Route 4 is a heavily traveled route extending from South Berwick to Oquossoc. It is 168 miles long, but for the purpose of this road trip I explored the section from Auburn to Rangeley.
Along this route are many diversions and attractions, some well known — Washburn-Norlands Living History Center in Livermore (www.norlands.org) and the Smalls Falls rest area in Madrid (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smalls_Falls) — and others less well known but equally delightful — among them a natural Indian head rock formation and a waterfall with a 200-foot drop, not to mention swimming, ice cream and a strange collection of shoes nailed to a telephone pole in Rangeley.
Of particular note, recreationalists will appreciate the offerings of the Sandy River, which runs along Route 4 and is a great place to canoe, kayak and raft from points near Madrid to Farmington and further south. (http://www.riverfacts.com/rivers/11415.html) Saddleback Mountain ski area is nearby, so there is no shortage of things to do no matter what the season is. But visit their website for many summer activities including moose tours. www.saddlebackmaine.com
But the businesses and attractions along Route 4 will also allow you to take a flying tour of the area or flying lessons, hike, camp, fish, enjoy roadside farm stands, golf and get an ice cream at a windmill. Go 4 it!
Roy’s All Steak Hamburgers and Golf Center
Route 4
Auburn
782-2801
www.roysgolf.com
This well-known business has been family run for many years, and along with their famous all-steak burgers they offer seafood items and Gifford’s ice cream for dessert. Along with the golfing there are batting cages. And don’t forget their cruise nights on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Twitchell’s Airport & Seaplane Base
40 Airport Road
Route 4
Turner
225-3490
www.twitchells@3B5.com
Twitchell’s not only gives flying lessons but offers aerial tours from the mountains to the coast. It’s open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week weather permitting. Call for more information or visit their website.
This Ole Farm Market & Kennedy’s Greenhouse
Route 4
North Turner
224-7964
A combination of quality Maine gifts, pottery, home-grown vegetables and flowers, Cabot cheese and other tasty treats, along with antiques, artwork and museum pieces. Stop off and say hello to owner George Kennedy.
Brettun’s Pond
Route 4
Livermore
This 165-acre pond offers not only swimming but fishing and boating also. The public beach is right on Route 4 and easy to find. The beach offers good swimming and a nice view of the pond. A great way to cool off on a hot day.
Dutch Treat Ice Cream
Route 4
Wilton
645-2145
Open since 1963, it offers hard and soft varieties of ice cream and many other menu items. Just look for the windmill. Join them on Wednesdays for classic car cruise night from May through August.
Indian Head Rock Formation
Route 4 between Wilton and Farmington
Look carefully for this natural rock formation, which is on a curve two miles north of Dutch Treat. At the right position you can see the face clearly. It is on the right side of the road when you are driving north. This is one of the better rock formations I have seen.
Abbott Park
University of Maine Farmington
Route 4
Farmington
A small park with rock foot bridges leading to trails through the woods. It also has a small pond that hosts a fishing derby in the spring. Located beside the UMF Learning Center parking lot on Main Street in Farmington.
Cascade Falls
Off Mosher Hill Road
Farmington
To get to these falls, turn right from Route 4 onto Route 43 in Farmington. Drive approximately 3.5 miles, then turn left onto Mosher Hill Road. Continue another 3 miles and you will see a small dirt parking area on your left, large enough for two cars. This is the head of the trail. Walk a short distance into the woods along a brook. You need to cross the brook and follow the trail as it curves down to a point where you can see the falls. Be aware the falls are fed by Clearwater Lake and at times will not be flowing very strongly. The falls have a vertical drop of about 200 feet.
Shoes on Telephone Poles
On South Shore Drive off Route 4
Rangeley
This is an oddity I first saw about 12 years ago. There are many more shoes nailed to this telephone pole now, along with two other poles that showcase ball caps and socks. If you know how this ritual began please send an e-mail to bmail@sunjournal.com and reference the shoes nailed on poles.
Rangeley Lake State Park
On South Shore Drive
Rangeley
864-3858
www.state.me.us/doc/parks
One of the many parks in Maine offering campsites, fishing, boating, swimming in the summer and winter activities. Call or visit the website for more information.
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- H Joie Crockett Photo – Near the entrance to Rangeley Lake State Park you will find this oddity of a telephone pole with shoes nailed to it. The question is “Why?”
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- H Joie Crockett Photo – Roy’s all steak hamburgers on Rte 4 in Auburn. Join them for cruise nights on Tuesday and Thursdays.
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- H Joie Crockett Photo – Some of the boat slips at Rangeley Lake State Park showing the views of mountains in the background.
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- H Joie Crockett Photo – Kennedy’s Greenhouse on Rte 4 in North Turner.
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- H Joie Crockett Photo – On your way driving up Route 4 you can see this amazing rock formation that looks like an Indian Head in the Livermore area.
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- H Joie Crockett Photo – Not to be outdone by shoes nailed on telephone poles, now they are nailing ball caps too, and there is a third pole with socks nailed to it. You can tell these hats are fairly new but the shoes have been there for years.
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- H Joie Crockett Photo – This Ole Farm Market on Rte 4 in North Turner. A mixture of farm market, antiques, gifts museum pieces, and a greenhouse.
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- H Joie Crockett Photo – The Dutch Treat Ice Cream stop on Route 4.
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- NancyLee Huff photo – A look at Cascade Falls in Farmington with a vertical drop of about 200 feet.
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- H Joie Crockett Photo _ Brettuns Pond in Livermore is a great place to cool off on a hot day.
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- H Joie Crockett Photo – Abbott Park on Route 4 in Farmington at UMF. It has a small pond and a few rock bridges spanning a brook that lead to some trails in the woods.
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- H Joie Crockett Photo – One of the three rock bridges crossing the brook at Abbott Park.
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- H Joie Crockett Photo – One of the seaplanes owned by Twitchell’s Airport used to give lessons and tours.
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