Maine Cycling Routes
With. its beautiful scenery, bike-friendly roads
and shared-use paths, Maine is a great place
to cycle. In the mountains, along the coast,
through the woods and over the beautiful byways
in between, cyclists of all ages and skill levels
find that cycling in Maine is a great experience.
On the
Explore Maine site help you can check out
unique bike tours, plan your trip, or see what
fun cycling events are scheduled across the
state. View individual rides by clicking on
the links below:
The East Coast Greenway extends over 2,600
miles from Key West, Florida to Calais,
Maine. The Maine section of the East Coast
Greenway has five distinct sections:
View an interactive map of the East Coast
Greenway
Eastern Trail: Kittery to South Portland
80 ocean miles
Casco Bay Route 35 miles along Maine’s
coastline.
Brunswick to Ellsworth inland route via
Bangor 176 miles
Brunswick to Ellsworth coastal route via
Belfast) 187-miles
Downeast Trail: Ellsworth to Calais
140-miles
Inland Maine
road bike rides
The
following rides in Maine are available on the
Explore Maine site.
Visit the
Coastal Maine page.
Read more and view route maps
Capital
This
pleasant ride takes cyclists from the State
Capitol to the scenic lakes region west of Augusta.
It provides scenic views of Cobbosseecontee
Lake, rolling farmland, apple orchards and the
Kennebec River.
Kennebec River
This hilly and scenic gem
winds through the historically important Kennebec
River Valley and features a mix of agricultural
and rugged mountainous terrain.
Waterville-China Lakes
Challenging hills and excellent
views make this tour a 3-season pleaser as it
traverses the China Lakes region with its ridge
views and charming villages.
The following rides along coastal Maine
are available on the
Explore Maine site. View also
the
Inland Maine rides.
Saco River This tour
begins from popular summer beach destinations
and ventures inland along the Saco River
through rural farmland and the hamlet of
Goodwins Mills.
Southern Coast
This leisurely ride
has broad appeal for sun-worshippers, sightseers
and history buffs. The tour offers numerous
beaches, great views of the coast and many
museums and historic towns.
Eastern Trail/East Coast Greenway Tour
This 80-mile ride serves
as the southern gateway for Maine's portion
of the East Coast Greenway. Cyclists will
enjoy meandering through the rural countryside
and southern Maine villages, as well as
stopping at oceanside beaches along the
way
Freeport-Brunswick
This ride takes the
rider through the lesser-known scenic pleasures
of Freeport and nearby Brunswick. Here the
coastline harbors gorgeous views of Maine’s
rocky coast, history and an Audubon sanctuary.
Portland-Lighthouse
This tour begins with
Portland’s working waterfront and Old Port
district then heads south along the coast
to state parks and beaches. Highlights include
the several lighthouses encountered along
the way.
Casco Bay Route/East Coast Greenway Tour
This pleasant 35-mile
ride takes cyclists from Portland’s historic
waterfront to nearby suburban towns, including
Falmouth, Yarmouth, Freeport and Brunswick,
and the quiet countryside along Maine’s
coastline. Among other attractions, the
coastline offers gorgeous views of Maine’s
rocky coast, a bird sanctuary, seaside camps
and Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park
Washington County-Downeast
From endless forests
and blueberry barrens, to craggy coastline,
this tour takes you on roads less traveled
in beautiful Washington County where the
first rays of sunshine fall on the United
States.
Schoodic Peninsula
This tour takes the rider through
the easternmost reaches of Acadia National
Park at beautiful Schoodic Point, picturesque
fishing villages and a dramatic stretch
of Maine’s rocky coast. Great for beginning
cyclists, this is a short loop on low-speed
roads.
Deer Isle-Stonington This
tour includes fishing villages, beaches
and coves that beg further exploration,
with the centerpiece being Stonington.
Passamaquoddy Bay
This is a great tour
for beginning road cyclists thanks to low
traffic, good pavement and moderate grades.
It provides scenic views of Boyden Lake,
Pennamaquan River and ocean views of Passamaquoddy
Bay.
Downeast Route/East Coast Greenway Trail
See Maine’s rural and
agricultural past and present. This 140-mile
ride takes cyclists through the heart of
Downeast Maine. The route offers an unforgettable
combination of the best of rural Maine and
its small towns and villages, blueberry
barrens and bald eagles
.
Maine’s
Department of Transportation worked
with local cyclists to develop a section
of U.S. Bike Route 1 from Calais to
Portsmouth, starting with Adventure
Cycling’s
Atlantic Coast Route and the
East Coast Greenway. Maine's
USBR 1 begins on an historic bridge
just upriver from the Portsmouth Naval
Shipyard, a symbol of the state's rich
maritime history. The route follows
low-traffic roads connecting many of
Maine's major towns and cities. In Portland,
the route follows the Eastern Promontory
shore with views of the many islands
in Casco Bay. Farther north, USBR 1
follows sections of the state's three
major rivers. In Bangor the route is
along the Penobscot River, while
an alternate route, U.S. Bike Route
1A, follows the coast more closely connecting
to many harbor towns. After passing
Acadia National Park, USBR 1 continues
northeast to the border crossing into
New Brunswick.. Maine’s route connects
to New Hampshire’s
Seacoast region and the
New Hampshire Seacoast Greenway.
The Greenway has been established in
New Hampshire for a number of years
and is also used as the
East Coast Greenway through New
Hampshire.
Read more at the Adventure Cycling site.
The Maine Bike Rally is a three day combined
effort of local enthusiasts, the Casco Bay Bicycle
Club, Merrymeeting Wheelers Bicycle Club and
the Bicycle Coalition of Maine. Riders can choose
from more than 30 rides that vary in length
from a short five miles to a 100-mile century
ride winding through country lanes and shorelines.
Non-cycling events will include a bike expo
of biking related exhibits, an ice cream social,
a parade for the kids and kids-at-heart, and
some musical entertainment.The 23rd annual
Maine
Bike Rallywas held July 8 2011 at the Brunswick
High School in Brunswick, ME.
Read more and view route maps
The
Grand Tour of the St. John River Valley
is in its twenty-first year. The cycling
route starts in Fort Kent Maine, taking
you to Grand Isle and around Long Lake to
Sinclair. See potatoes, panoramic views
of the St. John River and Long Lake, and
quaint French villages.
Distance
options are 25, 50, 62 and 100 miles
Start: Northern Maine Medical Center,
Fort Kent, ME.
Read more and view route maps
Search the Bike New England site
Bike New England, Ipswich MA
Email Bike New England
Maine
Bike Rally
Bicycle
Tour of the St. John River Valley
Ride
Aroostook, Maine 