Dog Sledding

Winter transforms northern Maine into a premier landscape for dog sledding in Aroostook County. In downtown Fort Kent, the Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Races launch right on Main Street in front of Key Bank and Subway. Dog teams charge under the international bridge, connect via Village Road, and follow Route 161 to pick up the Heritage Trail corridor. All three Can-Am race distances travel their opening ten miles along this snowmobile-maintained railbed route before dispersing deeper into the forest, with pre-race check-ins, veterinary examinations, and the final race finish line staged at Lonesome Pine Ski Lodge.

Behind these major runs stands extensive cooperation across local communities. Dedicated volunteer trail crews work under race officials to prepare, mark, pack, and groom approximately 300 miles of winter trails across northern Aroostook County, while workers install dedicated signage along snowmobile corridors to alert riders to oncoming dog teams. Area snowmobile organizations like the Fort Kent Snow Riders and the Portage Lakers provide operational cooperation and sponsorship. Heading south, the Can-Am Crown 250 course navigates the Upper St. John Valley and deep North Maine Woods toward Portage Lake, utilizing sections of groomed snowmobile corridor ITS 85 across the lake to reach the race's first checkpoint situated across from Dean's Motor Lodge. From there, trails loop out toward the Allagash wilderness region, where the Allagash Town Office grounds host a checkpoint and staging area for the Can-Am 100 and 250 teams to rest and restart.

Beyond competitive racing, regional multi-use rail corridors provide steady access across the county. The state-managed Bangor and Aroostook Trail permits winter mushing across its network, while the 16.9-mile St. John Valley Heritage Trail between Fort Kent and St. Francis welcomes dog sled teams when snow-covered. Starting in Presque Isle, the 28-mile Aroostook Valley Trail—maintained by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands—carries mushers, cross-country skiers, and snowmobilers through Washburn, Caribou, Woodland, and New Sweden, passing open potato farms, streams, backcountry woods, and the Aroostook River. For those seeking a guided experience, Lugdon Lodge runs dog-sled tours out of Eagle Lake, taking guests through the surrounding tree lines, open terrain, and scenic wilderness.