Upside Town Small…read moreTown m, with a population of ±1,200, located in western Maine, not too far from New Hampshire. It's known for its gigantic (±10sq. miles [±6,300-acres]) lake and is renowned worldwide for its outdoor activities that range from skiing and snow shoeing to sport fishing and all manner of boating activities. The Good: *It sits midway between the equator and the north pole! I mean, not technically, but close enough for gubmint werk. *Free street parking *Lots of options for dining and shopping, and I will say we didn't have a bad meal here. *Locals are friendly. *Lots of smallish hiking places but with amazing views and/or waterfalls. *The lake itself is stunning. *Clean, fresh mountain air *Be sure to checkout the biweekly farmers market. *Cell signal was very not bad for an out in the sticks kinda place. *The drive up here is pretty epic, as well. The Meh: *State Park closes during the winter months so check their website for schedules. We *were* supposed to be arriving during one of their part days to be open, but I guess they ended up closing early for the season to get some maintenance done. We were annoyed but we understood. The Ugly: *The Town itself is very seasonal, as well. With some businesses not open in the winter. Conclusion: Amazing place to visit if you're a avid nature lover and it doesn't hurt that it can also satisfy your inner foodie, as well.

Rangeley is a wonderful little town and is the heart of the Rangeley Lakes region - which is 99%…read moreforest and water lol. Rangeley has a population of around 1500 but expands to around 10,000 during heavy tourist season. It was established in the mid-1800s and is a great place to base yourself out of when exploring the region. For such a small town, there are a surprising variety and number of restaurants and shops - a brew co, weekly farmers market (seasonal I'm sure), a historical society and museum, a movie theater, as well as a fly fishing shop with guide service. This is, apparently, the birthplace of fly fishing after all! Massive Rangeley Lake sits right in town with a lovely park - the sunsets are dramatist and beautiful- and they have water planes landing and taking off right on the lake! I visited during the early fall and it was pretty crowded but not too crazy - I'm sure it gets overrun. Summer is for playing on the water and winter is for skiing. There are so many hiking trails nearby, and ATVs are a big deal here too so there are lots of those trails. Everyone I interacted with was super friendly and so happy to chat -all the food is great. The lakes are breathtaking. I stayed at the Rangeley Inn & Tavern with lovely Haley Pond right behind it and heard the haunting Loons and got my first glimpses of them right from my patio! I loved my time in Rangeley and hope to visit again someday - an outdoor lovers paradise!

Great kayaking on the kennebec river day trip. Friendly staff. Easy to book online last minute…read more Fun trip and good experience all around.

For anyone interested in outdoor sports in the Oquossoc/Rangeley area the selection of equipment…read morewill help supply your needs & the staff is knowledgeable about the equipment & the area. They also provide other services too. We have been very appreciative of this business on many occasions.

The Quill of Rights…read more Mountain top located not too far from Rangeley Lake that features epic 360° views of the surrounding area. It should be considered a "must stop" spot if you're visiting this neck of the woods, as it's a low effort, high reward kinda deal that should satisfy even the laziest of nature lovers. We were unaware of this place, but luckily one of the store clerks at one of the stores in DT Rangeley put us on to it, and now I'm doing the same for you. You're welcome. The Good: *Part of the Appalachian Trail! You can literally hike from here to Georgia, if one was so inclined. *You don't have to hike to Georgia but you can def schlep across the AT to your hearts desire and then turnaround. :) *Windy four-mile drive up to the top that gets a little hairy, but not terrible. You can also hike up it from the bottom but beware of the vehicles and dust. *Free to visit but they have a suggested donation of $5 that you can pay with cash or via Venmo. *The views are truly epic and this is a great place to stop if you're leaf-peeping. *Picnic tables at the top *ADA Compliant Trails The Meh: *It's a *lot* longer to the Lower Scenic View than those signs lead you to believe. If my Fitbit is correct, it was ±1.5-miles round-trip--which isn't terribly long, but just be aware if you're in a rush that you'll need *at least* 30min total. *And speaking of hiking, in the winter months when the snow is deep here, you'll only be about to reach the peak by hiking or snowmobile. The Ugly: *Cheapskates who don't donate and just fly thru the exit with dropping a buck or stopping to get the Venmo code. *Don't come here with a freshly cleaned vehicle--esp on a dry day--as the amount of dust these trails kick up is obscene. *If you plan to hike to the top, be aware the trail is fully exposed with zero to little shade. So, probably not a great idea on a warm day. Conclusion: Epic views with almost zero effort. What are you waiting for???

