Get on gravel
Take the road less traveled. Gravel bikes are a gateway to miles of off-road adventure.
Wood beam bridges abound in the AMC Woods. PHOTO: ROBERT FROST MEDIA.
By Saisie Moore
The Moosehead Lake Region Gravel Adventure Field Guide can be found at local bike shops throughout northern New England or ordered online. COURTESY PHOTO.
FORESTS, SHOREFRONTS, and urban hot spots: Gravel biking offers access to some of Maine’s most picturesque landscapes. On a gravel bike, you can traverse mixed-terrain trails throughout Maine, from woodland trails to urban bike paths and everything in between.
This summer couldn’t be a better time to discover gravel biking. In celebration of the completion of the 20-year Maine Wood Initiative conservation project, the Appalachian Mountain Club / Maine Woods published a Gravel Adventure Field Guide that charts over 500 miles of gravel biking routes. Find inspiration among its pages and hit the trail to find adventure on two wheels this summer.
What is gravel biking, anyway?
The definition is broad, generally describing any traverse of unpaved road, trail or pathway by bike. Imagine a middle ground somewhere between road and mountain biking. Gravel riding invites you to explore diverse and scenic routes free from the threat of traffic, featuring fewer white-knuckle risks than traditional mountain bike singletrack. In fact, this broad definition is at the heart of gravel biking’s appeal. Whether you’re participating in a laid-back social ride or a rugged and remote feat of endurance, gravel riding is accessible both in terms of location (in Maine, it’s easy to discover trails right from your front door) and skill level, while still offering a dose of adrenaline, adventure and camaraderie.
Enjoying views of the lakes from the Almanac Mountain trail in Lakeville. PHOTO: ERIK DASILVA / BICYCLE COALITION OF MAINE
The sport traces its roots back to the Midwest, where forest access and logging roads offer miles of uninterrupted riding free from vehicles. Emerging a little over a decade ago, the sport is still in its infancy. One of the very first gravel-specific bikes was engineered by Salsa Cycles only as recently as 2010.
While people have been traveling Maine’s logging roads and unpaved routes by bike for decades, the state’s gravel scene has only solidified in the past few years, as road bikers and mountain bikers of all experience levels began to converge in person and on social media to share routes and a mutual passion for gravel riding. Data from Strava, a physical exercise tracker and social network, revealed that in 2023, gravel rides increased among users by 55% from the previous year.
“It is still a very new sport,” says Tira Denny, a Biddeford-based mother who started experimenting with gravel biking in 2020 after success as a mountain bike racer. “In a lot of ways, it brings a nice sense of community because we’re all learning together. I’m certainly seeing more and more group rides and resources popping up.” Though she identifies as a mountain biker at heart, Denny soon discovered “a love for gravel cycling and the freedom it gives you to hit most types of roads and trails.”
Maine's multi-use trail network is extensive and excellent for adventure riding. Shown here in Lincoln. PHOTO: ERIK DASILVA / BICYCLE COALITION OF MAINE
Gravel-ready essentials
Bike helmet
Bike lights
Water
At least one bottle per hour of riding
Bug spray
Bike multi-tool
First aid kit
Anatomy of a gravel bike
Gravel bikes are champions of versatility, with a jack-of-all-trades arsenal of features that allows them to be tough yet fast. According to Allspeed, a bike and ski shop with locations in Portland and Carrabassett Valley, the gravel bike’s long wheelbase is “designed to put your body in a more upright position than a traditional road bike. A gravel bike has a larger footprint between front and rear wheel hubs and a lower crank placement to keep the bike stable over uneven terrain, potholes, and even rocks and roots.”
Taking hybrid bikes as a blueprint, gravel bikes are an evolution in comfort and speed. Unlike air-light road bikes, the frames of gravel bikes are rigid and sturdy, making them suitable for uneven terrain and trails usually reserved for mountain bikes. However, unlike mountain bikes, they don’t have built-in suspension that can create a squishy ride and can eat up energy during long pedaling sessions. Instead, gravel bikes have relied on technical innovations and knobbly tires that are slightly wider than road bike tires to soak up vibrations while remaining light enough to travel fast uphill. Wide “drop handlebars” that curve down (like those often seen on road bikes) offer more stability and allow riders to switch positions during elevation changes. The result is a true all-rounder that can carry you across diverse terrain with ease and speed.
