IWT Winter Trails System

In 2016, Inland Woods + Trails assumed operations of the winter trails center and cross-country ski trails system at The Bethel Inn and dubbed the system Bethel Village Trails. Since the inception of the Bethel village trails network and through the support of the community and customers of the trails center over 100k in investments and thousands of hours of staff and volunteer time have been made in the building of a network of summer single track mountain bike trails and improvements to the existing cross-country and snowshoe trails and equipment. We work with private landowners who generously offer their land for your and our enjoyment, including The Conservation Fund, who’s Rowes Meadow tract of the Chadbourne forestlands network has allowed us in 2020 to expand both our summer network with the introduction of a series of multiple use pathways and woods roads, and our winter groomed network of cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and fat tire biking trails.

The winter trails center located at The Bethel Inn Resort (next to the Millbrook Tavern) has a full rental fleet for skiing, snowshoeing and fat tire biking. We are happy to assist you with what equipment is best for you, show you how to use them, and even give you some tips to ensure a great time on the trails. We also offer lessons for beginner and intermediate skiers–choose a group or private lesson or join one of our clinic series to really go in-depth in learning how to ski.

The connection: Bethel village trails system is in many ways the core of the connectivity IWT is striving for. It provides the opportunity to recreate in a variety of ways to the community living in or visiting Bethel Village. The trails system is close to Bacon Hill, Kendall Brook Forest, and connects directly to the Gould Academy system of summer biking trails and winter cross-country ski trails.

Trails available & stats:

Fat tire bike and snowshoe: 9.36 mi 

• Bingham Extension (easy) 0.91 mi
• Bingham Loop (easy) 0.8 mi
• Helix (intermediate) 2.86 mi
• Fluffernutter (intermediate) 1.17 mi
• Tree Stand (easy) 0.72 mi
• Raw Sugar (intermediate) 0.69 mi
• Doughnut Loop (easy) 0.56 mi
• Dam Loop (difficult) 0.83 mi
• Dog Days (easy) 0.74 mi
• Dog Days Connector (easy) 0.08 mi

XC Ski: 23.6 km (14.65 mi)

• Dog Days (easy) 1.3 km (0.78 mi)
• Tibbetts Loop (intermediate) 3.7 km (2.29 mi)
• Mill Brook (easy) 3.5 km (2.15 mi)
• Pasture Path (easy) 0.8 km (0.49 mi)
• Paradise (intermediate) 1 km (0.6 mi)
• Ordway (easy) 0.2 km (0.11 mi)
• Tea Time (easy) 0.2 km (0.14 mi)
• Harecut (easy) 0.2 km (0.11 mi)
• Dick’s Best Guess (easy) 1 km (0.65 mi)
• Moose (easy) 1.4 km (0.88 mi)
• Corkscrew (difficult) 2.1 km (1.33 mi)
• I-95 (easy) 2.7 km (1.68 mi)
• Grover’s Grind (intermediate) 2.7 km (1.7 mi)
• Uncorked (easy) 1.1 km (0.67 mi)
• Percolator (intermediate) 0.4 km (0.27 mi)
• Hemlock Drop (intermediate) 0.5 km (0.29 mi)
• Skyline (difficult) 0.8 km (0.51 mi)

Rules:

• Bikers have the right-of-way on snowshoeing and fat tire biking trails
• XC skiers have right-of-way at all bike and ski trail crossings
• Dogs allowed on leash or under voice command on all bike/snowshoe trails and on certain ski trails indicated on the trail map.
• Bikes and snowshoers are not allowed on XC ski trails
• Groomers may be present at any time on all trails
• Motorized vehicles are prohibited on all trails
• Active forestry may be occurring at any time
• Carry out all litter, including pet waste.
• No walking on the trails
• Trail pass is required

Maine Trail Finder links

Bethel Village Trails: Snowshoe and Fat Bike Trails 

Bethel Village Trails: Cross Country Ski Trails