Snowmobile Trail Conditions Report: The Forks, Maine January 2020

THE FORKS SNOWMOBILE TRAIL REPORT 1/30/2020

Temperatures have dropped back down to normal after the warm temps of the past weekend. Trails held up well after the weekend and we have been grooming most of this week, smoothing things out and softening up the hard surface for lube. We have been able to pull snow into most of the depressions and smooth things out. There are some larger water bars in some spots that are not filled in completely, so be careful. This is particularly true on our woods trails which need more snow. Overall sections of trail that are on unplowed roads are in good to very good shape . . . mostly flat and fast. Woods trail sections are rough. About 85% of our trail system is on unplowed roads.

ITS 86 FROM BERRY’S STORE HEADING EAST TOWARD GREENVILLE
Intown is very rough and needs more snow. We just can’t do much through there with the groomer. After 1 mile or so, things improve greatly. A couple miles of ITS 86 around the north side of Mosquito Mtn have some larger water bars that are not completely filled in. The 1 mile Power Line section at Lake Moxie is rough. From Moxie Dam up to ITS 88 junction is mostly on unplowed roads and is great riding.

KENNEBEC RIVER TRAIL
Open and groomed. Mostly in decent shape, except last 1 mile towards town is rough.

BALD MOUNTAIN TRAIL
Mostly unplowed roads and is in great shape. There is no connection off the south end of the BMT to the Wind Mills in Bingham, as there has been in the past. Only access to the Wind Mills is a trail off ITS 87 north of Bingham. The Bald Mtn Trail combined with the Pleasant Pond Trail form a great loop ride between ITS 86 and ITS 87.

BREAKNECK RIDGE TRAIL
Open, groomed, and in very good shape.

ITS 87 HEADING SOUTH TOWARD BINGHAM
Short woods sections at Pleasant Pond and Moore’s Bog are rough. Otherwise it’s a very nice ride.

PLEASANT POND TRAIL
Mostly on unplowed roads . . . . flat and fast.

CARATUNK SPUR
Open and groomed.

Jim Yearwood
Forks Area Trails Snowmobile Club
The Forks Maine Snowmobile Trail Map

Day riders, there is a FREE PARK & RIDE LOT at Northern Outdoors on Route 201. The large parking lot is plowed with plenty of room for snowmobile trailers and groomed access to all trails. The Park & Ride lot is marked with a large sign on Route 201, 1/4 mile south of Northern Outdoors. Snowmobile trail maps, 91 octane ethanol-free gas, and great food are available at Northern Outdoors.
**PLEASE NOTE: gas is CASH ONLY and available 9:00am-5:00pm

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UPDATE 1/27/20

The weekend weather was warm, but we thankfully didn’t get much at all for rain — mostly sleet and a little freezing rain. The warm temps weren’t great– woods trails are rough, but the unplowed roads (thankfully the majority of our trail system) range from good to very good and everything is passable. We heard from folks who enjoyed rides from Northern Outdoors towards Parlin and Jackman over the weekend. Temps haven’t been cold enough to groom, but we will be able to resume grooming on Tuesday and have a full report on Thursday.

THE FORKS TRAIL REPORT 1/23/2020

The 6” of snow we received last weekend really helped our trails. We have been able to pull snow into most of the depressions and smooth things out. There are some larger water bars that are not filled in completely, so be careful. This is particularly true on our woods trails which are much improved compared to a week ago, but could still use some more snow. Overall conditions are getting better and better, and there is enjoyable riding to be had!

ITS 86 FROM BERRYS HEADING EAST TOWARD GREENVILLE
Intown is rough and could use more snow. After 1 mile, things improve. ITS 86 around the north side of Mosquito Mtn has some larger water bars that are not completely filled in. The 1 mile Power Line section at Lake Moxie is rough, but passable. From Moxie Dam up to ITS 88 junction is mostly unplowed roads and is great riding.

KENNEBEC RIVER TRAIL
Open and groomed. Mostly in decent shape, except last 1 mile towards town is rough.

BREAKNECK RIDGE TRAIL
Open and groomed.

ITS 87 HEADING SOUTH TOWARD BINGHAM
Woods sections around Pleasant Pond and Moore’s Bog are rough. Otherwise it’s a nice ride.

PLEASANT POND TRAIL
Mostly on unplowed roads . . . . flat and fast.

CARATUNK SPUR
Open and groomed.

PLEASE RESPECT THE LANDOWNERS WISHES . . . . . . . STAY OFF ALL PLOWED ROADS!!

Jim Yearwood
Forks Area Trails Snowmobile Club
The Forks Maine Snowmobile Trail Map

THE FORKS AREA TRAILS SNOWMOBILE REPORT 1/17/2020, with update from January 21st

1/21/20 Update

Trails were beat up from MLK weekend traffic, but groomers were out all weekend and again Monday, and they groomed out nicely. Still need a little more snow on woods trails, but they are much improved after the 6” we received this past weekend. We will be grooming all week to get everything smoothed out for the next weekend. Zach will be doing a video report, out on Thursday, and we will have a full trail report to post on Thursday as well. Week looks calm in terms of weather, but we’re keeping our eye on some snow for Saturday.

1/17/20 Report

We received about 4” on Thursday. Groomer went out last night and will go out again tonight. Barring a breakdown, all sections of trail will be packed for the weekend. Another 6+” coming Saturday night . . . that will help a lot!

