French Falls River Walk

The French Falls River Walk trails stretch along the east side of the Androscoggin River for over a half mile and feature rocky ledges and huge boulders.
Trail Activity
Mountain-biking Snowshoeing Walking
Length
1.20 miles, Network
Difficulty
Easy
Town
Jay
Surface
Dirt/Forest Floor, Rock/Ledge, Woodchips, Grass
Pets
Permitted
Fees
No

Description

The main features at French Falls Park are the rocky ledges and huge boulders along the fast flowing Androscoggin River. Other attractions are the wide trails and many scenic spots overlooking the fast flowing river.

Three loops make up the French Falls Trails. All three trails have painted directional markers.

  • The Red Trail is the longest of the three trails. It heads north and parallels Mosquito Brook at its furthest point.
  • The Blue Trail heads south to many rocky points and just beyond the French Falls on the Androscoggin River.
  • The White Trail goes north and parallels the river.

A fourth trail shown on the map is a snowshoe-only trail at this time with minimal markings.

Other Information

The land is owned and managed by the Androscoggin Land Trust who partners with the Recreation Committee of the Town of Jay to manage the network of trails. The 40-acre parcel of mixed forests at French Falls is adjacent to the Whistle Stop Trail and the town softball field. The park is a quiet sanctuary near a large industrial producer of paper products and near a busy Maine highway and yet is a quiet and refreshing walk in the woods along a beautiful and wild river.

For over 70 years, the Class I rapids at French Falls marked the end of the ride for logs floating down the Androscoggin River. Look for evidence from that operation that began the process of converting wood into paper at the Otis Paper Mill in Chisholm. Now the forested shore line is alive with a healthy diversity of plants and animals. Sunrise and sunsets are the best times to observe birds and wildlife along the river. This section of the Androscoggin is known as a prime spot for catch-and-release large and small mouth bass.

LMF Logo

This trail passes through a property that was acquired in part with funds from the Land for Maine’s Future program. For more information about the LMF program and the places it has helped to protect, please visit the LMF webpage.

Trail Manager

Visit the Town of Jay or Androscoggin Land Trust online for more information, or contact:

Androscoggin Land Trust

Androscoggin Land Trust
86 Main Street, Suite 201
PO Box 3145
Auburn, ME 04212
Phone: (207) 782-2302
View website

Town of Jay

Town of Jay
340 Main Street
Jay, ME 04239
Phone: (207) 897-6785
Fax: (207) 897-9420
joffice@jay-maine.org
View website

Nearby Events

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Trail Tips

Dispose of Waste Properly
Dispose of solid human waste in a cathole 6-8 inches deep and at least 200 feet from water, camp, or trails. Don't forget to cover it up when you're done!
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Trailhead Information

From US-4/Main Street in Jay, turn onto French Falls Lane across from the Spruce Mountain Schools. Follow this road for 0.1 miles to the parking lot. The trailhead is north of the parking lot and starts under the arch.

Click on a parking icon to get custom directions
Please Log In or Create Account to add comments.
efontaine207
November 03, 2018
An interesting walk! Part of it actually follows old Route 4 and there is this old thing that used to be part of a pulp mill. Perfect for my six year old daughter to explore. There are even laminated maps
muinmdw1
September 03, 2018
Nice walk. Well marked and maintained trails. Great views of the rivers and some nice picnic spots.
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