Today Is Opening Day For The Orono Bog Boardwalk

Tomorrow is the big day! I look forward to this time every year. I really do. The Orono Bog Boardwalk is one of the greatest treasures we have here in the Bangor area. To be honest, the whole Bangor City Forest area is absolutely stunning, and a major part of what makes the Queen City so awesome.

I lived for years in southern Maine, and there's some gorgeous spots, and they have the ocean and miles of beaches all over the place, but there isn't a lot that comes close to what we have in the City Forest and the Bog Boardwalk. Miles of trails to get lost on (trust me, I have!), and the scenery is simply unparalleled for this area.

The Bog Boardwalk is about a mile long, and is totally wheelchair accessible, so all residents can get out there and enjoy the amazing scenery. There's all sort of native plants and critters that are local to the ecosystem, as most of the entire thing is a giant peat bog. And there's all sorts of info boards throughout the entire length of the trail describing all the cool flora and fauna.

New this year, they've managed to make the trail boardwalk even better. According to the Bangor Daily News, they've managed to replace almost 400 of the 509 sections in the boardwalk. Over time, they've been replacing the older wooden sections with man-made materials that will take more abuse from walkers and weather for years to come.

Jim Bird, director of the Orono Bog Boardwalk had this to say in the BDN:

Once everything gets done, we’ll be able to refocus efforts on education, trying to get out to various service groups and schools and advertising more tours.

 

In May, there are guided bird watching tours, and a an annual yard sale that raises money to help keep making all these awesome improvements to the boardwalk. That will take place on Saturday June 16th, at 139 Main Street in Orono. If you'd like more information about ways you could help, or just to learn more about one of the areas greatest natural wonders, you can visit umaine.edu/oronobogboardwalk.

So head out and commune with nature this week. And next week, and the week after. We have one of the most beautiful spots in the world to do it, and you barely have to leave your own back yard! If you do see me on the trail, chances are I'm lost, so please, give me a drink of water and a snack. And call my wife, she's probably looking for me!