WRITTEN BY JEN LYNDS
Katherine St. John, 59, of Rochester, New York, tries to make a trip to Houlton to see her siblings and other family members as often as she can.
“I love it up here, especially during the fall,” she said recently. “The foliage is just beautiful, and there are still farmers out there who employ workers to harvest potatoes. These are close, vibrant communities.”
As a fitness enthusiast, what she wasn’t so fond of was the lack of access to cycling and walking trails.
“There are no bicycling lanes on the roads around here,” she said, “and some of the roads do not have sidewalks on them. So it is not always safe to go out and bike and walk.”
That is why she was “shocked” by what she saw when she returned to Houlton during a recent visit.
“The last time that I was here, there was just a small walking trail in Riverfront Park,” she said. “They just had the little loop trail that included the [Gateway Crossing] footbridge. Now, they have an entire trail system on both sides of the [Meduxnekeag] River! I love it! This update is really something else.”
Much has changed in Riverfront Park, dedicated in 2009, since St. John’s last visit. Since the park’s founding, a local committee has focused on revitalizing the area, working tirelessly to achieve its goals.
Along with the St. John Valley Heritage Trail in Fort Kent, both locations keep residents fit and teach them a bit about local history.
Riverfront Park has fast become a jewel of Houlton, the county seat of Aroostook. The Riverfront Committee, formed by residents, generated more than $1 million with donations, grants, and some taxpayer money to build the 187-foot Gateway Crossing footbridge, which extends from the North Street Bridge across the Meduxnekeag River. The town built Gateway Crossing to make it easier for visitors to reach historic downtown Market Square, where they can explore local shops and boutiques.
The park has a sheltered picnic area, a playground, and bathrooms, among other amenities.
The first pedestrian walking trail at the site ran along the westerly side of the Meduxnekeag River. Along the river are storyboards that teach residents about local history, including the first settlers, early businesses and entrepreneurs, and fires that struck the town.
“I love learning about the town’s history,” said St. John. “Having the storyboards here makes the walk even better, especially if you have children. That is one of the best parts. I grew up around here, and I didn’t learn much about local history. I learn a lot when I stop and look at the storyboards.”
St. John added that when she walks with her nieces and nephews, she makes learning new things into a game.
“We will stop and read the storyboards, and I will quiz them on what they learned,” she said. “I will give the person who remembered the most a prize.”
In 2021, the town approved construction of a 1.7-mile extension along the eastern side of the Meduxnekeag River, linking it to the original Riverfront Trail and creating nearly five miles of connected pathways for hikers on both sides of the river.
In northern Maine, the St. John Valley Heritage Trail unites the villages of Fort Kent and St. Francis. The route extends 17 miles, tracing the former Fish River Rail Line and traversing the St. John Valley. Visitors can gaze across the St. John River into New Brunswick, Canada. The pathway spans pedestrian bridges and showcases waterways, agricultural fields, and forests. It takes users past the famous “Tribute to St. John Valley Farmers” mural on Route 161, crosses the Fish River, and passes the America’s First Mile sign in Fort Kent.
Lana Malyuk is the executive director of the Greater Fort Kent Chamber of Commerce. She said that the trail is a significant attraction in the area.
“We have a lot of people who visit here just to use the heritage trail,” she said. “That is because we have a lot of people who come up here to ATV on the trail in the summer and fall, and snowmobile on the trail in the winter. Breathtaking views draw numerous bikers, walkers, and hikers to the trail.”
Despite the trail’s isolated atmosphere, Route 161 is nearby.
“It is a perfect spot, and safe,” she said. “I couldn’t tell you when it is busier — in the summer or in the winter.”
The route features storyboards that inform travelers about the region’s history, including the Aroostook War.
Louise Sellers of Portland, was exploring the trail system with several friends recently. The group traveled to the St. John Valley to explore the foliage and enjoy some biking and hiking in the area. They had made the trip several times before.
“We love it up here,” she said. “We love seeing the beautiful leaves change color, and we also love learning about Acadian culture. There is nothing better than biking or hiking and being surrounded by reds, yellows, and oranges. We always check out the Fort Kent Block House and stop to take pictures at the First Mile sign.”
The Saint John Valley Heritage Trail is a rail-to-trail system that formerly served as the Fish River Railroad corridor. The Bangor & Aroostook Railroad, a railway that transferred passengers and cargo throughout northern Maine, took over.
Nearing the trail’s end in St. Francis is the historic turntable for the B&A Railroad. Saint Francis once served as the terminus for the railroad. The turntable, manufactured in 1904, was utilized until the 1980s to rotate a complete locomotive. The St. Francis Historical Society now preserves the turntable.
Sellers said she had seen the turntable in the past and felt it was essential to learn about the history of every town that she visited. She said she loves it when towns find creative ways to infuse history into the environment.
“What a fantastic way to learn history,” she said.