Overall, we are still in low snow/early season conditions. All sections are passable, but be very careful of hazards. Sections on unplowed roads are in very good shape. Woods trails are thin and rough. There are still some wet spots that haven’t frozen over completely yet. Very cold temps over the next few days will take care of that, but we need more snow to be able to fill them in.

ITS 86 EAST TOWARD GREENVILLE
Intown is very boney, but passable. After 1 mile, things improve. ITS 86 around the north side of Mosquito Mtn is rough, as is the 1 mile Power Line section at Lake Moxie. From Moxie Dam up to ITS 88 junction is mostly unplowed roads and is good riding. They have finished logging and trucking on the Loop Road section.

KENNEBEC RIVER TRAIL
Need more snow before we will pack this trail. Hopefully after the weekend storm. Riders have been using it however.

BALD MOUNTAIN TRAIL
Mostly unplowed roads so is in good shape. There is no connection off the south end of the BMT to the Wind Mills in Bingham, as there has been in the past. Only access to the Wind Mills is a trail off ITS 87 north of Bingham. The Bald Mtn Trail and Pleasant Pond Trail form a nice loop ride between ITS 86 and ITS 87.

BREAKNECK RIDGE TRAIL
We will open and pack this trail next week, after the weekend storm.

ITS 87 HEADING SOUTH TOWARD BINGHAM
Woods sections around Pleasant Pond and Moore’s Bog are rough. Otherwise is pretty good.

PLEASANT POND TRAIL
Mostly on unplowed roads, so riding is good.

CARATUNK SPUR
Waiting for more snow before packing with groomers.

Jim Yearwood
Forks Area Trails Snowmobile Club
The Forks Maine Snowmobile Trail Map

THE FORKS TRAIL REPORT 1/8/2020

Inch by inch, snow has arrived in The Forks and we’ve finally been able to get the groomers on the trails this week. By Friday, we will have packed and signed all trail sections except the Kennebec River Trail, and parts of ITS 87 heading south toward Bingham.

Overall, we are in low snow/early season conditions. All sections are passable and people are out and about riding around. Sections on unplowed roads are in good shape. Woods trails are thin and rough. There are still some wet spots that haven’t frozen over completely yet.

ITS 86 FROM BERRY’S HEADING EAST TOWARD GREENVILLE TO ITS 88 JUNCTION
On Tuesday, we packed this section to Moxie Dam. We will finish packing to the ITS 88 junction on Thursday. Intown has not been packed . . . need more snow. In town is very boney, but passable. After 1 mile, things improve. ITS 86 around the south of Mosquito Mtn is rough, as is the 1 mile Power Line section at Lake Moxie. From Moxie Dam up to ITS 88 junction is mostly unplowed roads and is good riding. They have finished logging and trucking on the Loop Road section.

KENNEBEC RIVER TRAIL
Need more snow before we will pack this trail. Riders have been using it however.

BALD MOUNTAIN TRAIL
Groomer is packing this today. Mostly unplowed roads so should be in good shape. There is no connection off the south end of the BMT to the Wind Mills in Bingham, as there has been in the past. Only access to the Wind Mills is a trail off ITS 87 north of Bingham. The Bald Mtn Trail and Pleasant Pond Trail form a nice loop ride between ITS 86 and ITS 87.

ITS 87 HEADING SOUTH TOWARD BINGHAM
This section is being packed by the groomer today. However, we are only packing to the Moore’s Bog bridge. Need a few inches more snow before we can pack this trail further south.

PLEASANT POND TRAIL
Groomer is packing this today. Mostly unplowed roads so should be in good shape.

BREAKNECK RIDGE TRAIL
We will open and pack this trail next week.

CARATUNK SPUR
Waiting for more snow before packing with groomers.

Jim Yearwood
Forks Area Trails Snowmobile Club
The Forks Maine Snowmobile Trail Map

Day riders, there is a FREE PARK & RIDE LOT at Northern Outdoors on Route 201, it’s currently closed but will be open NEXT WEEK.
**PLEASE NOTE: gas is CASH ONLY and available 9:00am-5:00pm

Zach hit the trails on January 9th, on the freshly groomed Bald Mountain Trail — here’s the good and the bad on his first trail report of the 2020 season!

THE FORKS TRAIL REPORT 1/1/2020

Well, we didn’t get what we’d hoped for from the last storm — probably about 3″. Not really enough to send out groomers — could use another few inches for that. But, the good news is — we’re open, and the beer is flowin’. You can ride if you want to get out and enjoy the scenery– things are passable on our trail system from what we hear from other riders that are out and about. Unplowed roads are your best bet, woods trails are boney. There is some snow in the forecast, so we’re keeping an eye on it and will send out an update as things develop.

**Important Trail Update** For those braving the trails — there is a section of ITS 86 between The Forks and Greenville that is closed to snowmobiles, even on weekends. It is a 3 mile section of the Loop Road just south of the Brochu Road. They have finished cutting, but are still trucking the wood out. They will be finished up next week and the road will be opened to snowmobiles at that time. Please respect the landowners wishes.

Jim Yearwood
Forks Area Trails Snowmobile Club
The Forks Maine Snowmobile Trail Map

Our FREE Park & Ride is not yet open, but otherwise the Northern Outdoors lodge and the Kennebec River Pub & Brewery are open! We have a full menu with burgers, pulled pork sandwiches, and more — and a great lineup of beers. We do have 91 octane non-ethanol gas available from 9a-5p, cash only!