Explore the 100-Mile Wilderness of Maine on a Gravel Bike with the Appalachian Mountain Club this summer
Get ready for an unforgettable outdoor adventure as the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) hosts the Summer Gravel Weekend 2025 in Maine's North Woods from August 1-3. This event offers a unique blend of gravel biking, packrafting, and stargazing, set against the breathtaking backdrop of Maine's 100-Mile Wilderness.
The weekend is designed for all skill levels, providing an opportunity to explore the vast forest area, which is five times the size of Manhattan, by bike. Participants can choose from various gravel biking routes, taking them through a continuous forest and offering a chance to discover trails and roads previously off-limits to the public, thanks to AMC's conservation efforts.
Lodging for the weekend is available among three camps (lodges) nestled within the woods. The Medawisla Lodge and Cabins, built on AMC conservation land, offers accommodations like private waterfront cabins and communal bunkhouses. The stay includes home-cooked meals and activities like canoeing and kayaking.
While the exact daily itinerary is not explicitly listed, the general activities include gravel biking, packrafting experiences, stargazing sessions, and opportunities to enjoy the natural beauty of the AMC Maine Woods area. Highlights of the event include Lodge Happy Hour at 5:00 PM on both Friday and Sunday, Where the Bike Takes You: Stories of Adventure at 7:20 PM on Friday, and the AMC Maine Woods Initiative Presentation at 7:00 PM on Friday.
On Saturday, participants can take part in Skill Sharing: Fix a Bike with Bicycle Coalition of Maine at 8:15 PM, and stargazing in an International Dark Sky Park takes place at 9:00 PM. On Sunday, the event concludes with Final Group Gravel Rides at 10:00 AM and an Extended Bikerafting Excursion with Packraft Maine at 1:30 PM.
Special guests for the weekend include Alejandro Strong, founder of Packraft Maine, and Ben Cosgrove, a traveling composer and multi-instrumentalist, who will provide immersive live music. John Meader, founder of Northern Stars Planetarium, will offer guided stargazing at the AMC Maine Woods International Dark Sky Park.
For a more specific day-to-day itinerary, including start times, route maps, or additional organized activities, checking the AMC website or contacting their event organisers directly is recommended. This weekend promises to be a combination of physical activities, nature immersion, and a vibrant community of cyclists, reflecting the adventurous spirit of AMC's outdoor programming. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to explore Maine's North Woods!
[1] AMC's Maine Gravel Cycling Weekends [2] Photo by Garrick Hoffman: A scene is depicted of a person biking through the woods with the 100-Mile Wilderness in the distance. [3] Summer Gravel Weekend 2025 [4] Participating in the event supports the Maine Woods Initiative, a land conservation project by AMC.
Engage in an exhilarating adventure merging sports, travel, and lifestyle at the Summer Gravel Weekend 2025, as AMC organizes trail maintenance activities for biking enthusiasts in Maine's North Woods. This event caters to adventure-travel seekers, offering opportunities to explore conservation trails previously inaccessible to the public through gravel biking routes.
