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About Cross Country Skiing |
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Cross Country Skiing (also Nordic Skiing or XC Skiing) is, in the opinion of many exercise physiologists and researchers, the world's best aerobic fitness activity. A XC skier can burn 500 calories per hour at a moderate, steady pace. The quick learning curve, low injury rate, and natural motions of XC Skiing allow folks of all ages, fitness levels and interests to participate. Equipment costs are very reasonable and will last for many years. Combine all those positives with the beautiful winter scenery of the Katahdin Area, and what are you waiting for? ... Get out there! |
Volunteers, often associated with local snowmobile clubs, maintain the trails. Trails near Millinocket and East Millinocket are located on private timberlands owned and managed by Katahdin Forest Management and on a town lot in East Millinocket. These trails occur in a working forest setting where multiple uses are welcome! Timber harvests periodically take place in the vicinity of these trails.
At the southern end of Baxter State Park, day use skiers make use of several hiking trails suitable for skiing originating out of the Abol Area. These trails are not groomed and offer a more backcountry type of experience. |
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The most actively maintained trails are near Millinocket. Volunteers with the Northern Timber Cruisers Snowmobile and Cross Country Ski Club groom and maintain roughly 20 miles of cross-country ski trails. Trails are normally groomed after each major storm (6"+ of new snow). Dogs are not permitted on the trails at either the Bait Hole or Clubhouse. Dogs are welcome, however, on a groomed trail at the Wilderness Edge Campground (just east of the Clubhouse) and at the Jerry Pond recreaton area.
These track set trails are available for your use without a fee. Donations to assist with maintenance costs are welcome and may be sent to the Northern Timber Cruisers, P.O. Box 269, Millinocket, Maine 04462-0269 with the notation, "Ski Trails".
For more information on these wonderful trails, along with daily reports on skiing conditions, contact Don Nodine at 207-723-4329 ... and make sure to thank him, he's one of the trail systems' originators, architects, groomers and a die-hard X-C skier! |
Bait Hole Trail: Located on Route 11, just 3 miles south of town, the Bait Hole offers double-tracked and single-tracked ski trails with room off to the side for snowshoeing for roughly 3 miles of the trail. Impressive views of Mt. Katahdin may be seen from the shores of Elbow Lake. This trail system is very popular because it can be skied with minimum snow cover and the trails are wide, well-groomed and mostly flat with a couple of gentle hills making them suitable for skiers of all abilities. At the trailhead are maps showing the easiest loops. The Bait Hole Loop is roughly 3 miles long and skiers can take short cuts or add side loops to reduce or increase the distance from 1 to 8 miles.
The Bait Hole gets its name from a small pond that baitfish were kept in, isolated from the larger nearby lake by a causeway built in association with the North Twin Dam. Large drifts can form near these causeways due to the strong winds coming across Elbow Lake. "No Wind Way" is a good option to avoid the snowdrifts or strong winds. With the right conditions though, the views are great from the causeways.
Trail Details:
Parking for the Bait Hole Trail is roughly 3 miles south of Millinocket on the north side of Route 11 (new parking area) with overflow parking still available on the south side. (From I-95, Exit 244, take Route 11 South through Millinocket.) |
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Starting at the parking lot, North Twin Dam Loop - West or left to North Twin Dam and loop back-1.6 miles and there is one steep hill by the dam. |
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Bait Hole Loop - West or left, then loops right (clockwise) continue on across causeways, north or right along Elbow Lake and then through the woods to Three Corners, then via Four Corners and return toward parking area, about a 3 mile loop. |
North Twin Dam Loop - Avoids wind, drifts and possibly low snow cover near the causeways. |
Center Trail - This trail begins at the railroad tracks and can form a short loop with No Wind way. It is also a good choice for spring skiing, even into early April, to access the rest of the Bait Hole during low snow.
