Side roads lead to scenic wonders in rural Piscataquis County

In little more than a month, visitors will flock to see the autumn foliage, and Piscataquis County offers some of the more spectacular viewing available.

Moosehead Lake is a popular area for viewing peak foliage, which usually occurs during the last week of September or the first week in October. The routes to Maine’s largest lake also offer fine autumn scenery.

One popular route is to take Route 16 from Abbott to Bingham, follow Route 201 north to Jackman, then Route 15 through Rockwood to Greenville. This route offers exceptional views of the Kennebec River Valley and the western mountains before reaching the Moosehead Lake Region.

Route 16 from Milo to Dover-Foxcroft follows the hills and offers wide open vistas across Atkinson toward Charleston and as far as Passadumkeag Mountain in Grand Falls Township. A rest area is conveniently located on a hill in Sebec.

Route 15 from Dover-Foxcroft to Guilford offers intermittent views of the Piscataquis River. A rest area near Lowe’s Covered Bridge provides a spot to rest, picnic, and enjoy the scenery. Route 15 continues to Moosehead Lake through Abbott and Monson and offers scenic views of the Piscataquis River, Kingsbury Stream, and many hardwood ridges.

A less-traveled route that offers fine foliage viewing follows Route 150 north from Guilford to Goodell Corner in Willimantic, then follows the Elliotsville Road to Monson and intersects with Route 15. At Howard Brook, a beaver flowage replete with a beaver lodge, a duck box, and a rock dam complete a scenic foreground set against a hardwood ridge interspersed with conifers.

In North Guilford, old farms with apple trees and rail fences provide picturesque settings against the mix of hills and valleys, and travelers get their first glimpse of Boarstone Mountain. Route 150 passes scenic Early Landing Falls before ending at Packard’s on Sebec Lake.

The Elliotsville Road continues north at Goodell Corner, becoming gravel for about 4 miles after crossing the green bridge over Wilson Stream. Once a motorist reaches asphalt again on the Elliotsville Road, the second gravel road to the right leads 2 1/2 miles to a parking area at Onawa and the opportunity to walk and view to the Onawa Trestle and the ledges of Boarstone Mountain.

A marked road before the parking area leads to the public boat landing on Onawa Lake and offers views of the lake and its islands. The background is a clear view of Barren Mountain with its ledges and hardwood-covered Benson Mountain to the east.

The Elliotsville Road intersects with the road to the Boarstone Mountain Sanctuary Trail. A three-mile hike up Boarstone will be rewarded with a panoramic view. The gatehouse is from 8 a.m. until dusk through Oct. 31. There are exhibits at the visitors’ center at Sunrise Pond, and hikers should allow three hours for the trip. The National Audubon Society charges a small admission fee.

Heading towards Monson, the Elliotsville Road crosses Big Wilson Stream with its pools and drops, which provide an interesting contrast with the smooth slate. The gravel road on the road leads less than a mile to a primitive campsite by a waterfall on Little Wilson Stream, which is a popular picnic spot.

In Monson, the Elliotsville Road meets Route 15, which goes to Greenville. The Appalachian Trail crosses the road at the ledges where a sign indicated that it is 112 miles to Mount Katahdin. Soon after comes the sharp curve at Spectacle Pond, which is a well-known moose habitat. Moose-crossing signs mark other areas along the road above lower Shirley Corner and near the state garage.

The scenic turnout before Greenville provides views of the mountains, including Barren, Elephant, and Rum Ridge; water and facilities are available, as are sheltered picnic tables.

Indian Hill provides the first glimpse of Moosehead Lake, its islands, and surrounding mountains. The scenery is endless on both sides of the lake.

Edie Miles is a free-lance writer who lives in Dover-Foxcroft.