A small valley town along the Ellis River, surrounded by the Appalachian Trail, Mahoosuc Public Lands, covered bridges, and some of the best four-season recreation in New England. This is your independent guide to visiting, exploring, and connecting with Andover.
Andover punches above its weight. It's a tiny village, but it sits at the crossroads of some of the best wild country in Maine.
Andover is a classic AT trail town. Thru-hikers resupply here before tackling the legendary Mahoosuc miles — some of the toughest on the whole 2,190-mile footpath. Old Blue Mountain delivers big summit views without a thru-hike commitment.
One of Maine's last historic covered bridges, crossing the Ellis River in South Andover. There's a sandy beach below the bridge — a favorite swimming hole, photo stop, and put-in for paddlers.
Sandy-bottomed, slow-curling, mountain-fringed. The Ellis is a quiet alternative to the Saco for canoes and kayaks, and a productive cold-water fishery for brook trout. Ellis Pond, just up the road, is a stand-out paddleboarding spot.
ITS 82 runs right through town, connecting Andover to New Hampshire's Trail 18 and the wider Interconnected Trail System. The Snow Valley Sno-Goers maintain local routes in winter. ATV trails open the same country in summer.
Twenty minutes from town, Grafton Notch State Park and Mahoosuc Public Lands open up screw-auger waterfalls, alpine summits, and Maine Birding Trail terrain. Step Falls Preserve is one of the most beloved short hikes in the region.
In 1962, Andover became the place that bounced the first transatlantic TV signal off the Telstar satellite — an IEEE historic site. The 1899 Andover Public Library, on the National Register and one of only two octagonal religious buildings in Maine, is a quiet gem worth a stop.
Each season unlocks something different. Locals will tell you the best month depends entirely on what you came to do.
Quiet roads, full rivers, and some of the year's strongest fly-fishing on cold-water streams. Mud season is real — check trail status before riding.
Paddle the Ellis, swim at Lovejoy Bridge, hike the AT, ride ATV trails, camp under unusually dark skies. Andover Olde Home Days hits the first weekend of August.
Late September through mid-October brings foliage that draws photographers from across the country. Cool nights, clear trails, ideal hiking weather.
Snowmobile ITS 82, snowshoe quiet woods roads, and use Andover as an affordable base for Sunday River — about a half-hour drive south through Bethel.
Use Andover as a quiet base camp — the bigger names of western Maine are all within an easy drive.
Whether you're scouting an Appalachian Trail resupply, mapping out a snowmobile weekend, looking for a quiet cabin, or just chasing fall foliage — drop a note and we'll point you the right way.