RECREATION

The small towns, rolling hills, rivers, and forests of the St. John Valley all provide for a myriad of recreational opportunities to those who visit or choose to live here.  The region's six major lakes and three rivers, as well as the countless number of ponds and streams provide excellent fishing, swimming, and boating; indeed, the Allagash Wilderness Waterway has its terminus within the Valley, bringing a large number of seasonal canoeists and kayakers.  The Valley's rural atmosphere, combined with large tracts of fields and pastureland, and undeveloped forestland, also combine to provide habitat for a variety of small and big game animals alike, creating another seasonal opportunity for hunters, photographers, and sightseers to "capture" a glimpse of moose, bear, rabbit, or deer.  ATV clubs have also seen resurgence in numbers, primarily due to the miles of developed trails that criss-cross the Valley.  In the summer months, four-wheelers can be seen cruising these paths, however, when the snow flies, snowmobiles by the hundreds, many from out of state, come to take advantage of the ITS system.  Interest in dogsledding, with one of the largest competitions east of the Mississippi held in the Valley each year, has also increased traffic on this same trail system.  In addition, the Northern Maine Winter Sports Center, together with the multitude of existing trails and slopes, has regenerated an interest in skiing:  downhill, cross-country, and touring. Our objective in Recreation is to , "Enhance sustainable recreational opportunities within the Valley by promoting better landowner/landuser relations."