Sandy Stream – Stony Brook to Michael Stream (Lexington Township): Trip Reports

NP

Noah Pollock

Oct 24, 2019

Since 2017 access to the put-in requires a 3 mile walk from a gate off the northern logging road. The run is high enough quality (and the road often covered with snow in the spring anyway) that the walk in, while not ideal, is worth the effort.

See below post to the Facebook 'Maine Flows' list: from Taylor Walker (3/8/2017)
'The land is owned by Yale Bayroot and managed by Wagner. Today, I called the Wagner field office in Bangor. They were very nice, and stated that the gate is a direct result of many years of abuse by hunters, locals, and general traffic. There was constant illegal dumping and theft of firewood. The land owner is 'pissed off' and put the gate up. Huge bummer.

I informed them why I was calling and that we, as boaters who often use privately owned and maintained roads, respect the landowners and their decision to protect it. However, I emphasized the quality of the run and suggested that we may even be willing to establish some kind of fund to help pay for maintenance to restore access, if not all the time at least some of the year.

They said they fully understand where I'm coming from but restored access is unlikely. Though, they then suggested I contact the forester with direct connections to the landowner. They kindly gave me his number.

His name is Eric. At first he was quite confident that access is done for good, but, after hearing my case he declared that he would contact the landowner to see if it is possible to open any dialog, however he couldn't make any promises.

I would say things aren't looking too stellar, I will try to open a conversation with them, however, we may be hiking the Sandy for many years to come :(

Foot travel is still permitted on the land.

NW