A few miles from busy U.S. Route 1, Black Woods Scenic Byway offers a lovely 12.5-mile route on Route 182, starting in Franklin and extending easterly to Cherryfield, encompassing trailheads and boat launches to our mountains and lakes. Highlights include bicycling, boating, canoeing, kayaking, foliage-viewing, hiking trails, lakes, ponds, rivers, mountains, the Atlantic Ocean, and wildlife.

The two anchor towns, both beautiful communities, have populations of fewer than 2,000 each. The towns go back to the 18th century. Franklin’s namesake was Benjamin Franklin, and the leading products in the early years were ship masts, railroad ties, and granite. Today, blueberries and Christmas trees are big. The town is dotted with historical sites, like its cemetery and grange hall.

Cherryfield, calling itself the wild blueberry capital of the world for its proximity to the region’s vast blueberry industry, was named for the wild cherries that once peppered the riverbanks. Its historic district comprises a collection of period structures dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries.

The route itself is a quiet, winding journey through wooded hillsides and open vistas. A special place to stop, midway on the drive, is the Donnell Pond Public Reserve Land; 4,000 acres of forested land with crystal-clear lakes, secluded ponds, and mountains with panoramic views. Visitors can enjoy boating, camping, canoeing, cross-country skiing, hiking, hunting, snowshoeing, and wildlife-watching.