By Michelle Moody, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed The Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument — and the communities surrounding it — is a treasure with incredible potential, if only people are allowed to realize it. This summer, my local hiking group began planning a visit to the proposed national monument. We Read More
Outdoor Recreation
Maine's environment offers many opportunities to enjoy outdoor recreation, whether it be paddling, bird watching, hiking, cross-country skiing, hunting, fishing, or other activities, Maine has beautiful lakes, forests, trails, and coastline to explore. Outdoor recreation is an important part of Maine's economy as well as a reason for Maine to preserve and protect as much public land as we can, so it is available for us to enjoy now, as well as for future generations.
Summer Day 4: Aroostook River Headwaters
The final leg of my National Geographic Young Explorers grant was bittersweet. The day itself was glorious: warm, blue skies, and no clouds until we finally said goodbye to the Maine North Woods later in the afternoon. After eating breakfast and packing up camp once again, Brian tugged the canoe up the stream to Munsungen Read More
Summer Day 3: Munsungan and Millinocket Lakes
I awoke to rain again, this time pattering against the rain fly of the tent. I knew instantly we had made a mistake the night before, and I snuggled down into my sleeping bag and put the pillow over my head, willing it away for a few minutes. While we had the foresight to put Read More
It’s Time for Katahdin Region to Decide How to Grow Alongside the Monument
By Lindsay Downing, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed After college and a few years of travel, my husband and I recently decided to return to my home town of Mount Chase to take over the family business — Mt. Chase Lodge. It was a difficult decision. We were coming home to a Read More
Summer Day 2, Part 2: Allagash Falls
The paddle across the lake was easy, but the next rocky section of Allagash Stream was tough. Paint marks on particularly large rocks illustrated that many canoes had scraped along the bottom before us, and we even spotted two lost paddles caught in downed tree limbs and along the shore. We were too heavy, and Read More
Summer Day Two, Part One: Allagash River
Day two dawned wet. We could no longer access the weather report without internet or phone, but there was no mistaking the dense, low-hanging clouds. Though Bob Johnson rarely has canoers, the other couple and us were ready to paddle the Allagash Wilderness Waterway by 8 in the morning. Johnson led all of us down Read More
Experiences on the National Monument Land
Many people have shared their experiences of visiting the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument lands with us. Some visited before the designation of the Monument on August 24, 2016, and many more have been there since. Below are some blog posts, videos, and more from people who have experienced this land first-hand. If you Read More
Tour Maine’s Newest and Largest Parcel of Federal Land
By Murray Carpenter New York Times story On an early fall day, with just a hint of red tinting the maples, the view from the summit of Deasey Mountain is spectacular. To the west stand the rugged, treeless basins and knife-edge spine of Mount Katahdin. Off to the south, you see Wassataquoik Valley in the near Read More
Monumental Road
On an Indian Summer morning in October my husband, brother, and I took a backroad truck ride from Dexter up to Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. Orange and yellow leaves grabbed the sunlight and tossed it back at us as we rolled along the quiet roads to Millinocket. We were grateful for the brilliant Read More
