February 15, 2025
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Revived trail to be lauded Events planned for public celebration of 82-mile path

MACHIAS – The Sunrise Trail Coalition invites everyone to State 98 on the dike at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 7, for an update on the Down East Sunrise Trail.

There will be news about construction that is expected to begin in the next month with the rail removal and trail building.

The project has been years in the making.

At 10:30 a.m., there will be a parade of trail users through Machias to Whitney’s Tool Shed where the coalition will hold a free barbecue. There will be music and entertainment for everyone.

Participants then are invited to walk the railroad track or ride their bicycles to Whitneyville.

The state Conservation and Transportation departments, towns along the Calais Branch rail-trail corridor, and the coalition are creating the Down East Sunrise Trail as a multiuse facility and will manage it for this purpose.

The trail is being built in such a way that the rail bed along the route is being maintained for future rail, as well as providing an 82-mile trail to be enjoyed by all.

The trail will be open to all modes of normal trail use with a few seasonal exceptions: all-terrain vehicles and horses will not be allowed when the trail is snow-covered. The trail also can be posted during mud season, the press release said.

“We will work diligently with local, regional and state enforcement folks who will be invited to participate in making the trail a success,” a news release said. “We have a trail manager who is on the Maine Department of Conservation staff. Although this position has no enforcement powers, it provides a manager to be present at meetings and on the trail, and he will have the authority to represent the MDOC and its policies.”

The group anticipates that snowmobile and ATV clubs, along with bicyclists, cross-county skiers, hikers and equestrians will be diligent, using peer pressure to regulate behavior and the rules of the trail.

bdncalais@verizon.net

454-8228


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