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Bicyclist on Country RdOld Barn & Wagon-Leonard's MillsOld Fashioned Pie Baking-Leonard's MillsHorse Drawn Wagon - Leonard's MillsGazeboBangor WatefontLogging Barn-Leonard's MillsPushaw LakeLeonard's Mills Covered Bridge

 

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Tour 15 - Heart of Penobscot County

Region: The Maine Highlands
Highlights: festivals, historical landmarks, lake, pond, river views, museums, rural, urban, wildlife

 

Tour Loops
Name Distance Terrain
River Loop 27 Gentle terrain, some hills, for almost all cyclists
Pushaw Loop 44 Moderate terrain, hilly, for intermediate cyclists
Howland?Lagrange Loop 63 Moderate terrain, hilly, for intermediate cyclists
River, Woods, and Farm Loop 83 Challenging terrain for experienced cyclists

This is a part of Maine where lumber was once king. Every town and village along the route is replete with reminders of that heritage. The Leonard?s Mills Museum in Bradley, a reconstruction of a 19th-century sawmill, should not be missed. In addition, there are numerous opportunities for wildlife viewing along the way. The Bangor Historical Society publishes a guide for an architectural walking tour of the historic buildings in downtown Bangor.

The 27-mile loop goes from Bangor to Old Town, up one side of the Penobscot River and down the other. This loop also includes the bike path through the University of Maine at Orono campus. The 44- and 63-mile loops continue from Old Town and circle west of Pushaw Lake through woods and farmlands. The 83-mile ride follows the Penobscot River from Bangor to Howland, before swinging west through woods and farmlands, and finally south through the agricultural fields of western Penobscot County. Old dams, mills, and farms dot the countryside, and there are many other points of interest.

Special features: Views of Penobscot River; walking tour of historic Bangor; Leonard?s Mills Museum in Bradley; wildlife viewing; University of Maine campus at Orono

Road conditions: Generally fair to good with rough sections; heavy traffic in Bangor and Brewer

Cautions: There is a considerable distance between services in the middle section of these loops, so be prepared with your own supplies.

Starting point: All rides originate from Pickering Square Parking Garage on Broad Street in downtown Bangor. From I-95, take exit 182 to I-395. Take Exit 3 to US 1A (Main Street), north. Follow signs to parking garage. Rates are reasonable, and 24-hour parking is permitted.



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