A Connected Trail Network Takes Shape in Western Maine

What makes this project stand out is what it means for the people who live, work, and play in the region. For years, residents have envisioned a trail network connecting Bethel’s two ski resorts through downtown, giving skiers, hikers, and cyclists a continuous, human-powered route across a landscape long closed off by private ownership. That vision is now within reach. The protected forest secures the last critical pieces needed to make it real, transforming a barrier into a corridor and turning what was once a boundary between two mountains into a single connected outdoor destination. 

The benefits reach well beyond recreation. Chadbourne Forest sits within the Sebago Lake watershed, filtering drinking water for more than 200,000 residents in the Portland area, and it remains a vital wildlife corridor for species adapting to a changing climate. More than 33 miles of river and tributary frontage, including stretches of the Androscoggin and Crooked rivers, are protected as part of this effort, keeping the waterways that define the region clean and accessible. The land also continues to support the jobs and sustainable forestry practices that have defined this region for generations, ensuring the forest keeps working even as it opens its trails to the public. 

For a community like Bethel, where tourism and outdoor recreation are increasingly central to the local economy, that combination matters. A connected trail network draws visitors year-round, not just during ski season, strengthening the businesses and livelihoods built around the region’s natural assets. It’s proof that protecting a forest and growing a local economy aren’t competing goals; done well, they reinforce each other. 

Special thanks to partners: Mahoosuc Land Trust, Western Foothills Land Trust, Inland Woods + Trails, the state of Maine, and the U.S. Forest Service. The Land and Water Conservation Fund has supported a portion of this work, helping to ensure these landscapes remain open for the communities and wildlife that depend on them.