ATV riding in northern Maine.
Aroostook County has more than 1,300 miles of ATV trails, built with landowners and kept up by volunteer clubs. Here's what's near Eagle Lake, where to find the maps and trail status, and the rules for visiting riders.
The clubs around the lake.
Most of Aroostook's ATV trails cross private farms and woodland, open to riders because landowners allow it. The clubs build and look after them. Stay on the marked trail, and give the club whose trails you ride a membership or a donation.
| Area | Club | Dirt bikes |
|---|---|---|
| Eagle Lake, Winterville | Eagle Lake Trail Blazers | Not permitted |
| Portage Lake | Portage Lakers ATV Club | Not permitted |
| Fort Kent | Valley ATV Riders | Permitted |
| St. John, St. Francis, Wallagrass | Northern Rider Runners ATV Club | Permitted |
| St. Agatha | St. Agatha ATV Club | Permitted |
| Madawaska | Madawaska Valley ATVenture Club | Not permitted |
Club list from Visit Aroostook. Dirt bike rules are set by each club; check before you ride.
The maps, and whether trails are open.
What visiting riders need.
Summarized from Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife. Check the current rules before your trip.
| Nonresident registration | $115 for the season · $100 for 7 days |
| Resident registration | $70, plus sales tax |
| Registration year | July 1 to June 30 |
| Where to buy | Online from Maine IF&W |
| Free ATV Weekend | Each August, nonresidents with a valid out-of-state registration can ride without a Maine one |
| Kids | Under 10 may not operate; 10 to 15 need an approved safety course and an adult within sight and sound |
| Helmets | Required for everyone under 18 |
| Roads | Cross only as far as needed, never more than 500 yards, on the far right |
| Farmland | Written landowner permission is required to ride on cropland, pasture or orchards |
| Speed | Reasonable and prudent for the conditions |
Late spring to late fall.
Trails open once they've dried out after spring mud season and stay open into the fall, but clubs and landowners decide when each section opens and closes. Check the ATV Maine status map and the club's page before you go.
Late spring
Trails open as they dry. The lupines come up along the roads in early summer.
Summer
The long days. Maine's Free ATV Weekend comes in August.
Fall
Peak color in the last week of September and the first week of October. Hunting seasons run through November, so blaze orange is a good idea.
The rest of the day
Back at the cabin: the lake, the grill and the fire pit.
- Oct 3The County's Fall Festival to End Hunger · Big Rock Mountain
Maine's Free ATV Weekend is in August; we'll add the 2027 date when the state announces it.
Ride out from the cabin door.
- TrailsATV trail access from the property
- RentalsNo machines? Our rental partners can drop ATVs and side-by-sides off at the cabins
- ParkingRoom for trucks and big trailers
- CabinsFive lakefront cabins with air conditioning, three bedrooms and two baths each, sleeping ten, so a whole crew shares one
- After darkA fire pit and firewood at every cabin
- NearbyGroceries three minutes away in the village; Fort Kent 25 minutes north
ATV questions.
How many miles of ATV trails are in Aroostook County?
More than 1,300 miles, built with landowners and kept up by more than 30 volunteer ATV clubs. Statewide, Maine has more than 6,000 miles of interconnected ATV trails.
Where can I ride an ATV near Eagle Lake, Maine?
The Eagle Lake Trail Blazers keep the trails around Eagle Lake and Winterville, with neighboring clubs in Portage Lake, Fort Kent, St. Agatha, Madawaska and the upper St. John Valley. Eagles Landing has trail access from the property.
Do I need to register my ATV in Maine?
Yes. Nonresident registration is $115 for the season or $100 for seven days, and it runs July 1 to June 30. You can buy it online from Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife. Maine also holds a Free ATV Weekend each August for nonresidents with a valid out-of-state registration.
Can kids ride ATVs in Maine?
Children under 10 may not operate an ATV. Riders 10 to 15 need an approved safety course and an adult within sight and sound, and everyone under 18 must wear an approved helmet.
Are dirt bikes allowed on Aroostook County ATV trails?
It depends on the club. Around Eagle Lake, the Eagle Lake Trail Blazers and Portage Lakers don't permit dirt bikes; Valley ATV Riders in Fort Kent and the St. Agatha ATV Club do. Check with the club before you ride.
Where can I find Aroostook County ATV trail maps?
Visit Aroostook publishes overview, central and southern Aroostook ATV maps online, and ATV Maine runs a statewide interactive map that shows which trails are open. The St. John Valley map isn't online; ask the local clubs.
How do I know if ATV trails are open?
Check ATV Maine's interactive map, where green means open, yellow means restrictions and red means closed, and the local club's Facebook page. Trails close for mud season in spring and when landowners need them to.
Can I rent an ATV or side-by-side near Eagle Lake?
Yes. Eagles Landing partners with local rental companies that can drop ATVs and side-by-sides off at the property, so you don't need to trailer your own. Tell us your dates and how many riders when you book, and we'll set it up.
Where should I stay for an ATV trip in Aroostook County?
On the trail. Eagles Landing Lakeside Cottages on Eagle Lake has ATV trail access from the property, room for trucks and trailers, and three-bedroom cabins that sleep ten.
Sources: Visit Aroostook, ATV Maine, Maine IF&W.
Bring the machines. We'll have the cabin ready.
Don't have your own? We partner with local rental companies and can have ATVs or side-by-sides dropped off at the property for your stay. Tell us your dates and how many riders, and ask about whole-property bookings for riding groups.