Bangor Off The Beaten Path

The Bangor City Forest provides driving, walking, and x-country skiing trails. We visited the bog. It is easy to get to once you find the forest. Boardwalks and interpretive signs make it easy to walk through and understand. Many of the plants were in bloom when we visited.

Writer Stephen King makes his home in Bangor. The Italianate villa, the William Arnold House, is his home. To find it ... look for the wrought-iron fence decorated with bats, spiders, and intricate webs. Remember that this is a private home and do respect that.

In late October of 2003 I made my way to Maine to visit family. Being from the Lone Star state, and in peticular Austin I found myself rather bored up there. That is until I met Luke Whithead lead singer for east coast stomp and hardcore band out of Brewer which is on the other side of bangor across the Penobscott River. If you look hard enough you will find a group of kids and adults that know have reinvented the hardcore scene in their small community. Bangor is home of Steven King and if you get a chance I highly recommend a trip to this strange town.

This 650-acre wildlife habitat and working forest is owned by the city and open for limited public use.(No snowmobiles, hunting, Monstertruck rallys or cock-fighting.)
However, there are about 9 miles of trails available to hiking, biking, snowshoeing and skiing with approximately 4 miles of access roads.

Insider Tips:
1. The East Trail makes a 4 mile loop around the whole trail system and is a good introduction.
2. The parking lot tends to fill on the weekends but once you start ambling along the trails you only seem to run into other people occasionally...which is nice if you happen to be having a coronary.
3. Many folks bring their dogs... and the considerate ones pick up after them. *hint*

"Heck, you may even spot a beaver."
("Or... was that just a fur-coated "Out-ah-State-ah.")
"Hmmmmmm."


Directions:
Head out Stillwater Avenue...past mall ..towards Orono...couple miles on left. Watch for blue "City Forest" sign on right.

I guess that 's right...

Understand this- I am typically only capable of giving directions in relation to Paul Bunyans statue. (This gets complicated when I am in Boston.)

The Bangor Public Library is worth a stop. Several years ago a lovely new addition and remodeling was done. Stephen and Tabitha King donated a substantial amount along with many others in the community to make this possible. There is usually a wonderful art display to see that changes regularly. The whole lower level is for children. Worth a look if you love to read or just love old buildings

Bangor offers a number of hiking trails: Kenduskeag Stream Trail, Essex Woods, Saxl Park, and City Forest. City Forest offers the best trails. It's on Tripp Drive, 1.6 miles on Stillwater Avenue north of the intersection with Hogan Road.

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Take a drive past the home of author Stephen King. Although the residents of Bangor are protective of his privacy, you might be able to find someone who will give you driving directions to his home.