Big News on the Trail: $250K Grant Fuels the Comeback of the Dead River Corridor
We’re excited to share that Maine Huts & Trails has been awarded a $250,000 grant from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Maine Trails Program – a major investment in the future of the Dead River Conservation Corridor and the Maine Hut Trail.
This funding supports Phase 1 of a multi-year effort to repair, improve, and reopen the Maine Hut Trail between the Dead River’s Big Eddy, below Flagstaff Lake, and West Forks, one of the most celebrated and storied sections of our trail system. The project will restore access to key trail segments, repair storm-damaged infrastructure, and bring new life to a corridor that has long been central to the Maine Huts & Trails experience.
Why This Corridor Matters
Stretching along the banks of the Dead River, this corridor has historically connected backcountry travelers to Grand Falls Hut, Flagstaff Lake, and West Forks – linking trails, waterways, scenic byways, and local communities. It is also a place of deep cultural significance, traveling through the ancestral lands of the Wabanaki and offering one of Maine’s most extraordinary river-based recreation experiences.
Over the years, repeated high-water events and deferred maintenance, culminating in severe damage during the December 2023 storm, have left sections of the trail and many of its bridges degraded or unsafe. As a result, the corridor has not been able to support the high-quality, multi-season experiences it once offered.
What This Grant Makes Possible
With support from the Maine Trails Program, Maine Huts & Trails will begin Phase 1 of a three-phase rehabilitation plan, informed by an 11-month professional assessment conducted by the Outdoor Sports Institute and Colby Company Engineering.
Phase 1 work will include:
- Repairing trail tread and drainage
- Replacing damaged culverts and bridge decking
- Repositioning bridges shifted by floodwaters
- Restoring access to Grand Falls via the Falls Trail and Fisherman Trail
- Improving paddler portage routes and access to canoe put-ins and take-outs
- Enhancing wayfinding and trail resilience
Approximately 21 miles of trails and bridges paralleling the Dead River need to be repaired and improved. The project will start with improving the trails at the Dead River’s Big Eddy and the trails around Grand Falls Hut that connect the hut to Grand Falls, the Chappell Bridge, and the Grand Falls canoe portage. The work will restore safer, more reliable access for hikers, skiers, paddlers, anglers, and other non-motorized users.
This phase also helps lay the groundwork for reopening Grand Falls Hut, initially for non-winter programming with youth groups, schools, community organizations, and outdoor partners – while future phases will continue restoring connectivity east toward West Forks.
A Meaningful Investment; One Piece of the Puzzle
We are deeply grateful to the Maine Trails Program and the voters of Maine for making this once-in-a-generation investment in trail access, connectivity, and outdoor recreation across the state.
At the same time, it’s important to share what this funding represents – and what it does not.
This grant is a project-specific investment, covering a defined portion of trail rehabilitation work. Like most public grants, it requires significant matching funds and does not support the full scope of our ongoing operations, year-round trail maintenance, hut staffing, volunteer coordination, or the long-term stewardship that keeps our system safe and welcoming.
Maine Huts & Trails continues to rely on a diverse mix of funding sources – including individual donors, foundations, earned revenue, and public grants – to sustain our mission. Philanthropic support remains essential to maintaining our 50+ miles of free, public-access trails, operating four off-grid huts, and expanding inclusive outdoor programming across western Maine.
Looking Ahead
This award marks an important milestone in a longer journey to fully revitalize the Dead River Conservation Corridor and reconnect one of Maine’s most iconic backcountry routes. With careful planning, strong partnerships, and continued community support, we are building toward a future where this trail once again serves as a vibrant, resilient backbone for year-round outdoor experiences.
If you believe in expanding access to the outdoors, protecting Maine’s wild places, and supporting communities through recreation and stewardship, we invite you to be part of this work.
Public funding helps make projects like this possible.
Community support makes Maine Huts & Trails possible.
Thank you for being part of the trail ahead.
To make a donation please visit: Donate
For information about volunteering email: [email protected]
For press inquiries, please contact Meg Patterson, Development Director at [email protected]