Find a snapshot of the past on the Old Canada Road Scenic Byway as you pass through villages and outposts that have remained the way they are for decades. Remote and unspoiled, this neck of the Maine woods embraces nature and beauty. Here people live, work, and vacation in one of the prettiest, most peaceful places in the Northeast. The byway winds gently alongside the Kennebec River, Wyman Lake, and the Dead River, as well as through vast privately owned forests. These waters dominate the southern half of the route; the forests command the northern section.
Quaint villages like Solon and Bingham occupy the southern half of the byway. The vernacular architecture of their buildings contributes to the feel of an earlier time. Moscow gives way to the steep shoreline of Wyman Lake, popular for the water recreation it offers in warmer months. As the byway hugs the lakeshore, its views reveal undeveloped ridges on the opposite shore and islands framed by dramatic stands of white birch. The 14-state Appalachian Trail crosses the byway near Caratunk. Hikers and bikers enjoy the peace and beauty they find along the trail.
Straying a few miles east of the byway, hike to Moxie Falls and see the longest known vertical drop in Maine. Continuing northward, look for armadas of whitewater rafts on their way downstream to Crusher Hole in the Forks. North of the West Forks, view mountains, ridges, and an occasional moose or deer as you pass. During the winter months, Jackman provides access to exhilarating snowmobiling trails of pure powder. In warm weather, travel east from Jackman to Moose River and become one in those rafts you passed earlier. A river-rafting trip is truly a one-of-a-kind adventure.
The Old Canada Road Scenic Byway provides a perfect old-time feeling. Charming little villages, enticing pathless forests, and rough-riding rivers all contribute to the peace and splendor of this area in Maine.
The Appalachian Trail