Quill Hill is a 2848 foot summit in the heart of the Rangeley Lakes region of Maine, right near the…read moretown of Rangeley. A four mile dirt road carries you up to the top for amazing views of fall colors, mountains, and Flagstaff Lake in the distance! The dirt road is very well maintained and wide enough for two cars comfortably. It's a tad bumpy in places but nothing an everyday car can't handle. The dirt road is only open from May to October but foot traffic and snowmobiles are allowed all year. At the top you'll find a nice picnic area with tables and info signs and sweeping views. There's also a little trail at the top that takes you to a "lower scenic viewpoint" and I highly recommend it!! Foot traffic only and it's a little less than 3/4 mile long with just under 200 feet elevation gain. A portion of the Appalachian Trail runs along here too! The views are spectacular and the fall foliage is dazzling!! And there are a few picnic tables at the viewpoint at the end of the trail as well. Quill Hill was a dream and the labor of love of a very generous local man that the community adored - Adrian Brochu - who lived an adventurous and interesting life that is well worth a read - highly recommend you google him. He moved here from Canada, spoke only French, fought in Vietnam, established successful logging businesses here, loved his wife and family and motorcycle, was an avid traveler - and he built this hill to give people "the best view in the state" lol! The hill is privately owned and cared for but they accept donations via several donation boxes or Venmo (link on their website). There are several parking areas around the top and everything is clean and well maintained. They've even put a wood fired grill just below the summit that they keep stocked with wood if you want to grill! Truly a lovely local treasure with amazing views and a precious little trail - definitely a must when visiting the Rangeley Lakes region.

We could have stayed all day just admiring the beautiful view, enjoying the sun and the refreshing…read morebreeze. I wish I could live on this pond in the summertime. It really is big enough to be a lake and it goes by a couple of different names. It was quiet with just a few people around. A boat ride around the pond is ideal to fully appreciate the beauty of of the area.

May the Forest be with You…read more 100-acres of forested land adjacent to Rangeley Lake that was first acquired by the Main Audubon Society back in 1974 before being donated to the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust in 2003. The Good: *Free *1.5-miles of trails that includes some loops *Gorgeous forest and pristine shoreline *Outhouse near the parking area *Leashed dogs ok *Trails are flat and almost no elevation gain, but be wary of the roots. Lots and lots of roots. The Meh: *Trails aren't traditionally marked with signage, but with colored paint on trees. Just follow the dots, á la Pac-Man®, and you'll be fine. Fwiw I walked thru most of the park and only saw red and white dots, but I'd recommend taking a photo of the map before you begin to help. *Small private lot that could fill up fast on busier days, but we pretty much had the place to ourselves. *Not ADA Compliant The Ugly: *Once you make it down to the shore of the lake, you can't really travese the edge of the lake without sinking into the soft ground. I guess if you don't mind wet, muddy feet then go for it. I've been there, done that, and once was enough. :) Conclusion: Fun hike that is low effort with a nice reward.

We have Nordic skied into Stratton Brook, Flagstaff and Poplar Huts many times over the past few…read morewinters . We can't say enough wonderful things about this type of experience. We have done it with younger kids, teenagers and just adults. We have stayed just one night and a few nights, both full service and self service. The Hut staff have always been accommodating, kind and provide wonderful , home- cooked meals . Nordic gear can be rented at the Sugarloaf Outdoor center close by. Make sure to consult the office & staff on what trails are best for novice & advanced. The trail to Stratton Brook can be steep and tricky for some, exciting and very do-able for others . Flagstaff is flat & easy , short. Snowshoes are also a fun way to access the huts. I would HIGHLY recommend Maine , Huts & Trails to anyone even curious about going. Winter, Summer , Fall - any season.

Good hiking and walking trails. You can be a die hard hiker or a tody toting walker and still enjoy…read morethe experience. I'm more of the later. lol

Gorge Ahead 28-acres…read moreof land purchased by the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust back in 1999, and the land itself is on the Maine Registry of Critical Areas for its "...unique natural and geological features." The Good: *Free *Big reward for very little effort *The waterfall is magnificent and "fairly" easy to access. *Dog-friendly The Meh: *They claim it's a one-mile out-and-back trail, but my Fitbit logged it in as just barely over a 0.5-miles. *I say it's fairly easy to get to the goal, but the truth is you have to be in kinda decent shape because there's a couple of ledges you have to pull yourself up. So, keep that in mind. *No restrooms The Ugly: *Parking lot is small and holds maybe 6-8 vehicles, assuming everyone parks like a human being and not like fuçktards. Be aware there's no overflow parking, so if it's full you're SoL. Come back later. Conclusion: Fantastic hike that's a great a great reward for mildly low effort. Highly recommended.

Shot in the Park…read more Park located in the heart of Downtown Rangeley that has many amenities: *Free parking *Public boat launch *×2 Tennis courts *×1 Basketball court *Playground *Covered picnic tables w/ BBQ pits *Frolf course (Frisbee golf) *Restrooms *Fishing Conclusion: Great park with lots of fun stuff.