Taking in the mountain views near Greenville on roads managed by the Appalachian Mountain Club. PHOTO: DAN BASSETT / BICYCLE COALITION OF MAINE
Where to ride gravel in Maine
Now that you’re acquainted with the gravel bike, where can you go in Maine? The answer is just about anywhere with public access or permission. A gravel bike’s design makes roads, paths and public trail networks widely accessible. Crowdsourced apps like GravelMap, Ride With GPS, and Strava provide interactive maps that allow you to filter your search preferences to find unpaved routes. The Bicycle Coalition of Maine offers a web map of gravel routes statewide. There’s something for everyone, from a 4-mile trail that winds through Bangor’s City Forest on crushed stone to a 394-mile west-to-east route that is part of the Eastern Divide Trail, the longest contiguous off-road-centric bikepacking route in the world!
Want to join a group ride? Check out the gravel events listed on BikeReg.com: bikereg.com/events/Gravel-Grinder/MAINE
Family bicycle ride on Carriage Roads in Acadia National Park PHOTO: ERIK DASILVA / BICYCLE COALITION OF MAINE
Downeast Trails
Free from the confines of a car but faster than foot travel, gravel biking is an opportunity to cruise through breathtaking landscapes like Acadia National Park’s Carriage Roads, a 45-mile network of broken-stone trails that meander through mountains and forest past sweeping ocean vistas and waterfalls and underneath stone bridges. Other gravel routes on Mount Desert Island include Seal Cove Road, Western Mountain Road and Lurvey Spring Road.
Central Maine Trails
Former rail lines make excellent gravel routes, and TrailLink by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy can help you find these peaceful stretches of fun, relatively flat and typically unpaved riding that link Maine’s towns and communities. Wind along 6.5 miles of riverside scenery on the Kennebec River Rail Trail that connects Augusta, Hallowell, Farmingdale and Gardiner, offering ample opportunities to hop off your bike and wander the streets or grab a bite. The Belfast Rail Trail is a short and picturesque 2.5-mile journey through woodland and along the Passagassawakeag River (known to locals as the “Passy Rail Trail”) that reveals its seasonal beauty around every bend.
Western Maine Trails
Plan a day trip around the Norway Rail Trail or Androscoggin River Trail for a gentle introduction to gravel riding with plenty of opportunities to stop and admire the view or seek refreshments. For a full-day adventure, explore the Whistle Stop Trail that connects Jay, Wilton and Farmington via a section of the former broad-gauge Androscoggin Railroad, now converted into a 14-mile multi-use recreational route. There’s no better way to soak up views of the scenic Western foothills and rolling farmland than cruising along this gentle, meandering former railroad bed during high summer.
Robinson Woods in Cape Elizabeth is a great destination for gravel riding near Portland. PHOTO: DAN BASSETT / BICYCLE COALITION OF MAINE
Southern Maine Trails
In the bustling southernmost region of Maine, the Sebago to the Sea trail offers unparalleled respite from busy coastal roads and crowds. A long-time nonprofit project, the trail connects Sebago Lake to Casco Bay via a continuous multi-recreation route that spans six towns—from Standish to Portland—and miles of vehicle-free adventure. The journey requires some navigation skills, but you’ll be rewarded with a wealth of potential lunch spots and lake-to-sea views.
Statewide Trails
If you’re feeling inspired to take your adventures to the next level, The Bicycle Coalition of Maine hosts a Gravel Grinds map on their website that features two epic bikepacking routes stretching through large portions of the state, in addition to several shorter routes. The Maine portion of the Eastern Divide Trail, known as the “Lupine” section, is a staggering almost 400-mile stretch of off-road riding that skirts through Baxter State Park, across the center of Maine, and through the Rangeley Lakes region.
Where to rent or buy a gravel bike
Most of the Maine’s larger bike stores offer a fleet of gravel bikes for sale. Need a test ride or two before you commit? Consider renting a gravel bike from Southwest Cycles on Mount Desert Island before hitting the Carriage Trails or explore the Blue Hill Peninsula on a gravel bike rental from Castine Kayak Adventures. Hybrid bikes, which function effectively as an alternative to gravel bikes, are also widely available at established bike stores, including Gorham Bike and Ski, which services the Waterville and Greater Portland area.
Rolling out from Cabin 3 at AMC's Medawisla Lodge in northern Maine for a day of adventure. PHOTO: ROBERT FROST MEDIA
On the cover: In far DownEast Maine, the parklands of Cobscook Shores protect miles of pristine shorefront.