High Peaks Loop

A loop around Maine's High Peaks: from Rangeley ME-16 runs through the woods to Stratton, then ME-27 heads down the Carrabassett valley past Sugarloaf and the Bigelow Range to Kingfield. The route comes back west on ME-142 to Phillips and on ME-4 past Smalls Falls to Rangeley. It's 79 miles without repeating a mile. Don't follow ME-27 north of Stratton, because it goes to the Canadian border at Coburn Gore. There are no services between Rangeley and Stratton, and moose are common, so ride it in daylight.

ME-27 between Kingfield and the Canadian border is the Maine High Peaks Scenic Byway, about 47 miles, and the loop uses the part between Stratton and Kingfield. That stretch follows the Carrabassett River past Sugarloaf, the access road to the ski area, with the Bigelow Range to the north; the Bigelow Preserve protects some 36,000 acres of forest east of Stratton. From Rangeley, the loop reaches Stratton on ME-16, a long stretch of woods with no services.

From Kingfield the route turns west on ME-142 to Phillips and follows ME-4 up the Sandy River to Smalls Falls, where a picnic area sits a few steps from the falls, before it returns to Rangeley. It's 79 miles without repeating a mile. North of Stratton, ME-27 continues to the Canadian border at Coburn Gore, so don't follow it. Moose are common on ME-16 and ME-27, so ride it in daylight, and fuel in Rangeley, Stratton or Kingfield.