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Four Corners - The starting point for several loop trails. Beaver Pond Inlet Trail leads to the Old Boston Trail and to Super Loop. Both trails either loop back or continue to the Golden Road. |
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Clubhouse Trails: Another popular set of trails starts at the Northern Timber Cruisers Clubhouse which is 1.6 miles northwest of Penobscot Avenue in Millinocket on the Baxter State Park Road. These trails are completely separate from the snowmobile trials that tie into the Clubhouse and are also groomed with set tracks for traditional skiing. Light lunches are served from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekends at the NTC clubhouse.
There are three parallel trails going north from the clubhouse: A West, A East and K Trails. The A trail splits into A West and A East a short distance north of the clubhouse. Each route has occasional views of Mt. Katahdin and is generally well sheltered in the woods. Skiers may take 3 to 5 mile loops through the woods or may extend their trip up to as much as 9 miles round trip across Little Smith Pond and a wetland area to a warming hut on the far or northern side of the wetland (technically a fen). These open areas provide magnificent views of Mount Katahdin, but are only usable after the wet areas are well frozen and when visibility is good.
Trail Details:
Parking is available at the Northern Timber Cruisers Clubhouse. |
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A East - This trail comes our onto the K Trail. There are a number of moderate uphills as you head north. |
A West - Goes northwest to Little Smith Brook Pond and then to either B West or C Trail to form loops. This trail has few hills.
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B West - Goes northeast to Little Smith Brook Pond then crosses the pond to A West and returns to the clubhouse to make a loop roughly 3 miles long. |
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C Trail - Connects A West and K Trail making a 5.5 mile loop. Travel counter clockwise (A-East or K, then C, then A-West) to minimize steep downhills. |
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K Trail - This trail goes north from the Clubhouse, parallel and east of the A Trail. There is a steep hill with a curve 300 yards north of the Clubhouse. A quarter mile from the clubhouse, the K Trail becomes an unplowed truck road. This wide opening in the forest is windy and very COLD when there is a north wind. 1.1 miles north of the clubhouse the K Trail goes to the right and runs paralled and east of the truck road. (Big Rock), a large erratic, is on the right. The K Trail extends 0.7 miles as a separate trail parallel the truck road. The truck rd. leaves the K Trail (goes northeast). the K Trail connects with the C Trail (which goes west to the A West Trail). The K Trail continues north, crosses a bridge then continues 1.7 miles to the warming hut. The Warming Hut is a 6'x8' A frame equipped with a woodstove.  Visitors are welcome to stop and warm up! K Trail hills are steepest when going south. |
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East Millinocket – Medway Area Trails |
There are also about 10 miles of trails in East Millinocket and Medway, which are groomed and maintained by East Branch SnoRovers Club volunteers, in particular one dedicated volunteer, Morris Daigle. The trails here are also usually groomed after each major storm. There is no fee charged for these trails, but donations are welcome to assist with maintenance costs and may be made to: East Branch SnoRovers Club, P.O. Box 397, East Millinocket, ME 04430 with a notation, "Ski Trails".
The trails originate at the SnoRover's Clubhouse on the Hathaway Farm Road in Medway 4 miles west of I-95 on the East Branch of the Penobscot River. Take Exit 244 off I-95, go west or left on Rt 157/11, then right on Wilderness Drive, then right on Hathaway Road. Parking is available at the clubhouse.
East Millinocket residents also access the trails from the sports fields north of Schenck High School.
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East Branch Trails: Starting from the Clubhouse, the trail goes northwest, generally following the course of the East Branch of the Penobscot River. It goes through dense softwood stands up and down small hills and out into open hardwood stands. After roughly 2 miles, skiers may go right (north) or left (west).
The left or westward trail leads to the high school and is about 3 miles long from the clubhouse. The right or northward trail either goes to a short loop and then back (about 3 miles total) or continues north, then west and then south for a longer trip about 5.5 miles long to the high school fields. ... Or before reaching the high school, skiers may loop back to the clubhouse for a round trip over 6 miles.
