ENE TV Ep. 31: "The Bethel Trail," Oxford & Bethel, Maine

Blaze a winter trail through western Maine, with stops in Oxford and Bethel. It starts with a visit to the Oxbow Beer Garden and cross-country ski center (formerly Carters XC Ski Center) in Oxford. Oxbow is conveniently located on Rte. 26, and offers ski, fat bike and snowshoe rentals through the nonprofit Portland Gear Hub. The dog-friendly trails are free to use, and many lead to a little beer hut in the forest, where skiers can lounge around fire pits with frosty refreshments.
At the ski center are the Oxbow Beer Garden restaurant, taproom, and outdoor beer garden. The restaurant is housed in a renovated 200-year-old barn. A series of cozy A-frame shelters with tables and propane heaters allow patrons to eat and drink outdoors through the chilly months. Delicious wood-fired pizzas are made on demand in an outdoor oven.
Farther west, in the town of the Bethel, you'll find another outdoor gem: the Bethel Ice Palace. This surreal attraction is the creation of Lester Spear, father of ENE TV cameraman Camden Spear. Lester and HIS father, Rod, along with helper Jerry, build the palace starting with a series of ice columns to establish the basic layout of the structure. The columns are encased in layer upon layer of ice provided by sprinklers that run constantly through the winter. The result is a magical structure with tunnels, slides. and fantastical stalactites of ice, all illuminated by multi-colored lights after dark. As you can imagine, it’s a big hit with kids.
Also featured in this episode is the Holidae House B&B. Owned and operated by John and Jenette Poole, transplants from Tennessee, the B&B is a beautifully renovated early 1900's home, with big comfortable rooms. The Pooles are friendly and attentive hosts, and Jenette’s home-cooked breakfasts are amazing!
Bethel is also the start/end point of the new Cross-New Hampshire Adventure Trail, or XNHAT. Marianne Borowski is the founder of the trail, which stretches 83 miles between Bethel and Woodsville, NH, with most of it running along the northern edge of the White Mountains. The xNHAT is a four-season, multi-use system that’s accessible to cyclists, hikers, skiers, ATV riders and snowmobilers.
If you are looking to do some fat-tire biking on groomed, forested trails, head for the sprawling Bethel Inn Resort, winter headquarters to Inland Woods & Trails, which offers fat-bike, cross-country ski, and snowshoe rentals from the inn’s Outdoor Center and winter trails network. The Bethel Inn trails are groomed for both single-track and skate skiing, and can also be used for snowshoeing and, of course, fat biking. The trails are open to the public for a small daily fee, with season passes available.
But back to cross-country and Nordic skiing. The episode also showcases Carter's XC Ski Center on Intervale Road, not far from the Sunday River Ski Resort. The center offers 15 kilometers of groomed Nordic, snowshoe, and fat-bike trails that cover a wide range of terrain, ranging from flat, wide-open pasture to shady woods to advanced trails on steeper slopes. Gear rental is available, as is a food truck that serves up all sorts of delectable dishes. Carters is also dog-friendly.

[@epklauer2008]

Great video!

[@ExploreNewEngland]

Thanks!

[@bigguydiy2184]

Bethel is a beautiful small little town. I head up there late Summer for the Forest Rally Racing with the pits for all the cars located at Sunday River Mountain.

[@ExploreNewEngland]

Looks like we need to film a summer or fall episode! Thanks for the comment.