Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad Trail

This easy walking trail runs between the translucent waters of Sandy River, dotted with white boulders, and a historic narrow-gauge railroad. If you time your visit right, you’ll be able to walk the trail and then ride the narrow-gauge train back to your car!

The railroad is run by the nonprofit Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes RR. The trail, one of the Fly Rod Crosby Trails, is stewarded by the High Peaks Alliance in partnership with the railroad.

You can pick up the one-way trail at its south or north end. (The railroad museum is located at the north end.) If you start at the southern end, where Amble Street ends, you should park at a large dirt turnaround before the gate. Pass the gate and continue down the dirt road, headed west, for 0.1 mile. You’ll arrive at the railroad track, and you should see the footpath to your left, marked with a Fly Rod Crosby sign.

Then you’ll be treated to 0.8 miles of uninterrupted beauty. The shallow river is clear and smooth — it looks like the color of an old-fashioned green bottle. It’s filled with bright, smooth rocks. The banks of the river tend to be sandy, and at times, the path turns to sand. You’ll emerge close to the museum and the ticket office — tickets are a few dollars. Retrace your steps, ride the trail back (the ideal option), or walk back along the tracks (if the train’s not running).

The Sandy River Railroad was once the longest of Maine’s five two-foot railways, which were more economical to build than traditional railroads. The first 18 miles of the Sandy RR were constructed in 1879, connecting Farmington and Phillips. In 1890, the railroad was extended almost 29 miles to link Phillips to Rangeley — a line that had long, steep sections and tight curves. This extension drove up the number of city folk vacationing in Rangeley! The Sandy River railroad shut down in the mid-1930s, when cars replaced trains.

Directions: From Route 4 in Phillips, turn onto Pleasant Street. Go about 0.5 miles, and at the intersection with Route 149, go right (it feels like you’re going somewhat straightish) across a bridge. Take your first left onto Amble Street, and park at the left where there is a large turnaround. You’ll see a sign for the trail and an old track you can walk down to where the footpath begins.