Height of Land · ME-17

The most famous roadside view in Maine, one way: from Mexico the route follows ME-17 north along the Swift River through Roxbury and Byron, past the gorge at Coos Canyon, climbs to the Height of Land overlook above Mooselookmeguntic Lake, passes the Rangeley Lake overlook and drops to Oquossoc before finishing in Rangeley. It's 42 miles. There's nothing in between, so fuel in Rumford, Mexico or Rangeley, and don't ride it after dark: this is moose country.

ME-17 between Mexico and Oquossoc is the heart of the Rangeley Lakes National Scenic Byway. For its first stretch the road follows the Swift River, and in Byron it passes Coos Canyon, a gorge the river cut through the rock, with a roadside rest area a few steps from the water. It's probably the best-known spot in Maine to pan for gold, and a shop across the road rents pans. Farther north the road climbs to the Height of Land, where the Appalachian Trail crosses ME-17.

The overlook at the top looks over Mooselookmeguntic Lake and the mountains around it. The current overlook and its parking lot opened in 2011, after a project that moved part of ME-17 to make room for them. A few miles on, the Rangeley Lake overlook looks down on the lake before the road drops to Oquossoc, and the route finishes on ME-4 in Rangeley. It's a one-way route with no services between Mexico and Oquossoc, and moose cross the road here, so ride it in daylight.