Year Established: 1998Â |Â Size: 5,252 Acres
Location: Caribou, Caswell, Connor, and Limestone, Maine
Season/Hours of Operation: 7 days per week, year-round (1/2 hour before sunrise, 1/2 hour after sunset)
Activities: Boating (Non-Motorized), Cross-Country Skiing, Education Programs, Photography, Snowshoeing, Walking, Wildlife Watching
Trails: Aroostook NWR Visitor Center
- Length: 5.7 miles, Network
- Difficulty: Easy
- Towns: Caswell, Limestone
- Surface: Dirt/Forest Floor, Grass, Snow - Groomed
- Pets: Permitted
- Fees: No
Tours: A three mile auto tour that includes part of the former Air Force base is open seasonally. See the website for more details.
Mammal Species: Moose, white-tailed deer, black bears, river otters, mink, short-tailed weasels, red foxes, bobcats, coyotes, fisher, Canada lynx, muskrats, beavers, raccoons, snowshoe hares, and red squirrels are among the mammals commonly seen on the refuge.
Waterfowl Species: Among the waterfowl that frequent the refuge's wetlands are American black ducks, wood ducks, green-winged teal, hooded mergansers, and many others. During the spring and fall migration seasons, Canada geese can be seen on East Loring Lake and the Little Madawaska River upstream from the dam. On the larger wetlands of the refuge, common loons can be seen, and bald eagle sightings are frequent.
Bird Species: The refuge's uplands, which are mostly forested, provide migratory songbirds with a place to nest. In the spring and summer, warblers like the black-throated green, Canada, bay-breasted, Cape May, and blackburnian are prevalent. These birds breed here and spend the winters in Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Refuge grasslands serve as a home for savannah sparrows, bobolinks, and upland sandpipers. Woodcock nest in upland forests and use grassy areas for courtship.
The refuge is home to numerous other bird species, as well as a large number of amphibians, reptiles, fish, insects, and other invertebrates. For a comprehensive list of flora and fauna please visit the refuge website.
Entrance Fees, Facility Rules & Policies: Please call or visit the refuge's website for up-to-date information.
