JAY — The Androscoggin Land Trust, a regional organization serving more than 100,000 people in the Androscoggin River watershed, will host an ATV ride along the Androscoggin River from Canton to Jay on Saturday, June 1.

The ride is meant to to showcase its largest-ever proposed land conservation project, linking area recreational trails from Canton to Jay and Livermore Falls. The ride is part of National Trails Day.

The event is in partnership with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, local ATV clubs and the owners of the Otis Falls Mill.

The public is invited to ride from Canton into Jay where the ride will connect with the Whistle Stop Trail and the more than one mile extension into the Otis Falls Mill. For those wishing to walk or ride bikes, meet at 10 a.m. at the Otis Falls Mill and walk the trail from there.

Previously, the trail ended at the French Falls Recreation Area but, with the investment of the state and leadership of local ATV clubs, it now continues an additional 1.3 miles into the Chisholm Village district of Jay.

Mill St. Café is offering a lunch, including burgers, hot dogs and all the fixings for $10 to participants in the National Trails Day ride. The lunch begins at noon and will be outside, under tents. Those wishing to have lunch are asked to RSVP to 207-782-2302 or info@androscogginlandtrust.org to ensure an accurate count for Mill St. Café.

The ride highlights a larger community initiative led by Androscoggin Land Trust, through its Chisholm Trails program, to conserve nearly 1,300 acres of land in a partnership with Verso Paper. The Androscoggin Greenway project will protect working forests, ensure recreational access is available for the region and create a unique trail riding experience going from rolling, undeveloped terrain with river views into the historic mill district of Jay and Livermore Falls.

To date, Androscoggin Land Trust has raised more than $400,000 and hopes to work with Verso to complete the project this year. The land would become a community forest, with efforts to begin this summer to engage community members in creating management plans for recreation, educational opportunities and timber management.

For more information, check the Androscoggin Land Trust website at www.androscogginlandtrust.org or call 782-2302.

EVENT DIRECTIONS:

ALL ATVs will meet at field along Route 140 in Canton at 9:30 a.m. and at 10 a.m., then take ATVs trails to Mill St. Café in Jay to arrive at noon. To Canton Field: From intersection of Routes 140 and 108 in Canton, follow Route 140 about 0.4 miles to the field, which is on the right.

ALL WALKERS will meet at the Otis Falls Mill on Mill Street in Jay at 10 a.m. for a walk of the Whistle-Stop Trail extension to French Falls Recreation Area.

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