Magic Falls Trail, near West Forks

The 1.6-mile forested trail to a favorite rafting stretch of the Kennebec River called Magic Falls is considered the “photographer’s path.” If you time your walk right, you can watch your loved one sail by on the rapids in a large rubber raft. Even if you don’t time it right, it’s wonderful to see the fast, turgid river, especially after the hydropower company has opened its dams (which it does on a regular schedule that the local rafting companies are all very familiar with).

The trail is unmarked but is easy to follow. For much of it, it’s relatively flat, heading north along the river. At about 1.5 miles, it turns toward the river and you descend down a steep bank to where a few riverside rocks remain above the water line. Step out carefully beyond the trees and check out the churning, swirling waters. If you’re lucky, hollering kayakers or rafters will rush by! The rapids get more technical a bit farther down the river from here, at the gorge (which I hear there is no trail to, sadly. Could that be true?).

Directions: From Route 201 in The forks, turn onto Lake Moxie Road. Go 5.2 miles to the T-intersection and turn left, onto Indian Pond Road. This road is fairly even and passable for most vehicles. Go 4.7 miles. You’ll cross a small bridge over Black Brook and see Carry Take Out Road on your left, beyond a small shed. Go 1.3 miles on Carry Take Out Road to a small clearing on your right with a fire pit. If you reach a small bridge, you’ve gone too far. The trail begins behind a few small boulders that mark the trailhead.