Have you taken some time to explore new places lately? Summer is fast disappearing. Make plans to get out soon. I just checked out a place that’s bound to please anyone looking for an out-of-the-way escape.

And for those of you interested in bicycle commuting, check out the bottom part of this column for news about money for municipalities to purchase bicycle storage or parking facilities for half price.

I visited Mattawamkeag Wilderness Park the other day. I’d been thinking about going there for years, and I’ve driven through Mattawamkeag a few times in the past year thinking each time that I should check out the wilderness park.

But time never permitted a side trip, and besides, it’s not something you could do if you’re short on time. It’s the kind of place you should visit when you have at least a half a day, if not a weekend.

The drive in is 7.6 miles of mostly dirt road. It will take you close to half an hour if you obey the 15 mph speed limit.

After reading about the place on its Web site, I decided to take an afternoon to visit the park. I wish now that I’d have allowed at least a whole day for the visit.

Most that has been written about this 1,000-acre park owned by the Town of Mattawamkeag refers to it as a well-kept secret, so a little introduction is in order. I prevailed on Steve Spencer, who was the park’s second manager (1978-1980), to lend me his memories. Spencer, who now is the outdoor recreation specialist with the Bureau of Parks and Lands, oversaw the park following Bob Kelly’s term as manager.

Spencer, who searched his memory of 20-plus years ago, said the park was developed in the mid ’70s on the town’s 1,000 acre “church and school lot,” which “had not been logged in many years, probably not in this century.”

“County Commissioners saw the development of the park as an economic stimulus for the region and secured a large federal economic opportunity grant to build the park,” the former manager said.

“The Park was designed by Prentiss and Carlisle , and it opened under county management in ’75-’76. The county managed it until the ’80 budget crisis caused them to terminate the lease and it returned to town management, where it remains,” Spencer said. “It’s a lovely place with well designed and constructed facilities. Visitation has never been heavy probably due to the remote location, unique management system and lack of water in the river during the summer,” Spencer said. The number of visitors, however, has been on the increase.

On July 6 the park celebrated its 25th birthday with a full house. There are 11 shelters and 50 campsites — seven with electrical hookups — in the park, along with 15 miles of hiking trails. There are several restrooms with running water, a large recreation building with a library and games, a huge covered picnic table area next to the recreation building and a playground. Down by the river there’s a small screened-in picnic table. There’s a small camp store, overseen by park managers Vi and Jerry Freeman, where you may purchase ice, some staples and necessities as well as ice cream.

What I liked most about the park is its scenic beauty along the river gorge, and the fact that there were 15 miles of trails to hike.

It’s out of the way, but not too far out. From Bangor it’s 60 miles. My wife and I took off around lunch time last week, drove north on I-95 to Lincoln, north about 12 miles on Route 2 to Mattawamkeag and then east 7.6 miles on the park entrance road. If you were coming south on I-95 you’d get off at Medway and head east on Route 157 approximately 12 miles to Mattawamkeag.

Our intent was to pick one of the hiking trails for an afternoon of exploration and exercise. After meeting the Freemans and deciding on the river trail, we walked about a mile and a quarter down the entrance road to the trail and headed upstream.

Despite the fact that water levels in the Mattawamkeag River are down to a trickle, the views into the gorges are spectacular. Because the water is low, you can scramble down to places inaccessible at higher water levels. The features are fascinating, even for someone like me who is geologically challenged. I saw hundreds of potholes in the river’s ledges. These are circular depressions scoured into the rock by the swirling motion of water and sediments like sand and small stones. Some are no bigger than grapefruits while others are maybe 2 feet across and equally as deep.

The yellow blazed river trail takes you along the southerly bank and back to the campground’s beach area. Along the way you are treated to views of numerous gorges. You’re never far from the water, although at times you can be more than 50 feet above the water level. Most of the walk is on relatively level ground, but there are several places you’ll be stepping over exposed roots, rough ledge or damp spots. Wear appropriate footwear and take water to drink.

We took our time and explored a few places and the walk back took us an hour and 15 minutes. Our dog Cocoa enjoyed the opportunity to explore the riverbanks and wade in the cool waters whenever she got the chance.

There is an observation platform at one of the more scenic spots along the river that you can drive to. The platform has a ramp and is protected by a railing.

At the campground’s sandy beach area we stopped for a quick snack and walk on the river bottom. With such low water I was able get nearly halfway across the river and not get my feet wet! After looking at the brochure for the park and scoping out the high water marks along the bank, I figured I would have been way in over my head in normal high water conditions.

The beauty of low water conditions, however, is in the floral growth on ledges and among rocks. I wished I’d remembered to bring a field guide. We saw things growing in the tiniest of cracks in the ledges, tall grasses growing at the river’s edge, an assortment of wildflowers all along the riverbank (including several gorgeous cardinal flowers), and a selection of fungi in the woods beside the trail.

While the river trail proved to be enough of a reward for us on this afternoon, there is a total of 15 miles of trails that can be explored, all of which form loops leading back to the campground.

I’d like to plan a return trip to the park and spend a day or two exploring the area. It’s one of those places way off the beaten path that beckon to you. From what I’ve read recently, more and more people are discovering the place, and that should be good news to town administrators in Mattawamkeag who run it. While they don’t pray for throngs, the more people who use the facility means the town might have money to put back into it and not have to tap taxpayers for assistance. On Aug. 21 there’s a dance and barbecue planned.

Campsites are $11 per day, $15 with electricity (seven sites). Lean-tos are $13 per day and day use is $1 per person or $4 per car maximum. For more information call 1-888-724-2465, or 736-2465. The address to write for information is Mattawamkeag Wilderness Park, P.O. Box 5, Mattawamkeag, 04459.If you want to visit the park on your computer, check out the Web site at www.mainerec.com/mattpark.html. ——

Attention bicycle commuters, or would-be commuters.

The state has money it wants to give away — about $26,000 — to purchase bicycle storage units for public entities. The Department of Transportation’s Bicycle-Pedestrian Office started the program last summer and so far has provided $12,000 on a matching basis to municipalities, school districts or business districts to purchase bike storage facilities.

These range from fully enclosed storage enclosures to bike racks, said John Balicki, MDOT’s bicycle-pedestrian coordinator. The program is an effort to promote bicycle transportation in the state by providing funding for half the cost of installing safe bicycle storage facilities.

He can provide municipalities with a list of available storage units and guidance on selecting the unit best suited to their needs.

All the models of racks are good ones, Balicki said. None are the typical wheel benders you and I might see outside school buildings or other places. You know the kind. You stick your front wheel between two metal hoops. Then someone comes along and takes his bike out and in the process knocks all the others over, bending front wheels in the process. It’s enough to discourage even the most enthusiastic bike rider.

In this program the MDOT has contracted with several vendors of bicycle storage facilities to provide quality storage systems at a reduced cost, Balicki said. “We essentially become a broker for municipalities, school districts, business districts and others who would like to purchase new bicycle storage. In addition to assuring a reasonable cost to begin with, we’ll also reimburse [them] half the cost of purchasing the units.”

While the half-cost reimbursement program is not available to private businesses, the state will work with them. Even at full cost, the amount most likely will be less than if a business went to the open market to purchase the units.

Interested in the program? Contact Balicki at 287-6600 for more information. —

Jeff Strout’s column is published Thursdays. He can be reached at 990-8202or by email at jstrout@bangornews.infi.net.