Discover Somerset: Rivers, Trails and History

Between Flagstaff Lake and West Peak, the elevation difference is more than 3,000 feet. The reserve also includes more than 3,100 acres of subalpine spruce-fir forest. The landscape and elevation give the area a distinctive setting for nature experiences.

Trails Along the Kennebec River

Two trails showcase different sides of the Kennebec River. The Weston Woods & Waters Trail covers about 2.5 miles of riverbank and takes walkers from the center of Madison along the river through woods and fields. Along the way are the remains of the old Weston family cemetery, cellar holes and other historic relics. The landscape and traces of earlier settlement are part of the same trail.

The approximately one-mile Historic Pines Trail runs along a ridge above the Kennebec River. It provides access to the Father Rasle Monument and offers insights into Wabanaki history, English settlement, and Colonel Benedict Arnold’s Wilderness March to Québec. The Esker Trail has a different focus: this flat, ungraded, four-mile forest singletrack follows an old logging road from the 1960s. “Flat” refers to the terrain; the trail is described as ungraded.

Hiking, Biking and Winter Trails

The Appalachian Trail runs 17.6 miles across the Bigelow Mountain Range and seven peaks. Those interested in shorter routes will find more than four miles of mountain biking singletrack at Coburn Woods. Coburn Woods and Taylor Field also offer opportunities for hiking, biking and snowshoeing.

The Skowhegan River Trail/DeBe Park is a paved, ADA-compliant trail through the woods with views of the Kennebec River Gorge. The Skowhegan River’s Edge Bike Park is a short, machine-built lollipop-shaped loop with optional boardwalks and bridges. More advanced riders can test their skills on these features.

The trails to Grand Falls Hut are groomed in winter and are then suitable for winter hiking, snowshoeing, fat biking and Nordic walking or cross-country skiing. Grand Falls Hut can be reached via hiking trails year-round. As seasonal trail conditions can change, check access information before your trip. Grand Falls is a waterfall about 40 feet high and 120 feet wide.

History, Collections and Events

The Skowhegan History House Museum & Research Center is a Greek Revival-style building constructed in 1839. It houses antiques, furnishings and everyday items from the mid-19th century. The museum also includes ornamental gardens with historic heirloom plants that were available to New England gardeners in the mid-19th century. The permanent timeline exhibit at the Margaret Chase Smith Library offers a different historical perspective, covering her life and career from 1897 to 1995.

The Norridgewock Historical Society’s collection includes Indigenous artifacts, early 20th-century medicine, maps, books, postcards and newspapers. Independently, Skowhegan Island served Indigenous peoples as an east-west crossing point.

The Skowhegan State Fair has been held without interruption since 1818. Its program includes performances, competitions, livestock shows, exhibits and a variety of food offerings; the annual program may vary. Skowhegan’s annual Maple Festival features maple recipes, a cooking competition, a maple dinner, children’s activities and maple ice cream. Oak Pond Brewery offers brief tours upon request, led by brewers Nancy Chandler or her son Adam. Check opening hours and tour availability in advance.

Discover More Destinations

Caratunk, Dennistown, Norridgewock, Jackman, Madison, Skowhegan, New Portland, Knox

For the main travel overview: Maine.