Lyford to Medawisla Round Trip: 39 Miles

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Piscataquis County, ME, US

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Route Overview

Eastern Massachusetts All-Roads Cycling

Gravel and All-Roads Adventures from Greater Boston to Beyond...

39 mi.

3,182 ft.

A wilderness gravel ride in Northern Maine, east of Greenville and Moosehead Lake. 100% Gravel roads from AMC's Little Lyford Pond Camp to Medawisla Camp and back. Excellent gravel roads in a very remote location. Can be done in reverse if you are starting from Medawisla. Both lodges make a great base camp for several days of gravel biking, hiking, canoeing and other outdoors activities. This is very remote country with little or NO CELL SERVICE. Would recommend travelling with others and knowing how to fix a flat, etc. as there is also not much road traffic if you have a breakdown. Can get water and snacks at the lodges, when they are open (both are open summer to fall).

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Route Details

A remote gravel ride in Northern Maine, east of Greenville and Moosehead Lake. 100% Gravel roads from AMC's Little Lyford Pond Camp to Medawisla Camp and back. Excellent gravel roads in a very remote location. Can be done in reverse if you are starting from @poi[Medawisla.](83584958) Both lodges make a great base camp for several days of gravel biking, hiking, canoeing and other outdoors activities. This is very remote country with little or NO CELL SERVICE. Would recommend travelling with others and knowing how to fix a flat, etc. as there is also not much road traffic if you have a breakdown. Can get water and snacks at the lodges, when they are open (both are open summer to fall). The roads are high quality gravel and there is a moderate amount of climbing, but well graded. Best from late spring to fall.

The route starts at @poi[Little Lyford Lodge](83584959), heads out and south on a gravel road and turns north and east at the @photo[East Side Road Access Gate](13871652). The route then follows roads north up past the West Branch Ponds camp.  It then goes to the east of Hedgehog and Shaw Mountains, and a @slice[long downhill to Mediwisla Camp](d,23157.4,29079.48), which is on Second Roach pond. There is access for swimming here.
The road head back south and heads west of Hedgehog and Shaw Mountains before @point[rejoining the original route near West Branch Ponds](d,16890.46).

**Safety Issues:** This is remote country. Do not expect cell service so travel with others, let people know when you are going, and know how to repair your bike. There can be logging trucks on these roads and other vehicles may not expect cyclists, so wear bright colors and be prepared to get over right or off the road completely. That said, you will likley see very few vehicles.
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**Fitness & Equipment Considerations:** You can ride on a standard gravel bike and anything with 32 or wider tires.  Be careful of "auto-reroute" function on your GPS in this area (and any very remote area), as the computer may reroute you onto a trail or abondoned road that is not rideable. Would reccomend shutting off "auto-reroute".
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**Special Travel Considerations:**
1. If driving to Little Lyford Camp, you want a vehicle with reasonable clearance as the final dirt road is rough.
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2. You have to pay a day use fee for the Katadhin Iron Works property (waived if you are staying overnight at the AMC property). If starting at Medawisla, you can drive in without any fees and the dirt road is usually passable in standard car.
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Post ride snack at the lodges or head into Greenville for many dining options.

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Lyford to Medawisla Round Trip: 39 Miles

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Other routes by Eastern Massachusetts All-Roads Cycling

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