The falls were fine, but 'Moose Alley' just wasn't

I had two goals during my trip to Moxie Falls. I wanted to see one of the highest waterfalls in the state, and I wanted to see a moose.

After two years of living here, I had seen Mount Katahdin. I had stood at the border of two countries on a jetty in Passamaquoddy Bay. But I had yet to see a moose.

This trip seemed promising. Part of the 2 1/2-hour route from Portland to Moxie Gore was a 35-mile stretch of Route 201 nicknamed "Moose Alley" because of the frequency of moose crossings.

I remained hopeful as I drove up Interstate 95, took the exit for Route 201 in Fairfield and followed it more than 60 miles to the turn at The Forks to Moxie Gore.

At The Forks, I stopped at Northern Outfitters and asked the owner, Suzie Hockmeyer, what my chances were.

I was told that 1:30 in the afternoon isn't a good time for the moose to emerge. Nap time, maybe?

When I reached the trailhead of Moxie Falls, finding my way through the forest was at the forefront of my mind. In the woods, proper navigation is a must, even on a trail that's just six-tenths of a mile long. Just past the crossroads of two trails, the waters of the falls began to rumble. With two-tenths of a mile remaining on the hike, the trail descended and the rumbling of the waters amplified.

Blue skies appeared through the trees as the trail veered left. The sound of the falls was enough to distract me from momentarily peeping through trees, hoping to spot an antler or a leg of a moose. I had a path to follow.

Within 50 paces was a staircase to lead me down, and within 125 paces was a trail, with the falls beneath.

A memorial stood at the head of a path that leads to the water's edge, an 18-inch engraved granite obelisk.

Coon was killed last summer when he was swept over the waterfall while trying to save his companion. The memorial serves as a warning to those who tread along the edge that the water can be lethal.

It was cool at the water's edge alongside the rapids. The ground at the edge was still soft, presumably from water released from a dam hours before. The water had a tint of gold and copper from silt and rocks underneath the surface.

Less than 50 feet away was the drop that creates the falls, and I took a final glance at the small memorial. My gut told me not to take any chances with the water.

I headed to the overlook for the perfect view of Moxie Falls, marred only by a tree branch hanging from above me.

More than two hours after arriving and exploring, I headed back to the car, and back to the search for a moose. I had just seen one of the tallest waterfalls in the state but as for that moose, seeing one is still on my to-do list.

Staff Writer Rachel Lenzi can be contacted at 791-6415 or at: rlenzi@pressherald.com

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