HANCOCK — With the snip of a yellow ribbon on Sept. 21, 2010, outdoor recreationists gained full access to the 87-mile Down East Sunrise Trail — and ATVers now ride where trains once rumbled.
Owned by the Maine Department of Transportation and maintained by the Maine Department of Conservation, the DEST extends from Washington Junction in Hancock to Ayers Junction on Route 214 in Pembroke. The trail takes ATVers across inland and coastal landscapes that reflect Maine’s natural beauty, from the Schoodic Bog to the Narraguagus River to the Machias River to Big Meadow.
The countryside’s so beautiful, ATVers must see it to believe it.
And many do.
Open to outdoor recreationists of all types, the DEST features a hard-packed gravel surface, redecked bridges, and sufficient signs to steer ATVers in the right direction. The trail intersects critical local trails, including several that access interior Washington County.
A four-wheeling excursion on the DEST can encompass inland waterways, thick spruce-fit forests, tidal waterways (along the East Machias and Machias rivers), wide meadows, and the inevitable beaver lodge rising from a trailside flowage. Watch for wildlife; birds abound, and signs identify turtle nesting habitat near particular streams. Deer, moose, black bear, and the occasional otter sometimes appear on or near the trail.
Although the DEST crosses Route 1 only once, multiple road crossings — public and private — exist along its length. Obey the stop signs: Traffic appears quickly around nearby curves.
Stay to the right on the trail. Thick woods obscure some curves; straying too far left could be dangerous.
Two ATVs can pass carefully side by side on the DEST except on the bridges. Be careful when approach-ing an oncoming ATVer or bicyclist where the trail crosses a wetland, as on the Schoodic Bog: One bump, and somebody’s in the drink.
For folks wondering just where they are when riding the trail, signs identify municipal boundaries, and “mile markers” tick off the miles from Washington Junction (just shy of Mile 2) to Ayers Junction (about 3/8-mile beyond Mile 87). The reason that Washington Junction is not Mile 0 is that the Department of Conservation wants to extend the DEST two miles west to High Street in Ellsworth.
Trail access is easy. For ATVers needing to park a truck and trailer, adequate trail heads exist at:
• Washington Junction, located about midway between High Street in Ellsworth and Route 1 in Hancock. This trail head can accommodate many vehicles and has a portable toilet;
• Route 182, just west of the Franklin Trading Post in Franklin;
• Route 183 in East Sullivan. This small trail head lies beneath a short, steep downslope, so be careful when entering or exiting;
• Route 193 in Cherryfield, just north of the Willey District Road intersection;
• Tibbettstown Road in Columbia Falls, just north of the Route 1 intersection. This lot can hold three trucks, perhaps. Be careful when entering or exiting;
• Station Road in Jonesboro. Although isolated, this trail head provides good east-west access to the DEST’s central section;
• Route 1 just east of the Machias Dike. Located across the highway from Dunkin Donuts, this trail head is popular with bicyclists and hikers;
• Station Road in East Machias, just east of the Machiasport bridge;
• On Willow Street in East Machias, just behind Archibald’s Store;
• At Route 191 about 6½ miles north of East Machias;
• Just off the Milwaukee Road in Dennysville. This trail head lies west of Route 86 and north of the Denny Rivers bridge;
• Ayers Junction, located on Route 214 about 4 miles from Pembroke. There is a portable toilet here.
For much of its length, the Down East Sunrise Trail runs far from population centers; services are spotty, so plan accordingly. Headed east from Washington Junction, ATVers can obtain services at:
• The Franklin Trading Post (food and fuel), just off Mile Marker 11. The rear parking lot was expanded last year to handle trail traffic;
• North Street Café in Cherryfield (food), located beside the trail about halfway between Mile Markers 29 and 30. Watch for the sign and arrow;
• The Circle K (food and fuel) on Route 1 in Harrington. A sign on the DEST directs ATVers onto a local trail leading to this business;
• Main Street in Machias (food, fuel, and overnight accommodations);
• Archibald’s Store (food and fuel), near Mile Marker 62 in East Machias;
• At the Dodge Road stop sign in Dennysville, signs direct ATVers to the Cobscook Bay Café (food), 6.5 miles away on Route 1 in Dennysville; the Whiting Store (food and fuel), 14 miles away on Route 1 in Whiting; or McLeod’s Variety (food and fuel), 27 miles away on Route 9 in Baileyville;
• A bit farther east, a sign directs ATVers to a local business with overnight cottages;
• From Ayers Junction, a local club trail will bring ATVers to a Route 1 store in Pembroke. Cross the road and follow the old railroad bed east.