Best ATV Trails in Maine: Rail Trails, Club Networks and Rules
Last updated on October 26th, 2026 at 08:03 pm
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The best ATV riding in Maine is on the state’s multi-use rail trails, led by the 96-mile Down East Sunrise Trail on the coast and the Aroostook Valley and Bangor & Aroostook trails in the north, plus club trail networks around The Forks, Jackman, Greenville and Moosehead Lake. Visitors must register their machine in Maine, and road-registered vehicles such as Jeeps and trucks are not allowed on the rail trails.
Most of the network crosses private land by landowner agreement, and the trails open and close with the season. The rules below come from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.
Maine ATV trails at a glance
| Trail or region | Where | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Down East Sunrise Trail | Hancock and Washington counties, Ellsworth east | 96 miles | Gravel and crushed stone, with some pavement. Open to ATVs, snowmobiles and horses. Other guides list 85 or 87 miles; Maine Trail Finder says 96 |
| Whistle Stop Trail | Jay, Wilton and Farmington | 14 miles | Former Androscoggin Railroad bed, four-season multi-use |
| Aroostook Valley Trail | Aroostook County | 28 miles | One of the state-listed multi-use rail trails |
| Four Seasons Adventure Trail | Newport to Dover-Foxcroft | About 29 miles | Multi-use rail trail, per Untamed Mainer |
| Bangor and Aroostook Trail | Aroostook County | Not verified | State-listed rail trail; sections open on different dates (see the season notes) |
| The Forks, Jackman, Greenville and Moosehead Lake | Western and central Maine | Not verified | Club-maintained network; Lake Moxie ATV Riders maintains the Forks-area trails |
Maine’s state list of multi-use rail trails also includes the Kennebec Valley, Lagrange to Medford, Sherman to Patten, Southern Bangor & Aroostook and St. John Valley Heritage trails. We could not verify current lengths for those, so confirm each with the state or the local club.
Rail trails: which vehicles can ride them
State policy says every motorized vehicle on a multi-use rail trail must be registered as an ATV, a snowmobile or both. Vehicles registered or built for the road, including cars, trucks, Jeeps and road motorcycles, are prohibited, and dual-sport motorcycles must be registered as ATVs. The policy is on the state ATV trails page.
Maine also bars oversized ATVs from registration. An oversized machine is wider than 65 inches or heavier than 2,000 pounds by the maker’s specifications, which rules out some large side-by-sides.
Best multi-use rail trails
Down East Sunrise Trail
This 96-mile rail trail runs the Downeast coast through blueberry barrens, forest and wetlands, with 28 bridges over streams and salmon rivers, according to Maine Trail Finder. It is shared with walkers, bikers and horses, so slow down and yield.
Aroostook County rail trails
The Bangor & Aroostook and Aroostook Valley trails link into northern Maine’s club networks, which makes them a base for multi-day rides. Sections open on different dates, and spraying or construction can delay them.
Whistle Stop Trail
The 14-mile Whistle Stop Trail connects Jay, Wilton and Farmington on a former railroad bed and is generally wide and flat, per Maine Trail Finder.
Club trails: The Forks, Jackman, Greenville and Moosehead
Western Maine has a club-maintained network between The Forks, Jackman, Greenville and Moosehead Lake. Northern Outdoors says its Forks-area trails generally open Memorial Day weekend and run to mid-October, and that Lake Moxie ATV Riders maintains them. Get the club map and check the club’s updates before you go.
Untamed Mainer lists the 138-mile Moose Loop through nine towns in the Rangeley area and says dirt bikes and side-by-sides over 60 inches wide are not allowed on it (Untamed Mainer). Width limits are set trail by trail, so ask the local club before you bring a wide machine.
Season and trail openings
The state posts openings on its ATV trail notices page. In 2026, the Downeast Sunrise, Kennebec Valley and Whistlestop rail trails opened on May 15, and the Four Seasons Adventure, Bangor and Aroostook and Aroostook Valley trails (Houlton to Van Buren) opened on May 22.
Sections of the Bangor and Aroostook Trail northwest of Van Buren, and the Heritage Trail from Fort Kent to Saint Francis, had delayed openings because of spruce budworm spraying when the May 2026 notice went out. Closures are marked, and signs reading “STOP TRAIL CLOSED DUE TO SATURATED SOILS” allow pedestrians only.
If the trail is snow-covered, ATVs are not allowed. If the gravel is exposed and frozen with no snow, ATVs may ride as long as the trail has not been officially closed.
Can you ride it? Registration and rules checker
Pick your machine, your registration, the rider’s age and where you plan to ride. The checker lists what the state requires.
Based on the Maine IFW ATV laws and rules and the state multi-use rail trail policy. Fees change, so confirm before you buy. It is a summary, not legal advice.
Maine ATV rules at a glance
| Rule | What Maine says |
|---|---|
| Registration | Required for every ATV. Resident $70; nonresident season $115 or 7-day $100; plus agent fee. Antique ATV $45 |
| Oversized | Wider than 65 inches or over 2,000 pounds cannot be registered, with a pre-2022 resident exception |
| Age | Under 10 may not operate. Ages 10 to 15 need an approved training course and an adult in sight and voice contact |
| Helmets | Required under 18, ANSI Z90.1 or FMVSS 218; passengers under 18 too |
| Lights | Headlight 100 feet and taillight 100 feet; required from half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise |
| Public roads | Not allowed except crossing up to 500 yards on the extreme right, or posted ATV-access routes |
| Private land | Permission presumed on designated state-approved trails; written permission for cropland, pasture and orchards |
Gear matters on long trail days. Our checklist of what to wear for ATV riding covers the basics, and a helmet should meet the standards Maine names. Our trail etiquette guide explains why staying on marked trails keeps the network open.
FAQ
The Down East Sunrise Trail, listed by Maine Trail Finder at 96 miles. Other guides say 85 to 87 miles, so confirm with the trail coalition.
Yes. All ATVs must be registered in Maine. Nonresidents can buy a 7-day ($100) or season ($115) registration, plus an agent fee.
Not on state multi-use rail trails, which allow only machines registered as ATVs or snowmobiles. Trucks and passenger vehicles are also barred from designated ATV trails off the gravel road system unless the landowner authorizes them.
Dates change each year with mud season. In 2026 the Downeast Sunrise Trail opened May 15 and several northern rail trails opened May 22. Check the state trail notices.
Riders and passengers under 18 must wear a helmet that meets ANSI Z90.1 or FMVSS 218. It is recommended for everyone.
Sources: Maine IFW, Maine DACF, DACF trail notices, Maine Trail Finder, Northern Outdoors, Untamed Mainer.
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- What to wear for ATV riding
- What is a side-by-side?
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I'm Suryashankar Dasgupta, the founder of Off-Road Handbook. I've been off-roading for years in the USA, including California and Texas, and have ridden mountain and desert terrain abroad. I've also driven a Jeep Compass for more than seven years, so I know the day-to-day side of Jeep ownership first-hand, from the Uconnect screen to the warning lights. Every guide here is researched from manufacturer owner's manuals, NHTSA recall and service-bulletin records and other trusted sources, checked against them before it is published, and corrected when we find a mistake. You can read how we work in our editorial policy: https://offroadhandbook.com/editorial-policy/
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