Upper Bear River and Upper Sunday River
Why Is It a Focus Area?
This focus area encompasses roughly 45,000 acres of the rugged Mahoosuc Range. Recognized for its size, scenic beauty, recreational value, unique alpine character, and stands of scarce older forest, it has been designated an Area of Statewide Significance.
About 80% of the focus area is protected as state conservation land and includes the 9,993-acre Carlo-Speck Ecological Reserve, one of Maine's largest.
Spectacular ridgeline trails, including the Appalachian trail, and scenic waterfalls combine to make this area a recreational treasure.
Who Made This Happen?
This area is a mosaic of MLT preserves, public, and private lands. We are working in collaboration with other partner agencies and groups: Grafton Notch State Park, Maine Bureau of Parks & Lands, Forest Society of Maine, Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust, and Northeast Wilderness Trust.
Within this area, MLT lands include Stewart Family Preserve at Puzzle Mountain and Step Falls.
What Is The Goal?
Threatened by forest fragmentation and residential development, MLT is working with regional and national partners to conserve the remaining most special places in this 97,172-acre undeveloped forest block.
These include prime areas for snowmobilers, mountain and gravel bike riders, backcountry skiers, and birdwatchers, and homes to threatened species, rare plants, and exemplary natural communities.