Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway Backroads

The Rangeley Lakes region’s backroad network follows old Great Northern Paper Company logging roads and abandoned railroad grades through dense Maine woods. The main route runs 35 miles from Oquossoc to Byron, passing Aziscohos Lake and crossing the Swift River multiple times on temporary bridges that wash out during spring ice-out. Height of Land Road offers the most challenging section, climbing 1,200 feet through technical rock gardens to views across Mooselookmeguntic Lake.

This is a difficult trail requiring true 4WD with skid plates and recovery gear. Spring runoff makes creek crossings dangerous, while autumn hunting season brings heavy timber truck traffic on weekdays. The best window is late June through September when water levels drop and most logging operations shut down. Dispersed camping is allowed on paper company land with landowner permission, and the route connects to dozens of remote fishing ponds accessible only by foot or ATV.