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The discovery of an old sign buried in dirt launches the revival of a 500-mile road route from Portland to Fort Kent. 

MOLUNKUS –- An unearthed old road sign has given birth to the revival of Maine’s longest forgotten trail.  

In 1937, the Maine legislature was searching for ways to bring traffic further inland in the state. George E. Martin, a legislator from Milford, spearheaded an effort to name the actual road leading from Portland to Fort Kent as the Pine Tree Trail. The Act passed and became law, but over time with new roadbuilding and the introduction of the interstate, the Trail faded into history. 

In 2012, a sign was found near a rock wall in Molunkus, buried in the leaves and dirt. Upon retrieving it, Nathan Nipula decided to keep it when he saw that it was an actual road sign: octagonal, with embossed lettering saying “Pine Tree Trail” and the image of a pine tree in the center. After holding on to it for years, he decided to learn more about it in 2019. 

After meeting with then Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap, Nipula and his fiance, Roberta McKay, found that the 1937 Act was still law and began an effort to raise funds to install signage along the entire, nearly 500-mile Pine Tree Trail route. With the help of businesses and individuals with vision and passion for the state of Maine, the funds were raised, the signs have been made and are ready to be installed by the Maine Department of Transportation. 

The Maine Office of Tourism partnered with the Maine Department of Transportation to support the installation of 100 signs along the Pine Tree Trail route from Portland to Fort Kent. 

“The revitalization of the Pine Tree Trail is an exciting addition to the State of Maine,” said Hannah Collins, Deputy Director of the Maine Office of Tourism.  “From a tourism perspective, this checks all the boxes of our initiatives to spread visitors around the state, inspire the exploration of more places, and work with Maine communities to expand and create more diverse and robust tourism product offerings for visitors and residents alike.” 

Maine’s Pine Tree Trail will be invaluable for:  

To learn more about the Pine Tree Trail, visit www.pinetreetrail.com.