THE BOG GUIDE

The Orono Bog Walk was initiated in 2000 by Dr. Ronald Davis from the University of Maine's Climate Change Institute. Then-inaccessible Caribou Bog was adjacent to the Bangor City Forest and was of always interest for the sake of education and preservation since it was a rare example of a healthy peatland bog ecosystem. A Steering Committee of Dr. Davis and three representative agencies (UMaine, Bangor and Orono) planned and oversaw the construction of a boardwalk beginning in 2002 and was completed in 2003. Additional planning and fundraising came with help from countless volunteers and scores of contractors alike.

 

The result was a 1-mile loop boardwalk that showed the botanical and geologic wonders of Caribou Bog. After being hailed as a success after a decade, the Orono Bog Walk's managing parties are currently replacing the aged wood boardwalk with composite, decaying-resistant material since 2014. Beyond that, scientific work in the fields hydrogeology and biology occur frequently in Caribou Bog. The boardwalk features handrails (on replaced composite sections) and benches every two hundred feet with "interpretive stations" that explain to the visitor what they're looking at so as to connect science and the public. Various events are hosted throughout the operating season such as guided tours lead by naturalists and experts.

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If you haven't been to the Caribou Bog, anytime is a perfect time to do so. The Orono Bogwalk is located unevenly on the border of Bangor and Orono and is cooperatively managed by the University of Maine (represented by Dr. Erik Blomberg), the City of Bangor (represented by Tracy Willette), and the Orono Land Trust (represented by Jim Bird and Jerry Longcore). Modernly, is maintained by local volunteers and supported entirely by donations. Jim Bird currently serves as the director.