RANGELEY — The Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, continuing its mission to make permanent conservation of the natural and historical resources of the region for the benefit of the public and future generations. For the anniversary, it has adopted the theme of Celebrating Common Ground.

When residents of the Rangeley region think of common ground, they picture treasured, shared natural places — rivers, lakes, mountains, fields and forests —rich cultural heritage; and the fusion of natural resources and the hardworking generations that came before.

Lying beneath Maine’s feet — or rather, wheels — is the common ground that makes travel to and from the region not only possible, but safe and educational. The Rangeley Lakes National Scenic Byway, a 32-mile corridor that winds like a ribbon from Madrid to Letter D Township on Routes 4 and 17, is one of only three National Scenic Byways in the state.

At the byway’s birth some 170 years ago, the corridor was little more than a boulder-strewn footpath that challenged the mettle of even the hardiest traveler. Over time, it slowly matured into a rutted and muddy oxcart path. Due to its remote location and inhospitable features, improvements to the corridor were slow to come. Without the support of the state or county, care of the corridor was left to the local residents, loggers and paper companies. For decades, mud season arrived and snowmelt washed the road to the abyss below. Felling trees and laying them side-by-side in the mud fortified the troublesome sections. As funding permitted, Maine DOT responded by paving a few sections of the corridor at a time.

In 1999, the trust saw an opportunity to remedy this situation. Working with a committed group of residents, the trust secured the corridor’s designation as a National Scenic Byway. Having received or leveraged more than $9 million in state and federal reconstruction and improvement funds, it has become an increasingly popular destination.

FMI: www.rlht.org.