A True Taste Of The Wild Is Found On Maine's One-Of-A-Kind Road Through Dense, Scenic Forest

The Golden Road in Maine starts in Millinocket, a modest town of 4,000 people just north of the state's center. Here you can fill your tank, grab coffee and a donut at the Appalachian Trail Café, and resupply at the local Hannaford market. After that, though, you're on your own. For 96 miles, the Golden Road takes you through vast stretches of forest, and you won't find a single town between Millinocket and the Canadian border. The road is unpaved, and most of the passing traffic will consist of logging trucks raising dust. Even your cell phone will likely stop receiving a signal.

This backwoods highway has always been privately owned, ever since the Great Northern Paper Company completed its construction in 1972. The road's purpose was to provide easy access into the remote timberlands of northwestern Maine, where tree harvesting was — and remains — a major industry. But the Golden Road is now open to the public as well, so everyday visitors can drive for miles into the wooded wilds. With a speed limit of about 45 miles per hour, the full route should take about four hours, although occasional flooding may hamper your progress. Far from any sizable town, the Golden Road is your chance to really get away from it all; it's also considered one of the most scenic drives in Maine.

Why would anyone drive such a long distance to a place where there are hardly any people? For many road trippers, the isolation is half the fun. It's very possible that you will spot a moose or black bear crossing the road in front of you, along with countless other species. You're welcome to pull off just about anywhere to rest and take in the views. This is one of the easiest ways to reach the North Maine Woods, which is packed with designated campsites, fishable rivers, and webs of hiking trails. The North Maine Woods costs out-of-state travelers $18 per day to visit, as well as a $15 camping fee. Maine has no shortage of mountain views and cute small towns, but the Golden Road lies far away from well-traveled communities like Portland and Bar Harbor. You can ramble for a good while, by wheel or foot, and start to believe you have the whole region to yourself.

Drivers on the Golden Road will also catch spectacular views of Mount Katahdin, one of the most famous mountains in Maine and the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. Katahdin can be a challenge to climb, and many are drawn to its narrow ridge with steep drops on either side, appropriately named the Knife's Edge. Other local wonders include the Penobscot River, which parallels much of the Golden Road on its 350-mile journey through the Pine Tree State. Just 15 minutes outside of Millinocket, you'll drive a narrow stretch of land between Millinocket Lake and Ambajejus Lake, where you'll also find Golden Road Crossing, a roadside souvenir shop and restaurant in a replicated log cabin.

The Golden Road really is far out there; the closest major town is Bangor, about 70 miles south, and Bangor is at least three and a half hours from Boston Logan International Airport, the closest airline hub. Once you pass Golden Road Crossing and the cluster of other stores, you won't find a hotel or motel, and tent- or car-camping by the side of the road can be treacherous, with the logging trucks whooshing by. If you decide to drive the whole thing, remember to carry a spare tire in your trunk and even a container of gas. It's unlikely you'll run out of fuel on a route of this length, but remember that your phone may not have enough bars to call AAA. Much of the surrounding landscape is bona fide wilderness, and one mistake can have serious repercussions.

Now you may be wondering: Where does the Golden Road actually take you? Sure, you'll see lots of trees and animals — and more than a few mosquitoes — but what is the ultimate destination? Once you reach the end of the road, you'll approach a Canadian border crossing at Sainte Zacharie. You can turn around, of course, and drive the 96 miles back; as an alternative, passport holders can continue into Canada. Most of the people crossing this frontier are truck drivers, but regular U.S. and Canadian citizens can theoretically drive across the international line, where you're only about 95 minutes from Quebec City. This historic provincial capital is the perfect place for a winter holiday vacation but comes alive in summer as well.