Location: Western Maine near the New Hampshire border, crossing the Appalachian Trail twice Length: 35.6 miles (57.3 km) Time To Allow: 2.5 hours Description/Highlights/Points of Interest Composed of Route 17 and Route 4, the Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway runs through the mountains of Western Maine. The route offers fantastic vistas of the rugged mountains and cascading rivers and streams. Recreation opportunities abound all year long from hiking, fishing and golf in the spring and summer to "leaf-peeping" Maine's legendary fall foliage in autumn to skiing and snowmobiling in winter. The area has a rich history from ancient settlers to the logging industry that shapes its character today. Suggested Itinerary Start your tour by watching the sunrise at the must-see Height of Land. You can see lakes, mountains and forests for hundreds of miles. You can also see the White Mountain chain in neighboring New Hampshire. Height of Land is often considered to be the most spectacular overlook in Northern New England. Have a picnic breakfast here. Approximately 12 miles (19.3 km) north (on the byway) of the Height is the city of Oquossoc. This city is charmingly surrounded by Mooselookmeguntic Lake. You can access the lake from the city, and rent boating and fishing supplies here. Take a couple of hours to enjoy the lake. You can boat, fish and hike around it. Have lunch in nearby Rangeley (about 7 miles (11.3 km) east of Oquossoc) and then go visit one (or all) of the three nearby museums. Visit the Logging Museum if you're interested in the area's history of paper productions and its associated artifacts. Stop by the Historical Society for a general history of the area. The Reich Museum houses Reich's scientific inventions and equipment. Spend some time exploring the area around the Sandy River, which is at the northeastern end of the byway, and just prior to Madrid. You can even canoe here, if you are an expert (these are rough rapids). End your day with dinner in Madrid.