Biking to Baxter State Park

[bcskier]

Does anyone have any experience bicycling up to BSP especially on the Golden Road and others in that area? Is it legal? Is it courting suicide? How fast do the logging trucks go and are there times of day that are any safer than others? Any advice is appreciated.

bcskier (&biker)

 

[jniehof]

The 2004 Maine Bike Map isn't very detailed, but shows the road from Millinocket to Baxter in magenta (1500-2999 daily vehicles) closer to town, then green (0-1499). No paved shoulder. You can email bike.info at maine.gov to request their bike touring package, including the map (which may be updated by now.) You might also want to check out the Maine bike touring site or drop a line to BCM.

From the MDOT site: "The only roads from which bicycles are prohibited are Interstates 95, 195, 295, and 495 as well as the section of Route 1 between Brunswick and Bath" (i.e. limited-access divided highways.)

 

[roadtripper]

I know the North Maine Woods association prohibits bicycling on all their roads in that area, but they aren't in charge of Golden I don't believe.

The logging drinks drive FAST. I've had some damage to my car by rocks kicked up by their trucks as they passed me while I was pulled over to the side to let them past.

It's pretty crazy the speeds they travel....

 

[peakbagger]

No need to ride the Golden Road to the Togue Pond gate at BSP, the state highway that runs parallel to the Golden Road is a lot quieter, although it lacks any breakdown lane and the shoulders tend to be soft. Unless there is logging along the highway, its mostly whtiewater rafters and BSP visitors. I find that mid day tends to be quieter. Heck if you dont mind some rough riding, the old abandoned road that goes straight at the turnoff to the park was passable a few years ago all the way to Abol Bridge (lots of potholes).

Out of curiosity I thought bikes were not allowed in BSP (talk about narrow roads!)

 

[MichaelJ]

They are allowed:

Motorcycles, motorized trail bikes, and all-terrain vehicles are prohibited within the Park. Bicycles are allowed on maintained roads only with the exception of roads in the Scientific Forest Management Area (SFMA) where bicycles are prohibited.

however you are correct that the available roads are narrow, often quite washboarded, and IMO not a very enjoyable ride.

 

[spencer]

Watch out for moose! If you think they beat up on Chevys, wait until you see what they can do to a Cannondale...

As Peakbagger said, you can drive to Togue Pond on a paved, public road. It doesn't have shoulders and is twisty and would dangerous for a bike, but not suicidal. Lots have done it.

Once the road turn to dirt near the Togue Pond gate you'd need a mountain bike (or hybrid at a minimum). You can bike anywhere on the open park roads, which means you can get to any of the road-accessible camping areas (e.g. Roaring Brook, Katahdin Stream, Abol, etc.)

See JayH's past posts about biking to BSP (and even biking the Knife Edge )

 

[marty]

Logging roads

If your destination does require extensive bicycling on logging roads, here are a few things to consider:

1. The log trucks will kick up a ton of road dust in dry condiitions. Having a bandana and goggles at the ready can save your eyes, nostrils and throat. I wear a bandana loosely around my neck and pull it up over my nose when vehicles are approaching.

2. The log trucks do go fast and won't yield. I try to get off the road whenever I see or hear one behind me.

3. I don't think one can easily say a certain time is better than the other, because it really depends on the firms that are cutting in the area. Different companies have different working hours and travel to different mills, so it all can vary.

4. It gets hot on those roads in the middle of the day.

5. You will see LOTS of wildlife! That's a highlight for me

Regards,
Marty

 

[Jay H]

From what I gathered a few years ago, you're allowed to ride toward Abol Bridge, not you're not allowed on the tote road that goes towards Roaring Brook. My information may be dated though. I do have an old two sided bicycle suitability of Maine that was sent to me free from MDOT, has shoulder widths and traffic densities in a color coordinated map of maine which states the same information I put above about the tote roads in BSP.

The road to Abol Bridge, when I was on it seemed to have heavy logging truck traffic but the road is pretty wide, and with a mirror you should be able to pull way way over to the side when you hear those behomoths coming.

Jay

 

[Jay H]

See JayH's past posts about biking to BSP (and even biking the Knife Edge )

Yeah, I am still planning the logistics on Biking the Knife Edge.. Parachute, full body armor, paid life insurance..

Actually, I'd still love to bike to Katahdin someday... I got as far as Lincoln, ME where I then headed towards Danforth and Houlton...

Jay

 

[Mad Townie]

The logging drinks drive FAST. I've had some damage to my car by rocks kicked up by their trucks as they passed me while I was pulled over to the side to let them past.

It's pretty crazy the speeds they travel....

Keep in mind, too, that they're bigger than "normal" trucks. These are not public road vehicles, they're made to drive the private logging roads and to carry as much wood as feasible.

They go fast because time is money.

 

[bcskier]

Now I know

I did manage to get up to the BSP area by bike from Massachusetts. It took me eight days but I didn't ride the most direct route and more than 100 of it was on logging roads. My means of transport is a Bridgestone MB-1 with 26 x 1.5" Trek "Invert" tires so they carried me along just as well on pavement as on the dirt.

I now know the answer to my question about the Golden Rd. It's supposed to be closed to bicycles. Coming in from Greenville via Kokadjo the gate no longer exists and there are no signs stating any prohibitions except stopping cars on the shoulder so I didn't get warned I was violating any rules until I reached the Chewonki's Big Eddy campground and was just looking around when an incredulous staffer there asked me what I was doing. By then it was a little too late to do anything except just continue on.

My original plan had been to go from Greenville up the G.R. to Telos Rd. and then a bit further north shoot off to the Nesowadnehunk Field area along the BSP tote road, then follow the tote road north to the Matagamon gate and out. I learned in Greenville that they had closed the gate at Nesowadnehunk and there was no longer any official entry of the park there.

The road past Katahdin Iron Works is also officially closed to bicycles (although the AMC seems to have some kind of waiver for their activities along that road).

The Greenville area seems to be a cul-de-sac as far as officially allowed bike touring north is concerned.

Actually riding on the G.R. seemed to be no big deal. It's the widest dirt road I've ever been on and turns to pavement before reaching Ripogenus dam. There weren't too many trucks that passed me. From Rip dam out to the BSP entrance road I was only passed by four. None of them seemed too annoyed from what I could tell.

I passed up the round-Katahdin-ride at that point. I'd given up too much ground to want to retrace my ride back inside the park and besides I'd gotten plenty of logging road miles in already. I had ridden from Eustis to West Forks and then to Greenville following logging roads 99% of the way. Besides my pick-up in Rye N.H. was only 3 1/2 days away.

If anyone wants the beta on backcountry touring from Eustis to West Forks and beyond I've got some.

bcskier (and biker)