Bigelow Preserve

🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 Maine’s Greatest Mountain Preserve — 36,000-acre wilderness preserve encompassing the Bigelow Range — Maine’s second-most-dramatic mountain chain after Katahdin

Bigelow Preserve protects 36,000 acres of pristine mountain wilderness in western Maine, encompassing the entire Bigelow Range — a dramatic 12-mile chain of peaks rising above 4,000 feet. The Appalachian Trail traverses the range over multiple summits including West Peak (4,145 ft) and Avery Peak (4,090 ft). The preserve was created in 1976 after a statewide referendum blocked a proposed ski resort — one of the first times American voters directly saved a mountain from development. Flagstaff Lake below was itself created by flooding the town of Flagstaff.

Visitor Information

Frequently Asked Questions

How was the preserve created?

In 1976, Maine voters rejected a ski resort proposal and voted to create the Bigelow Preserve — one of the first times a statewide referendum directly saved a mountain from development. The victory energized land conservation across New England.

What happened in 1976?

A developer proposed building a major ski resort on the Bigelow Range — Mainers organized a referendum and voted to protect the land as a preserve. It was one of the first citizen-initiated conservation victories in US history — demonstrating that voters could override developers. The preserve now protects 36,000 acres of wild mountain landscape, including the AT and alpine habitat.

More parks nearby: Dead River is a short drive away, while Holeb lies within about an hour’s drive.

Insider Tips

People’s mountain: Bigelow Preserve (36,000 acres) exists because Maine voters rejected a 1976 developer plan to build a ski resort — choosing conservation over development in a historic referendum. Pro tip: The Appalachian Trail crosses the Bigelow Range — the alpine views rival anything in the Northeast. Alpine zone: Bigelow hosts one of Maine’s few alpine zones — fragile tundra-like vegetation above treeline that can be destroyed by a single misplaced footstep.

Best Time to Visit

Fall: Spectacular ridgeline foliage views. Summer: Backpacking on the AT. Winter: Backcountry skiing. Spring: Mud season — trails are fragile.

Wildlife & Nature

Bigelow Preserve — 36,000 acres — protects the Bigelow Range with peaks over 4,000 feet. The preserve’s alpine tundra, boreal forest, and mountain streams support moose, black bears, and spruce grouse. The Appalachian Trail traverses the ridgeline. Avery Peak and West Peak offer 360-degree views of the Maine wilderness. The preserve was saved from development by a 1976 citizen referendum.

Nearby Attractions

Stratton — adjacent. Flagstaff Lake — below the range. Sugarloaf Mountain — 10 miles northeast.