Camden Hills and Coastal Cruise

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Camden Hills and Coastal Cruise
The Best Bike Rides in New England

Paul Thomas – Edited by Paul Angiolillo

Barrett’s Cove – Camden – Lincolnville – Lincolnville Center – Greer’s Corner – Northport – Barrett’s Cove

It’s a first-rate tour that offers both inland and coastal highlights – and this one does. One long loop, a short one, and another optional loop take you into a landscape of green hills, farms, small ponds, and three coastal communities on Penobscot Bay, including the popular and lively Camden.

All the loops start at Barrett’s Cove on Megunticook Lake outside Camden – the cove is a great spot for a picnic or a swim. And don’t miss the 800-foot Maiden’s Cliff across from the boat launch parking area on Route 52. After cruising past a lake, a ski resort, and small towns such as Lincolnville Center, whose general store has starred in several movies, you can enter Camden, Lincolnville, or Nortport, depending on which option you decide on. Then it’s back inland for a long loop through a quiet landscape of ponds, rivers, and woods.

Near the ride is Camden Hills State Park (off busy Route 1, one mile north of Camden), which has hiking and mountain-biking trails, some of them ascending to excellent views of Penobscot Bay and Mount Desert. If you have energy left after biking, consider a hike. You can also climb a mile-long, 600-foot ascent on the park’s toll road to an exposed summit with views of Camden, the coast, and the lake. Whatever activities you choose, you can camp in the state park, making for a relaxing weekend – or longer.

The Basics

Start: All the loops start at Barrett’s Cove, just off Rte. 52, about 3 miles north of Camden. This is a public beach and picnic area (with rest rooms) on Megunticook Lake. Opposite it is the trailhead for Maiden’s Cliff Trail in Camden Hills State Park.

Length: A short beginner 10.8-mile loop and a 40.3-mile loop, with a 30.0-mile option into Northport.

Terrain: This ride follows rolling backcountry roads (two-lane blacktop with no shoulders), with a few climbs. The longest and steepest climb is Beech Hill Road on the optional loop into Northport.

Food: On the shorter loop there are many eateries at 6 miles in Camden, including the Camden Bagel Shop. On the longer loop stop at Lincolnville Beach at about 7 miles for seafood, snacks, and other edibles, then again at 28 miles at the Hope General Store and Hope Orchards Apple Market (in the autumn). There are also eateries in Lincolnville Center and in Northport (on the optional loop) at U.S. 1.

Traffic / Safety: Rte. 52 is a commuting road, even during the summer, from about 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. There are plenty of distractions in Camden during the summer.

Miles and Directions:

0.0	Turn right out of Barrett’s Cove parking lot onto Beaucaire Avenue, and wind around the southern end of Megunticook Lake.
0.7	Straight as Start Road comes in from the left.
1.5	Right at T intersection onto Molyneaux Road (Hodson Park ahead is a pleasant resting spot.)
1.9	Straight through intersection with Rte .105.
4.0	Stop sign at bottom of short, steep hill. Left onto Hosmer Pond Road. Camden Snow Bowl-Ragged Mt. Ski area to the right. (Mountain biking is permitted on the ski trails when the ground is dry. Trail maps are available from the Camden Parks and Recreation Dept. at Snow Bowl, 207-236-3438.)
6.1	Hosmer Pond Road becomes Mechanic Street. Stay left on Mechanic Street at fork with John Street to the right. Follow Mechanic Street all the way to Rte. 1 in downtown Camden.
7.5	Straight across Rte. 1 to the Camden Public Landing. Here you can see the sailing fleet and sit by the waterfalls, where the Megunticook River spills into the bay.
7.6	Turn right onto Rte. 1N through Camden.
8.0	Left onto Rte. 52 (Mountain Street) at top of hill, with library on the right.
10.8	Left onto Beaucaire Avenue and back into Barrett’s Cove picnic area and swimming beach.
	Long Loop (to Lincolnville)
0.0	Left out of Barrett’s Cove picnic area on Beaucaire Avenue
0.1	Left onto Rte. 52, along the lake.
1.9	Right onto Youngtown Road, with Youngtown Inn at the intersection.
4.6	Straight ahead as Youngtown Road merges with Rte. 173. On the right is the Bald Rock Mt. Trail, which heads into Camden Hills State Park, where mountain biking (and hiking) is permitted.
5.6	Straight at a fork, onto Ducktrap Road, which will take you to the ocean.
6.9	Right onto Rte 1S through Lincolnville Beach. (The Islesboro ferry leaves from here, taking you to the island of Islesboro, a favorite cycling spot.)
8.8	Right onto Rte. 173, passing the School House Museum on the right (open in summer).
10.2	Straight onto Slab City Road (Rte. 173 goes left and Ducktrap Road right).
13.5	Straight through intersection with Rte 52.
	For a longer ride, adding another 30 miles and a seacoast excursion, turn right onto Rte. 52 and follow the directions below for the optional loop to Northport, beginning at 6.5 miles. Or, for a shorter ride, just turn left onto Rte. 52, toward Lincolnville Center. Then turn left at the intersection onto Rte. 173/52E; return to Barrett’s Cove on Rte. 52.
18.5	Left at Greer’s Corner (there’s an old school at the intersection) onto Back Belmont Road.
19.0	Left fork onto Belfast Union Road.
19.9	Left onto Rte. 173E toward Lincolnville Center.
23.0	Right onto High Street, just after a pond.
25.2	Straight across unmarked intersection.
27.0	Left at T intersection onto Rte. 105.
27.8	Right onto Rte. 235, or stop for a refreshment at the Hope Corner Store and Apple Market just up the road on Rte. 105.
28.2	Left onto Barnestown Road, passing a working dairy farm. Caution: Prepare for a long, swooping descent to the Camden Snow Bowl.
32.2	Left onto Molyneaux Road, climbing a short, steep hill. (Or you can take the right fork and follow the directions for the shorter loop through Camden at 4.0 miles above.)
34.3	Left onto Beaucaire Avenue.
39.3	Left onto Rte. 52.
40.3	Left onto Beaucaire Avenue and into Barrett’s Cove area.
	Optional Loop (to Northport)
0.0	Begin this optional loop from Barrett’s Cove or connect it with the longer loop at 13.5 miles above. Turn left out of Barrett’s Cove and then left onto Rte. 52.
3.2	Bear left, staying on Rte. 52. There’s a variety store with take-out at this junction.
4.2	Stay right on Rte. 52, toward Belfast, just past the Center General Store (it’s been used in several movies).
6.5	Reach the intersection with Slab City Road.
10.3	Right onto Beech Hill Road. (You can also continue straight on Rte. 52 and pick up the directions below at 31.0 miles.)
18.5	Be prepared for a stop sign at Rte. 1. Continue straight across to Cove Road in Northport.
19.1	Left onto Shore Road. Cliff Road goes straight to the town landing.
24.0	Right onto Rte 1N. there is a good shoulder here.
25.0	Left onto Perkins Road.
25.7	Left onto Herrick Road
27.7	Right onto the Prescott Road
29.0	Right onto Rte. 52 at Greenlaws Corner.
31.0	Sharp left onto Back Belmount Road at Dog Island Corner. (Food and drink are available in Belfast, 2 miles farther north on Rte. 52.)
36.4	Straight at Greer’s Corner, at an old schoolhouse. Then follow the directions for the longer loop above, beginning at 19.0 miles.

TAKEN FROM

The Best Bike Rides in New England, written by Paul Thomas

Published by

The Globe Pequot Press
P.O. Box 833
Old Saybrook, Connecticut 06475

This company has published a number of other biking books. Check out your local bookstore or contact them for availability.