Ceremony will open new mountain trail

LILY BAY — The Maine Dept. of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL), Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), Plum Creek and local leaders invite the public to the official opening ceremony of the new and extended No. 4 Mountain Hiking Trail.

See the official opening of the trail when AMC fires up its chainsaw and cuts through a flagged spruce pole to clear the way. Talk with leaders about how this trail is the first of many new trails, trailheads and boat launches that will help define the region as a must-hike destination.

Hear praise for the Maine Conservation Corps and AMC Trail Crew attending for their countless hours and commitment to rehab and extend the trail.

Talk with guests and first hikers as they receive complimentary hiking packs and embark on a the first hike on the now opened 1.75-mile, moderately difficult trail — with a hike guided by BPL.

The ceremony will be Friday, Aug. 7 at 1:30 p.m., guided hike departs at 1:45 p.m. The trailhead is located 18 miles north of Greenville. Take the Lily Bay Road north, and at approximately five miles past Lily Bay State Park, turn right on to the gravel Meadow Brook Road and watch for signs. The trail location is -69.41865, 45.63185.

This new network of trails in the Moosehead Lake and 100-Mile Wilderness regions is an effort by the Maine Dept. of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s BPL, AMC and the Moosehead Trails Advisory Committee. It is made possible through a 121-acre easement granted by Plum Creek, and considerable trail resources and land use from AMC. This new trail, and many others to come, will create a significantly expanded network of non-motorized trails for outdoor recreation enthusiasts and will help bolster the region’s tourism economy. For more information, contact Rex Turner at 287-4920 or rex.turner@maine.gov.