If you’re looking for the Mountain Division Alliance, while it looks a lot different, you’re in the right place.  As of January 9, 2025, we’ve rebranded our organization with a new name, logo, and website.
We welcome you to our new website and are excited to share the new name of our organization.

Friends of the Mountain Division Trail (FOTMDT)

Southwestern Maine's Rail Trail

From the Mountains to the Sea

The Mountain Division Railroad ran from Ogdensburg, NY to Portland, Maine (almost 400 miles).  It was completed in 1875 and used for over 100 years.  Because it was no longer economically viable, rail service was discontinued in 1958 for passenger trains and 1983 for freight trains.  The eastern most section, located in southwestern Maine, runs 51 miles from Fryeburg on the NH border to Portland, Maine.  The mission and vision of our organization are singularly focused on advocating for the construction of a paved recreational trail from the mountains of NH/ME to Portland and the sea. 
Legislation (LD404) signed into law on 7/6/23, authorized the Maine Department of Transportation to remove the rails and ties, plan, engineer, and construct a trail until rail from Fryeburg to Standish.  When completed this will connect 31 miles of new trail to the 10 miles already constructed and in use.  Visit the timeline to learn more about our history. 

Click below to learn more about the two open sections of the Trail.
- Standish/Gorham/Windham
- Fryeburg

Trail Opened
0
Trail In Design
0
Trail Proposed
0

🟢 4 miles - Fryeburg
🟢 6 miles - Standish, Gorham, Windham

🟠 31 miles - Standish to Fryeburg
🟠 5 miles - Windham to Westbrook

🔴 5 miles - Westbrook to Portland

Our Mission is to work with the nine communities along the Mountain Division Rail corridor, Maine Department of Transportation, and other organizations and stakeholders to create a safe, welcoming, contiguous trail that connects existing paved portions of the trail to provide for active transportation and recreation opportunities from Fryeburg to Portland. 

We envision communities along the Mountain Division Line connected by trails that are safe and welcoming for active transportation and recreation,  improve the health and well-being of residents and visitors, create economic benefit for Southern and Western Maine, and further connect to a network of trails across Maine and beyond.

The Friends of the Mountain Division Trail is composed of Mountain Division line community stakeholders.  

Community Partners

MaineDOT
Maine Trails Coalition
Bicycle Coalition of Maine
Presumpscot Regional Land Trust
Rails to Trails Conservancy
Town of Fryeburg
Town of Gorham
Town of Standish
Town of Windham
Portland Water District
Portland Trails
Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission
Greater Portland Council of Governments
Francis Small Heritage Trust
Town of Baldwin
Town of Hiram
Town of Brownfield
Gorham SnoGoers
Windham Drifters
Standish Sno-Seekers
Fryeburg Area Snowmobile Club
Burnt Meadow Sno Club
Maine State Visitor Information Center Fryeburg
Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District
Friends of the Presumpscot River
City of Westbrook
Mount Washington Valley Rec Path
Mount Washington Valley Bicycle Club

Contact us to become a Community or Business Partner