CARRABASSETT VALLEY – From the bikers who zoomed through just minutes after the ribbon had been cut, it’s clear that the newly reconstructed recreation trail here is going to prove to be a worthwhile investment.

On Friday, local outdoor enthusiasts, representatives from both Sugarloaf ski area, the town of Carrabassett Valley and those concerned with the economic development of the region turned out for the ribbon-cutting at the Narrow Gauge Recreational Pathway Project. The ceremony marked official completion.

The six-mile non-motorized use trail, which weaves through the lush forest as it parallels the trickling Carrabassett River, runs from Houston Brook Bridge behind the town office to Bigelow Station.

Formerly the path of the Narrow Gauge Railroad, the trail has seen its fair share of users over the years and jostled many bikers in that time as well.

The reconstruction makes for a smoother ride. The state paid $600,000 of the cost and the town $150,000.

Weathered rock recovers the surface, and a 400-foot boardwalk provides beautiful vistas and a chance to observe nature. A trailhead at Campbell Field off Route 27 has been built and includes a parking lot for up to 20 cars.

The result is a cushier, more even trail. Now instead of just being accessible to hard core mountain bikers who don’t mind getting muddy and tossed over fallen logs and jutting rocks, the path is available for walkers, joggers, cross-country skiers and novice bikers.

One biker at the ribbon-cutting even reported seeing two mothers pushing strollers as they walked on the reconstructed route one Sunday afternoon.

“This is a very happy day for the town and the area,” said Town Manager David Cota, who noted that the path had been an investment for the town and for area landowners, like the Penobscot Nation and Sugarloaf that donated easements to make the trail a success.

“This project has had its up and downs,” Cota explained. “But in the end, we have a product everyone is happy with.”

Town Selectman Bob Luce said, “It’s a phenomenal trail.” Its use has already made it a worthwhile expense. In just a two-hour span, Luce said he counted 20 people using the pathway. “It’s one of the best things that town has done in a while.”

The trail balances two of the area’s greatest attributes: recreation and nature. Users have the opportunity to see moose, deer, birds and even the occasional busy beaver.

“There was apprehension initially and people called us nuts,” Luce admitted. “But leap ahead two years to now and we have made believers out of those who once questioned it.”

Fellow selectman and avid cyclist Steve Pierce said the trail will broaden the appeal of the area. “Recreation is the backbone of this area,” he pointed out as two bikers peddled by grinning. “And this broadens our recreational opportunities.”

While in the past, bikers and runners had to use the busy and narrow Route 27, now they have a safer, more pristine place to get out and enjoy the beauty of the valley.

“This is absolutely wonderful. It allows a great number of people to use it that otherwise would not have been able to do so,” Pierce said, looking down the path, shaded by the flourishing foliage as the peaceful sounds of the river gurgled over the rocks in the background. “It’s a fabulous opportunity to allow many families the opportunity to recreate.”

sdepoy@sunjournal.com

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