DANFORTH, Maine — A Steering/Working Committee was formed and convened on Feb. 8, 2016 to help create the East Grand Highlands hiking trail system on the lands of the David Snow Jr. Family in Danforth.
The committee is composed of interested hiking enthusiasts from the East Grand Lake area and to include at least one teacher/teacher assistant and a couple of students from the East Grand School.
The trails will be located south of Danforth on U.S. Route 1, just north of the Greenland Cove Road, with the trail head on the east side of U.S. Route 1. The first phase in 2016 will consist of a trailhead parking area with signage, a 1-1/2 mile trail to an overlook point. The overlook will provide vistas of Sucker Lake, East Grand Lake and Canada. Depending on available funding we hope to provide a picnic area and an observation area by the fall of 2016. This entire area will be for day use only, foot trails only, no motorized or tire driven vehicles (except those used for construction and maintenance).
Additional phases to this project may add: trails down to and around Sucker Lake, an additional trail head at the intersection of Boulder Road and the existing ATV/Snowmobile trail, and additional picnic areas around Sucker Lake as permissions and funds are available.
This project will require many volunteers and donors to complete. Those who are interested in volunteering or donating, may e-mail hikeeastgrandlake@yahoo.com. Correspondence should state what kind of help the person can supply, a phone number, an email address and when they are normally available.
Examples of help needed: committee members; trail and trailhead parking lot construction; trail layout for future phases; work parties to clean and build trails; building sign kiosk, bridges and observation platform; preparing refreshments for those in work parties; grant writing; fundraising and research.
Businesses or contractors willing to donate time, material, machinery will be recognized in future communications and at the trailhead kiosk sign with donor name plates.
The opening of the first phase of the trail system is planned for late spring to early summer 2016. The area is closed to public access until it is announced that the trail system is open. This is to allow for construction without danger to the public.
The Greater East Grand Chamber of Commerce will help shepherd this project to completion and we will be looking for another non-profit organization to partner with. Steve Mine will be chairing the steering committee and can be reached at the e-mail address listed above.
