EDITOR’S NOTE: As of 2022, Hastings Falls can no longer be accessed via ATV or snowmobile, as the trail was closed by the landowner.

ATV riders in the Mount Katahdin region of northern Maine will find a great base of operations at Shin Pond Village. Shin Pond, in the township of Mount Chase, features several clean, well-appointed cabins, a general store, and a café. It also rents Polaris side-by-sides and snowmobiles, and offers immediate access to the local trail network.

Many trails lead to scenic destinations, among them Hastings Falls. This trip is 20 miles each way from Shin Pond, and takes you through a variety of terrain, although none of it is particularly technical. Travel time is 75 to 90 minutes each way, which makes for a good half-day rental (four hours) with time spent at the falls.

Hastings Falls is a beautiful natural waterfall a one-minute hike from the trail. It makes an ideal picnic spot, and on hot days you can cool off by taking a dip in the deep pool at the base of the falls. And, if you bring a fly rod, you can even catch trout in the river downstream of the falls!