Buttles Road Pathway
Montmorency County, east of Gaylord, is known for its snowmobile trails, ice fishing, and hunting. Consulting a map, one can see little in the way of hiking trails. There is one that is excellent in any season but is especially beautiful in the winter. That is the Buttles Road Pathway near Lewiston.
One description I saw mentioned that, since the trails are in
fairly open areas, it should be avoided on windy winter days. I
couldn’t agree less though winter hiking and skiing does require
care and preparation. These trails are gorgeous in the winter, and
the sound of the wind through the oaks, pines, and birches is
mesmerizing. The silence in the forest can make you pause, just to
listen, the sound of the wind in the trees is beautiful. This is a
fine walk in any season; in winter the solitude is awesome.
Buttles is a hiking and cross-country ski path only, no snow
machines. The trail head is immediately off the parking area. The
main loop is about six and one-half miles. At the far end, the trail
skirts two remote lakes, Crystal Lake and Hidden Lake. There are two
other loops. One is about one mile, and the other is just under two
miles. The shortest loop branches to the north and is mostly flat
terrain. That loop is a great place to hike with snowshoes. The
middle loop has moderate, gentle hills and some flat land. It
branches off to the left and immediately begins to descend into a
grove of pines. If you take the long loop, you will go through all
kinds of trees, low hills, and plains. At the junction for the first
two loops is a vault toilet. That’s it for facilities, so bring what
you need. If you plan to ski, be aware that these trails are not
groomed.