Scenic Drives
Slow down and Enjoy the Views
One of the best ways to cover Maine’s Kennebec Valley’s nearly 5,000 square miles of natural beauty is by car. A leisurely drive along the backroads and byways of Maine’s Kennebec Valley offer the opportunity to marvel at the region in every season.
Late spring into summer brings the bright greens of trees dressed with new leaves. Summer skies fill with blue puffs of white floating over the deep green canopy. Autumn’s vibrant hues will leave you breathless. Wintery whites of new-fallen snow amaze as brilliant rays of sunlight peep through bare trees.
It Takes Moxie
This drive starts on Route 201N in Bingham, passing through Moscow and Caratunk to The Forks. Just before 201 crosses the Kennebec, look for the sign for Rest Area-The Forks; this turn is Lake Moxie Road.
Proceed past the rest area for two miles. On the left, you will find the Moxie Falls Trailhead and Parking Area. This easy, family-friendly hike is two miles round trip. Visitors will find several wooden observation platforms providing views of Moxie Stream’s plunges.
After a visit to Moxie Falls, drive back to Route 201. Turn right, heading north to Jackman. Just north of the Attean Overlook—this view west should not be missed, so plan to stop—turn right onto Route 6/15 towards Rockwood.
As you drive through Rockwood, take in majestic Mount Kineo, where the road sharply curves south to Moosehead and Greenville Center. Follow Route 6 south to Abbot, where a left onto Route 16 will take you through agricultural lands to Route 201 in Moscow.
Length: 144 Miles Travel Time: 3.25 Hours (without stops)
Hint: Watch for moose as you ride from Jackman to Rockwood; they enjoy salt found along the road.
Kennebec County Loop
Start your driving tour in Gardiner’s historic downtown district. Head north on Route 201 to Hallowell. Stop at Waterfront Granite City Park and spend a few minutes gazing out at the river from one of the “rainbow chairs”.
Proceed along 201 to Augusta, past Capitol Park and the State House. At the rotary follow signs to 100/202 towards Manchester. In Manchester the road will dip down to the north end of Cobbosseecontee Lake. Stop into the White Duck Pub to try their Duck Confit Poutine. A little further on 202/100 turn left on Route 135, winding along the lake’s west side through East Monmouth to Route 132 in Monmouth. Turn left here.
Catch a glimpse of The Theater at Monmouth, then take a quick left turn onto Cobbosseecontee Road. Proceed past the south end of Lake Cobbossee where the road becomes Hardscrabble Road to Litchfield and Hallowell-Litchfield Road to Brown’s Corner, where you will bear right onto High Street through West Gardiner back to Route 201 in Gardiner.
Length: 40 Miles Travel Time: 1.5 Hours (without stops)
HINT: This route is especially scenic in mid-October during peak foliage.
Old Canada Road National Scenic Byway & Voyage International
The Old Canada Road National Scenic Byway stretches nearly 78 miles across Maine’s Kennebec Valley from Solon to the Armstrong-Jackman Border Crossing at Sandy Bay Township. So if the Kennebec River is considered the heart of the region, this portion of ME Route 201 is its spine.
Beginning, unofficially at the Robbins Hill Scenic Area travelers are awarded with seemingly endless scenic views of waterways and mountain vistas. The route passes through miles of
forestland with chances to spot wildlife or a moose or two.
Take a break to enjoy the scenic pullouts at Attean Overlook and Lake Parlin. North of Jackman, the road is again in the mountains and the great north woods working forest as it heads to the Border.
Once in Canada, take Route 173, turn left on Route 269, and left again at Route 204 in St. Gideon. Follow Route 161 to Woburn, cross into the U.S. at Coburn Gore. Follow Route 27 into Kingfield. Heading south bear left onto Old Kingfield Road, then left on Wire Bridge Road. This will take you across the Carrabassett River via the Wire Bridge. Follow signs to New Portland and Route 16 in North Anson.
Length: 245 Miles Travel Time: 5.5 Hours (without stops)
Hint: Bring your passport; you will need it to cross the border.
Explore the stops along the way
Length: 78 Miles | Travel Time: 3 Hours
Traveling along the Kennebec River, Wyman Lake, and through The Forks area, where the Dead and Kennebec Rivers converge, travelers are awarded with seemingly endless scenic views of the region’s waterways and mountain vistas. North of The Forks, the road passes through miles of forestland with lots of chances to spot wildlife—maybe even a moose or two.
Rest stops offer informational kiosks and historical markers with scenic pullouts at Attean Overlook and Lake Parlin. North of Jackman, the road is again in the mountains and the great north woods working forest as it heads to the Border and on to Quebec.
The Old Canada Road—Route 201—was a major trade route and immigration trail from Quebec to the manufacturing mills in Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. At the same time, the Kennebec River defined this area of the state in its geography and history as a major transportation route, first for the Abenaki and later for European colonists.
During the American Revolution, Benedict Arnold led troops up the Kennebec in large open canoes (called bateau) for an ill-fated assault on Quebec City. From before 1680 to 1976, the river carried logs harvested from the vast ancient forests to the region’s mill towns.
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