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Abol Area Trails, Baxter State Park |
These ungroomed trails are all located near the southern edge of Baxter State Park. Many times, snow cover will be deeper or the snow lighter than on the trails surrounding Millinocket due to the increased elevation. Most of these are out and back trips, not loops. They are usually lightly traveled so be prepared to break out your own trail.
The Baxter State Park Tote Road is a shared trail used by snowmobilers and skiers. Skiers will find the snowmobile traffic to be less later in the season since the road is not groomed.
The Park has a "No Pets" rule and strict procedures for overnight winter use. Please check http://www.baxterstateparkauthority.com/hiking/hikingWinter.html
for further information.
The trails are best accessed by traveling west from Millinocket on the Baxter State Park Road to the crossover to the Golden Road near the Big Moose Inn and then continuing westward to a parking area on the left or south of the road, just before the Abol Bridge, about 20 miles west of Millinocket.
Park well off the Golden Road, a privately maintained logging road, to avoid conflicts with snow plowing and trucking. Be aware that the parking area is not patrolled. To access trails, cross the Golden Road and then a snowmobile trail to a gravel pit with a couple of storage sheds, continuing in the direction of Mount Katahdin. Shortly you will see a sign indicating you are entering Baxter State Park. Day use skiers are asked to sign in at the trailhead. |
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Abol Stream Trail - To the right or east is an administrative access trail for park personnel using snowmobiles, which skiers can follow along Abol Stream to the Abol Beach Picnic Area -- 1.2 miles one way. The trail is generally level, has several excellent views of Mount Katahdin and Abol Stream, a beautiful, clear stream that often stays open for much of the winter. From the Picnic Area, the trail connects with Kettle Ponds Trail, Cranberry Pond Trail and the park perimeter road, which is open to snowmobiles and skiers, but is not groomed. |
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Other Trails - Instead of turning right as described above, continue over the bridge crossing Abol Stream to access the Abol Pond Trail, Blueberry Ledges Trail, Foss Knowlton Trail and the Appalachian Trail described below. |
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Abol Pond Trail - Currently it is best to access this trail from the west since the bridge connecting this trail to Abol Stream Trail is out and plan to make this an ‘out and back' trip. This trail goes through some open, burn-type forests and then abruptly transitions into dense softwood forest as the trails descends down toward the stream-- 1.7 miles one way. Do not attempt to cross the stream, since the ice is often unreliable here. |
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Blueberry Ledges Trail - This trail climbs up fairly gradually at first and then more steeply closer to the ledges as it follows the general course of Katahdin Stream. Skiers can hear the roar of the stream in several places as it rushes over large granite boulders and outcrops that characterize the area. Enjoy a southern exposure and unobstructed views in the burned over ledges area above the stream. If surface water flow hasn't made the trail impassible, it is possible to ski to the stream. Do not attempt to cross the stream - currents are dangerous here. The ski-able part of the trail is approximately 2.5 miles one way and the climb up is rewarded with a nice ride down. |
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Foss Knowlton Trail - Follow the Appalachian Trail west past the Park informational sign and across the bridge over Katahdin Stream. The trail goes right or north, climbing up mostly with a few downward grades and flat stretches. It crosses a couple of streams that have been dammed by beavers. Foss Knowlton Pond is about 3 miles from Abol Stream and Daicy Pond is about 5.3 miles one way. These small ponds offer outstanding views of Katahdin and other smaller mountains in the vicinity west to Veto Mountain. |
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Appalachian Trail (AT) - Skiers may also use the AT as it follows a fairly flat course along the West Branch of the Penobscot River between Abol Stream and Nesourdnahunk Stream - 3.5 miles one way. Currently a bridge out over a small, unnamed stream makes passage difficult without good snow cover and enough cold to ice over the stream. |
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Recreational Activities 
There are groomed tracks for traditional style skiing to back country trails where you may be the first to make tracks through fresh snow.
