoors.