Welcome to the Kennebec Valley
Skowhegan is situated in the heart of Maine’s picturesque Kennebec Valley.
From Jackman in the north to Gardiner in the south, the Kennebec Valley is brimming with cozy cafes, golden summer sunsets, classic outdoor adventures, and more than enough hiking trails to wander all year long.
This enchanting place offers opportunities to uncover the unexpected. Follow a luminous sunrise to the peaks of ancient mountains, or silently paddle your kayak beneath a silvery moon. Cast your fishing line into the depths of our rivers and lakes, or thrill to the rush of the longest stretch of whitewater in the East. Go off road on well-groomed ATV trails into the wild, or hike to the breaktaking Moxie Falls, Maine’s highest waterfall.
Find counterpoints to our wilder, more wooded side in lively riverside towns that offer festivals, theaters, art galleries, and museums, including the renowned Colby College Museum of Art. Shop for everything from hunting and fishing supplies to art and antiques to brand-name clothing and jewelry.
So explore. Experience. Exult. The beauty and adventure of the region will stimulate your imagination, exhilarate your senses, and leave you with memories that will make you smile for years to come.
Linger in the Kennebec Valley
Sure, the Skowhegan Moose Festival will be packed with entertainment, delicious food, and learning opportunities, but stay a little longer and experience the rest of the area.
In downtown Skowhegan you’ll find yourself surrounded by the historic brick and granite buildings of the Flat Iron District. These impressive structures date back to the 1880s and include the Skowhegan Municipal Building—with its third-floor opera house—designed by famous architect John Calvin Stevens.
The Flat Iron District is a hotspot of shops, businesses, and restaurants, including The Bankery, an artisan bakery and custom cake shop housed in a converted, circa-1864 former bank. Grab a whoopie pie or maybe the best scone you’ve ever tasted (flavors range from cranberry almond to espresso chocolate chip). You won’t leave disappointed!
Adding to the town’s “food hub” reputation is the Somerset Grist Mill, a former county jail that now houses organic grain purveyor Maine Grains. Take a tour of the mill and see where local grains are processed using traditional stone-milling techniques. Sample the delicious results at the attached Miller’s Table cafe, featuring fresh farm-to-table dishes.
Stroll along the bricked downtown sidewalks and the pathways weaving along the Langlais Art Trail. Named for acclaimed artist Bernard “Blackie” Langlais, the trail features 21 of his impressionistic folk-style artworks, including the iconic 62-foot Skowhegan Indian sculpture.
Ready for another treat? Indulge at Gifford’s Ice Cream and test your skills at their mini-golf course. Then work off some of those sweets with a stop on the outskirts of town at Lake George Regional Park, featuring sand beaches, swimming, boating, and hiking trails on 320 acres.
For a scenic walk, take Route 201A north to the Father Rasle Road for a one-mile trek on the Historic Pines Trail along the Kennebec. The area is known for its fly-fishing and its history as the former homesite of the native Wabanaki people. Be sure to visit the Father Rasle Monument to learn more about the area’s heritage.
Consider a scenic drive south along Route 201 following the Kennebec. About 10 miles south of Skowhegan, check out the exhibits of Native American baskets, curiosities, and Maine wildlife at the L.C. Bates Museum. The museum offers an arboretum and trails dotted with historic markers.
No summer trip to the area would be complete without taking in a show at historic Lakewood Theater in nearby Madison. From its perch on the shore of Wesserunsett Lake, Lakewood has entertained Central Maine audiences for more than 100 years. In its heyday, stars including Humphrey Bogart spent summers performing on its stage. Be sure to visit Lakewood Inn Restaurant while you’re there—see a show and have a decadent dessert waiting for you at intermission.