Touring the golden road

[Parker]

Im headed up to the golden road to see some maine sugaring,,any suggestions on people with info,,places to see and stay would be great, also might be going thru the jackman moosehead area,,all suggestions would be great, Parker

[PerryFamily]

That sounds like fun! Lots of big operations up there

[n8hutch]

There is at least 4 or 5 Sugaring Opperations on the St. A Auirele rd which run parallel to the Golden rd just a little more North 30 miles maybe, I think the best way to get up there is via the 490rd then the Braliey Brook rd, I would avoid the Ragamuff rd unless it is still frozen up in good shape. Most of the sugar houses tend to be closer to the Maine Canadian border.

As far as where to stay if you go via Jackman I would probably say Bishops motel is your best bet, or maybe long pond camps if you don't mind something more rustic.

If you want to spend more than 1 day in the North Maine Woods I Guess Pittston Farms, Chesuncook lake house, or Loon Lodge would be nice, I would think Pittston Farms would be closer to the Sugaring Opperations. I generally make a spring Fishing trip and a fall hunting trips every year I love the "Big Woods" of Maine.

We Camp out or stay at a friend's camp on Hurd Pond. I've always wanted to be up there during a sap run.

[mspina14]

If his trees are worth more for lumber than for maple syrup production, he should cut them down and sell them.

By his logic, every maple tree of similar size would be worth more for lumber than for syrup production. So maybe I should contact the government to pay me not to cut down my maple trees.

Seems like an extortion plot to steal money from the government (and a government to which he has make significant campaign contributions, according to the article).

Mark

[bees1st]

If you head to the western end of the Golden Road check out Dole Pond Maple he does have a sign out . Heckofa nice guy. Make sure to give logging trucks the right of way !

[Atgreene]

If you stop at Maine Maple Products in Madison, Eric might be able to set you up with the Larivierres (sp?) That own Maine Maple. I've talked to them and they were open to letting me tour if I was up that way.

[Revi]

The best way to see the Lariviere's (Maine Maple Products) is to go across the border past Jackman, and then to St. Zacharie, then go in through the St. Aurelie gate. Talk to Eric Ellis at Maine Maple Products on the way up just past Skowhegan on 201. He can contact them. There are a lot of really nice ones up there. Check out Claude Rodrique's right before the border on the left. It has a really cool cemetery right behind it. It's a really scenic sugarhouse for a big operation. There are a lot of them up there.

http://www.mainemaple.com

http://www.arnoldfarm.com

[bees1st]

In the long run it's better to have the leases. You cut the timber and it's not ready to cut for another 40 years or so. What usually happens is it gets cut then put back on the market. And the owner uses the profits to buy the next piece.

[eagle lake sugar]

Most of the woodlands in Maine are owned by timber companies and the roads are only plowed in the areas where they're harvesting. These huge sugar bushes are only accessible to Canadians which seems like a shame to me.

[Mark-NH]

So Maine state generated money to purchase easements on timber land that will benefit one individual significantly and then benefit Canadian producers who compete directly with the Maine maple guys? Maybe I'm missing something here but seems like a ransom that does not benefit the local tax payers.