First off, I’d like to begin by apologizing to my tour manager, Llily Llama, for the drama in Sidney. I was acting more like a pop diva than a rock star. But after my hike at Androscoggin Riverlands State Park, I am ready to continue to rock Asa’s World Tour of Maine. Located in Turner, Maine, the Androscoggin Riverlands State Park is a multiple use network with over 20 miles of trails, that range from easy to difficult.
On the day we visited, we began on the Old River Road Trail, which is the main corridor for the system. Please note that this wide dirt trail is popular with ATVs and bicyclists. If your dog is skittish or you prefer a quieter hike, you can find many wooded side trails clearly marked along this main corridor. The Porcupine Path runs roughly parallel to the Old River Road, for a quieter hike away from the ATVs.
Because it was a quiet morning, we stayed on the main corridor past several trailheads until we reached the Harrington Path which leads to the Picnic Meadow. There we enjoyed a walk in the woods, that opened up to a lovely meadow, with picnic tables and scenic views of the river.
After resting the paws, and enjoying a little bird watching, not to mention a quick snack and water break, we continued our hike on the Homestead Trail. This trail is steep and rocky in places, but still easy to moderate for most dogs. As you can gather from the name, the Homestead Trail was lined with interesting rock walls and other hints of the previous use of this land.
It leads to the foundations of an old farmstead, which we couldn’t resist stopping to explore. Homes once lined the river here from the 1870s until 1927, when they were razed as part of the construction of the Gulf Island Dam.
The Homestead Trail eventually leads back to the Old River Road Trail, making for an approximately 4.5 mile loop that will take you back to the main parking area.
Dogs are allowed on-leash at Androscoggin Riverlands State Park. Because this is a multiple use trail, please be careful of the ATVs and bicyclists using this popular trail system. If you plan on taking a more extensive hike on the vast trail network covering 2,700 acres, we advise downloading the trail map. Parking is available at Center Bridge Road in Turner, Maine. For more information to plan your visit, go to Maine.gov.
