Jackman, Maine - Moose & Waterfalls - July 1st thru 5th

Our trip to Jackman, Maine, took us into a very mountainous area (hills of 9 and 10 percent grades) and signs galore indicating "Moose Crossing."  We were surprised to see mountains and lakes all around us - the views were breathtaking. 



Mount Kineo - Moose Head Lake

Another beautiful thing we found are the wild flowers that grow along the highways throughout the entire state.  Purple lupines dotted the shoulders along our entire trip.

Purple lupines are everywhere.

On Tuesday, we went on our official "moose hunting expedition" and were not disappointed.  On our way to Greenville, ME, a moose was standing near the road but by the time we got the camera ready, it had started to walk away so I only got a picture of his backside - he "moosed" me.  On the way back from Greenville, we had two moose cross the road right in front of us.  And unlike deer, they take their time and just "mosey" along.

We learned that the best time to see moose is dawn or dusk.  So, on Wednesday night, we took a drive north on Hwy 201 and that is when Jim really had two excellent opportunities to come "up close and personal" with two moose.  The first, a female, was standing along the highway so Jim stopped and got out to see how close he could get.  He actually got to within about 30 feet away and started talking to her.  With the video he took, you could see her ears twitch every time he spoke.  It's cute.

Jim's conversation with a moose - her ears twitched whenever he spoke

We then went a little farther up the highway and came across a big bull moose.  The moose crossed the highway in front of us so we stopped and again Jim got out to see how close he could get.  As he walked closer, he found that the big guy had laid down in the grass alongside the highway.  He then stood up and decided to cross back into the wooded side of the highway.  Jim had the video on the entire time and this guy just seemed to lumber across.  A semi was coming down the hill and began blowing his horn.  The moose did make it across the road before the truck got there but at no time did he pick up his pace.

In addition to our moose hunting, we also wanted to find some of the waterfalls in the area.  And, again, we were not disappointed.  One of the falls was located on Bald Mountain so we followed a logging road to get to Heald Stream.  When we got to the bridge crossing the stream, we couldn't see the falls but we could hear them.  After talking with a couple of fellows that were camping near them, we walked down the bank - following the sound.  This hidden gem was a worthwhile hike for us.  The farther down along the stream we walked, the more impressed with the sight and sound of the water rushing over the multiple cascades. 

The next day, we went to Moxie Falls only this time there was a well-marked trail.  We followed the trail almost a mile back into the mountainside and were awestruck with the falls - about 40 feet wide, multiple cascades, with a 100 ft. drop at the main falls. 

If you have been following our blog, you can probably guess that we are fascinated with the sound of water either hitting the shore or cascading over rock.

We also found that this area is highly known for white water rafting.  We were surprised by the number of streams and rivers that have white water rapids.  While driving on a gravel road up Little Moose Mountain, we spotted a small cabin and wooden bridge over a small stream that intrigued us.  We stopped and walked back to find this most beautiful serene setting. 

We enjoyed lunch on two different occasions sitting at a picnic table alongside the Dead River watching the water with its "white caps" as it quickly ran in front of us.

We were pleasantly surprised that Jackman (a VERY small town known mostly for its 300 miles of ATV trails) had a parade on July 4th as well as fireworks which we were able to enjoy from our campsite.

We left on the 5th heading north on Hwy 201 into Canada and then following highways that took us over more mountains and then eventually bringing us to a campground outside Plattsburgh, NY. 

Our travels continue - life is good...