Maine’s Golden Road
Paper company highway to Maine's wilderness heart
The Golden Road earned its name from the fortune Great Northern Paper spent building this private logging highway in the 1970s. Stretching from Millinocket to the Quebec border, this well-maintained gravel road provides the only vehicle access to Maine’s remote North Woods and the legendary Allagash Wilderness Waterway. Mile 83 marks the turnoff to Chesuncook Lake, where Henry David Thoreau paddled in 1857, while the Telos Road junction opens access to some of New England’s most pristine backcountry.
Easy difficulty makes this route accessible to any vehicle, though logging trucks have right-of-way and kick up serious dust clouds in summer. Current paper company permits are required—available at checkpoints in Millinocket. Best traveled May through October when gates are open. The road delivers unmatched access to Maine’s wilderness heart, with established camping at Chesuncook and Lobster Lake. Fuel availability is limited, so top off in Millinocket before heading into the hundred-mile wilderness.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Easy |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route |
| Surface | Gravel |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 96 mi / 154.5 km |
| Duration | 2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 1200 ft |
| Best season | May-October |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock 2WD |
| Nearest town | Millinocket, Maine |
| Land manager | Various Paper Companies |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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