About 21 miles east of Bangor and 21 miles north of Ellsworth in Maine lies the small village of Aurora. This community of under 100 looks, on a map, like there’s very little to see. There’s a church, a boat launch to the Union River, and a small hilltop viewpoint in the center of town. But on its western border with neighboring Amherst, there begins one of Downeast Maine’s most scenic mountain roads: ME 179.
I’ve driven this road many times over the years on my way to a family camp a few towns over. For locals, it’s a throughway between the secluded communities of northern Downeast and the commercial district of nearby Ellsworth. But for the adventurous visitor, it is a hidden gem.
I drove the route for this post in late February. Here in Maine, mud season is just beginning, and the last of the snow is still hanging on. But in this particular in-between moment, the views gain this unique liminality that can’t be seen any other time of year.
This is my journey down Maine Route 179.
Aurora
I started my drive on the northern end of 179 in the village of Aurora. I immediately took a stop on the nearest dirt road, Durham Lane, to admire the hilltops poking out over the passing Route 9. With how little foliage is on the trees this time of year, there are some far clearer sights out towards the topography of the northern Downeast.
I took note of a couple small farmsteads in the area. The buildings may look old, but they are by no means abandoned. They display a lens into the life of rural Maine farmers in the cold offseason. It’s not a lifestyle for everyone, but for some, the quiet solitude can be very rewarding.
Not far up the road lies the Aurora Cemetery. As I move further into these blog posts, you’ll begin to see my love for small local cemeteries and their surrounding scenery. This particular one sits atop a hill looking over blueberry barrens in all directions, with an even clearer view of the mountains to the north. I took special note of the small cairn built on the roadside entrance; a hint of activity in the quietness of the landscape.
Waltham
After Aurora, the road winds through a small valley between the towns of Osborn and Mariaville. Beautiful as these towns were, my next stop was the town of Waltham.
I parked by the local town office, and once again found myself exploring the nearby cemetery, Hillside Cemetery. This one was situated in a field looking out to a large wind farm east and some small residences populating the north and south. I took a walk through the grounds, and what I noticed was that the wear on the land was clear. This has been here for generations, and time has grown trees and weathered the stones around the graves. But even in such a seemingly forgotten site, there are still signs of appreciation for those buried within.
Outside of the cemetery, I saw the first glances of my next destination: Graham Lake. This massive body of water may look insignificant from up here, but as we get closer, its majestic views will become more and more noticeable.
Fletcher’s Landing
The township of Fletcher’s Landing, just north of Ellsworth city limits, may not have received its own legal name of “town” quite yet. But on a drive through, it’s clear that this place has its own sense of community. But the major pull of this landmark isn’t just the forested camps and small homes, but its closeness to the great Graham Lake.
In winter, the frozen surface of Graham Lake gives it a completely different vibe than any other time of year. It’s that liminality I brought up earlier; the motionlessness of the water provides a complete change of pace to the niche summertime spot.
Ellsworth
And just like that, we’ve reached the destination of Maine Route 179: Ellsworth proper. The route finishes through a small neighborhood in the city’s northern reaches, passing by the scenic railway and onto the main road of Route 1A. I stopped in a nearby lot to the rails to sit back and think about the road thus far.
Along the route leading here were some of Maine’s least-seen mountaintops, rural barrens, and forgotten villages. The unique sights I love to find on my one road journeys. Maine Route 179 is one of the most scenic yet forgotten roads in Downeast Maine, and a great adventure to travel during this season.
One Road 
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