Caribou hiking trails garner national honor

CARIBOU — Maine’s northern-most city has been named home to one of the nation’s top hiking trails.

Caribou was the only community in Maine to be named to the American Hiking Society’s Trail Town USA Hall of Fame. The only other New England community named was Manchester, Conn., among the 30 towns selected.

The award comes after several years of work to reuse abandoned railroad beds as hiking and biking trails. More than $1 million in state and federal funds has been used to purchase and improve Bangor & Aroostook Railroad and Aroostook Valley Railroad track beds.

Each year, the American Hiking Society seeks out top places in the country to live, based on the town’s commitment to trails. The Trail Town USA program acknowledges places working toward the goal of bringing trails within 15 minutes of every American’s home or workplace.

Entrants were asked to submit an essay describing their town’s trail system and three letters of recommendation. Other material, such as photographs and maps, were also considered.

The top 10 towns are Jefferson County, Col.; Anchorage, Alaska; Pinetop-Lakeside, Ariz.; Manchester, Conn.; Xenia, Ohio; Los Angeles County; Lincoln, Neb.; Perinton, N.Y.; Orinda, Calif.; and Raleigh, N.C.

Caribou was listed in the remaining 20 towns.

All towns named will receive a sign to place on their trails, signifying the status.

The announcement of America’s top trail towns comes as the society gears up for the annual national Trails Day celebration Saturday, June 1.