From impressive waterfalls to high-altitude trails and excellent snow conditions, Maine is an ideal destination if you’re a fan of snowmobiling. The Pine Tree State is also known as “Vacationland,” and for good reason: its heavily forested mountains are a treat for various scenery and for being approachable on snowmobiles.
While Maine is already known as the northern end of the Appalachian Trail and being the most forested state, it’s also a fabulous location to snowmobile. There are several Maine snowmobile trails to explore.
Our top 14 snowmobile trails in Maine are as follows:
- Burnt Meadow/Brownfield
- Embden
- Rangeley Lakes
- Levant
- Kennebec River Trails
- Bald Mountain Loop
- Grand Falls
- Bingham Wind Mills
- Greenville – B-52 crash site
- Coburn Mountain
- Moosehead Lake
- Moxie Falls
- Lake Parlin
- White Mountain National Forest
Let’s have a look at the top places to go snowmobiling in Maine and some of the FAQs about hitting the snow trails in the Pine Tree State.
14 Best Maine Snowmobile Trails
1. Burnt Meadow/Brownfield
The Burnt Meadow Snowmobile Club maintains this trail system in Maine’s Western Mountains, on the border with New Hampshire. Brownfield snowmobile trails are well looked after by a small team who also organize events and keep a log of the trails and their conditions.
Enjoy unique mountain views, sunny meadows, and historical relics such as old railroads on these beautiful trails.
2. Embden
Embden Travelers Snowmobile Club maintains about 40 miles of trails around Embden, connecting to the ITS 84. Surrounded by the Kennebec and Carrabassett Rivers, this area has lots of beautiful sights to discover. Join up with the Kennebec Valley Trail to the north as well.
3. Rangeley Lakes
The snowmobile club maintaining the trails around Rangeley Lakes does an excellent job of updating routes and trail conditions on their website. There are several miles of trails for all levels and various events throughout the year, starting with Thanksgiving.
One of the top events in the snowmobiling calendar takes place in Rangeley every January: the Snodeo has lots of races and kids’ events, fireworks, and all sorts of other activities.
4. Levant
Situated in Penobscot County, ME, the town of Levant is a departure point for lots of trails in the Maine ITS (inter-connected system) network and the home of the Hungry Hollow 76ers snowmobile club who maintain the tracks here.
5. Kennebec River Trails
Prepare to be spoilt for choice with the Kennebec River Valley and its fantastic snowmobile trails. The upper Kennebec Valley is considered the best snowmobiling area in the Eastern United States, receiving 10 feet of snowfall every year.
The trails extend up to Rangeley Lakes connections in the west and Forks and Jackman in the east. This is a very popular area with lots of guided snowmobiling tours and dedicated log cabins for accommodating tourists.
6. Bald Mountain Loop
Near Kennebec trails, you can also enjoy the Bald Mountain Loop, from ITS 87, which you can ride northwards to join ITS 86 to finally find Bald Mountain Trail. You can then loop this back to ITS 87.
You’ll see Moxie Lake, Bald Mountain, Pleasant Pond, and many other scenic spots along the way. If you do the full loop, expect to ride c. 45 miles (check out the full description recommended by Northern Outdoors).
7. Grand Falls
Grand Falls waterfall in West Forks, ME, is one of the most exciting snowmobiling destinations in the state as not only is it scenic, but it’s off the beaten track and therefore a bit more “into the wild.” You can do a round trip snowmobiling trip from Northern Outdoors, which is 70 miles long and loads of fun.
8. Bingham Wind Mills
Close to The Forks, you’ll find the Bingham Wind Farm on the Kingsbury Plantation, a popular snowmobiling destination. It’s Maine’s largest wind energy project and has 56 towers at 308 feet tall, so prepare to be impressed.
9. Greenville – B-52 crash site
You can find the site of the B-52 airplane crash on Elephant Mountain by riding your snowmobile 50 miles from Northern Outdoors in the Greenville area in Maine. It’s only 15 minutes outside of Greenville, at the southern end of Moosehead Lake, and makes for an interesting historic stop on your snow trails.
A large memorial is on-site, and there are portions of the plane you can see and photograph today.
