Town of Strong, Maine

Are you yearning for a place in Maine that’s not crowded? Somewhere with natural beauty and outdoor activities only minutes away. One that includes things you can enjoy right out your very own door. If so, welcome to Strong! The town, with a population of about 1300, is in Franklin County, known for mountains that top 3,000 and 4,000 feet, plus an abundance of lakes and streams.

Even though the town has a long and sometimes interesting history, you want to know about the here and now. What the place offers throughout the year. After all, we’re talking about Maine where summers are short, and winters are on the long side. Here’s the surprising thing for those who aren’t familiar with our western Maine Foothills and Mountains area: There’s plenty to do in every season and you don’t have to look or go far to find it!

Activities Right Out Your Door in Strong

Okay, so what about here in Strong? If you like water, woods, rolling hills, open fields, secret streams, and miles of trails, this place is for you. If you’re hankering for a nice evening dining out that’s not too far, that’s handy too. If you’re yearning for a day at the coast, you can sure manage that along with mall shopping, getting to do it all in one day!

Before getting into any of the day-tripping delights of the area, it helps to know what really is right out your door, whether you live here or come for a visit. There are activities that are fun and thrilling, along with places that help out with the practical side of life.

Talking about the fun side of life is a good place to start! Here’s a favorite that’s still somewhat of a secret. That’s Porter Lake which is shared between Strong and New Vineyard to the east. Both towns have public boat launches and beaches. Access to those in Strong is an easy 10 minutes from the center of town.

Once out on the water, whether by person or motor power, there’s so much to see! The lake is ringed by nearby hills with views of our more distant mountains. There’s an island and upper end of the lake that’s quiet, pristine, and best to do by paddle craft. You’re bound to see all kinds of birds from spring into fall. In winter, the lake is a favorite for ice-fishing and snowmobiling.

The Sandy River travels through Strong on its way to joining the Kennebec River. You can paddle there or jump in the swimming hole right outside of town. Strong has about 60 miles of snowmobile trails that are maintained by a local club and used for ATV travel once the snow’s gone. A lot of those connect with spots for bird and large game hunting, or just plain old getting out in nature. Of course, after a day being outdoors in any season, you’re bound to work up an appetite and maybe a thirst.

Strong Amenities and Practical Matters

Longing for a snack or meal brings up practical matters. The White Elephant in the center of Strong serves up good meals, eat-in or takeout, at reasonable prices. There’s also an assortment of groceries and beverages. Then, going northwest on Rte. 4 to Phillips for about 10 minutes, you’ll find Edmund’s Market that offers a healthy assortment of groceries. The bigger markets are in Farmington about 20 minutes south of Strong. That’s also where you’ll find a number of dining and takeout options, plus a movie theater. Okay, that may not be practical—just seems like a good place to drop that in here.

Of course, it’s an amenity! The center of Farmington has an array of shops, plus the University of Maine at Farmington, and more. There’s more shopping as you head south out of town, with an assortment of motels, all within a half hour of Strong.

Back to Strong’s practical matters. We have a nice, well stocked library attached to the Forster Memorial Building and Strong Town Office. At the other end of town are the Strong Area Health and Dental Centers. Those are only open during the week and mostly serve local residents, though this is good info to have if you want to live here.

Now, say you decide to build or fix up a place, you’re in luck because Strong Hardware & Building Supplies has most of what you’ll need. If not, there are more options for supplies in Farmington and Augusta, the latter being about an hour’s drive. Speaking of an hour’s drive, there’s lots to do and see not far from here.

Dandy Day Trips With an Hour from Strong!

Since Strong is in Franklin County, let’s stick with day trips that are of the local variety. If you like to snowboard or ski alpine and nordic, there’s Titcomb Hill in Farmington, Sugarloaf in the Carrabassett Valley, and Saddleback, just outside of Rangeley. Also, up that way the Appalachian Trail crosses Route 4, taking through-hikers to their last leg of the journey.

That area of northern Franklin County, about a 45-minute drive from Strong, via either Route 27 or 4, is known as the High Peaks area. More on that in another article as there’s lots to describe. Going back to the Rangeley area for a minute, there’s lakes and boating galore, golfing, shops, eateries, and lodging for every budget. That too is another article!

Plus, there’s more to tell you about hiking trails, golf, places to camp, and fishing spots. I’ll need to see if a buddy of mine will share info on his favorite fishing places, though he can be sort of secretive. There, I almost forgot to let you know that there are some really good Certified Maine Guides right here in Strong. They can take you on a sporting day-trip or an overnight. Let me know if you want more info.

For now, your best bet is to start out with some day trips to snoop around, scout out where your interests are, and let your excitement begin. Keep an eye out for those moose, deer, turkey, and bear as they run fast, sometimes right into the road.

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