The development of a world-class mountain bike trail network in Carrabassett Valley is underway, and one of Maine’s most iconic companies, L.L. Bean, recently has stepped forward with a $50,000 grant that would support the ongoing project.
The grant was awarded to the Carrabassett Region chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association, or CRNEMBA, by L.L. Bean’s Charitable Giving for Conservation and Outdoor Recreation. According to CRNEMBA President Peter Smith, the funds will be matched by the town of Carrabassett Valley. Combined with other funding sources, the grant will generate a total of $237,000 for trail construction.
“We’re trying to create a really second-to-none world-class mountain bike facility for people who really want to come and enjoy themselves in this part of the world,” Smith said.
Since 2011, CRNEMBA has collaborated with the town of Carrabassett Valley, Maine Huts & Trails and other partners to create a mountain biking trail system that is meant to put the Carrabassett area on the national stage as mountain biking destination. By the end of 2014, there were about 77 miles of mountain bike trails in the region. Nearly 23 of those miles were singletrack trails built specifically for mountain biking. The trails vary in difficulty, catering to riders of all levels.
“The quality of the trails — that’s why people will come,” Smith said. “It’s going to be worth it to travel the distance they have to travel to come here because it’s such an incredibly fun riding experience. And it’s not just for the hardcore riders.”
More than 4,700 hours of volunteer labor and more than $323,000 have been invested into the trail system so far, according to a recent CRNEMBA press release.
The Carrabassett Mountain Bike Trail Network currently includes two trail networks they call “pods.” Pod One is the 35-mile trail network at the Sugarloaf Outdoor Center, where mountain bikes are available to rent. Pod Two is the 42-mile trail network at the Campbell Field Trailhead. These pods are linked by an introductory level mountain bike trail known as the Route 27 Connector Trail.
Specifically, the L.L. Bean grant — combined with additional funds provided by CRNEMBA and of Carrabassett Valley — will provide $130,000 for investment in Pod Two, the Campbell Field Trail Head. These funds will be used to create up to 12 miles of new trails, including a new multi-use trail to the Maine Huts & Trails Stratton Brook Hut for mountain bike riders and Nordic skiers. Construction of these trails will take place over the next two years, according to a recent press release.
“L.L. Bean is very pleased to support the project to develop a mountain bike destination in the Carrabassett Valley area,” L.L. Bean spokesman Mac McKeever said in a prepared statement.
“This is a part of the state that depends heavily on winter tourism,” Smith said. “One of our hopes is that this is a piece of the economic puzzle, that it will help make a sustainable economic in our area, where many people come to work in the winter but are forced to leave in the summer.”
The growing mountain biking trail network also will be supported by a recent $35,000 grant awarded to the town of Carrabassett Valley by the State of Maine through the Recreational Trails Program Grant. Coupled with matching funds from the town and other sources, there will be about $107,000 available for the investment mountain bike trail construction at the Sugarloaf Outdoor Center. This investment is expected to add about 5.5 miles to the trail network in the next two years.
“I went out biking this morning — a Wednesday, in the middle of the week and a hot day — and I must have seen 20 to 30 people at the [Sugarloaf] Outdoor Center alone,” Smith said. “That’s something we’d normally only see on the weekend. I’m thrilled. Something’s happening.”
For information about CRNEMBA, visit carrabassett.nemba.org.