10. Coburn Mountain
“The Peak of Maine Snowmobiling” at 3,717 feet high, Coburn Mountain is the highest groomed snowmobile track in Maine. The trail up the mountain is a dead end and only 2 miles long, but it climbs 2,500 feet, so expect it to be steep! There is a point between two sections where you can turn around if you don’t feel up to climb.
During the first mile, you can reach the radio repeater tower on a trail that is suitable for all levels of riders. However, the second mile is only recommended for experienced snowmobile riders only as it’s quite narrow, and it is only groomed when conditions allow. Watch out for the trail becoming too crowded as well on a nice day!
11. Moosehead Lake
Another Greenville snowmobile destination, Moosehead Lake is the largest lake in Maine and is home to 37 miles of trails up to Big Moose Mountain overlooking it. There are many interconnected trails there, allowing you to carry on to Jackman or Greenville, or beyond.
12. Moxie Falls
Moxie Falls is Maine’s tallest waterfall, just over 10 miles from Northern Outdoors resort. You can get to the falls from West Forks by following ITS 86 eastwards and then taking a left turn on the Moxie Falls spur trail. The latter is about 3 miles long, and you ride up very close to the falls, enjoying exceptional views.
13. Lake Parlin
This lodge and cabin accommodation complex on Parlin Pond is an excellent base for a snowmobile holiday in Maine. You’ll be at 1700 ft altitude and take full advantage of the famous Maine snowfall of 10 feet every year.
Groomed trails start right by the cabins, and Coburn Mountain is only 5 miles away. You can also rent snowmobiles here if you are new to the sport.
14. White Mountain National Forest
The White Mountain National Forest straddles the Maine/New Hampshire border, offering 35 miles of groomed snowmobiling trails to enjoy. You can view Mount Washington, enjoy 8 square miles of alpine forest and try your hand at a few other winter activities such as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing too. The trails connect to the ITS system, so you can extend your riding as much as you wish.
Maine Snowmobiling FAQs
When do snowmobile trails open in Maine?
You can follow when the snowmobiling trails open in Maine by looking at the Maine Snowmobile Association trail conditions page here, or the news on the Maine.gov website.
Where can I find a Maine snowmobile trail map?
There are many snowmobile trail maps available for Maine, including this one and the regional and local maps. As the ITS system is well-established, it’s easy to even find on Google Maps.
What are the snow conditions on Maine snowmobile trails?
You can check Maine snowmobile trail snow conditions on the official Maine Snowmobile Association website, as well as with each local snowmobile club, which you can find here.
Is there an app for Maine snowmobiling information?
Many apps give you quick access to maps and snow conditions on the trails. A good review website such as Snowmobile.com will have a review of the latest info.
What are the speed limits on Maine snowmobile trails?
There are no speed limits on the designated snowmobiling trails in Maine. However, you should always use a “reasonable and prudent speed for the existing conditions.” Of course, there are many multi-use trails where you can encounter cross-country skiers or hikers, so be aware of them and be courteous of your fellow snow riders.
The complete list of Maine snowmobile laws is on the Maine Snowmobile Association’s website.
Conclusion – Maine Snowmobile Trails
So, what are the 14 best snowmobile trails in Maine? To summarize, here they are once again:
- Burnt Meadow/Brownfield
- Embden
- Rangeley Lakes
- Levant
- Kennebec River Trails
- Bald Mountain Loop
- Grand Falls
- Bingham Wind Mills
- Greenville – B-52 crash site
- Coburn Mountain
- Moosehead Lake
- Moxie Falls
- Lake Parlin
- White Mountain National Forest
Thanks to great weather and snowfall conditions, Maine enjoys a fantastic winter season for snowmobile riding every year, which has led to some of its locations becoming bucket-list destinations for avid riders.
The ITS trail system is well documented and maintained in addition to some more groomed trails connecting areas and resorts, so it’s easier than in most places to get around and enjoy powdery snow on your snowmobile.
With these top snowmobiling trails on your radar, you’re guaranteed to have a fantastic adventure in Maine. So gear up and experience some of the snowmobile trails Maine has to offer.
Kris is an avid off-roader and outdoor enthusiast who loves to brave the elements and take on challenging terrain. He also enjoys sharing his passion and knowledge with others so that they, too, can appreciate the ride.
About Kris