WILLOW CREEK — Eighty mountain bikers from five New England states descended on Willow Creek Saturday for the inaugural River Run, a 15-mile race that showcased the town’s new singletrack trail network built over the past two winters.
The course snaked through mixed hardwood forest along the Mattawamkeag River bluff, featuring 1,200 feet of elevation gain across flowy berms, rock gardens, and two creek crossings. The trail system, developed by the Mattawamkeag River Trail Association with volunteer labor and a $90,000 recreational trails grant, adds 7.2 miles of mountain bike-specific singletrack to the existing multi-use corridor.
“Ten years ago there was nothing here for mountain bikers,” said race director Julia Chen of Northwoods Outfitters. “Now we have a course that experienced riders are calling the best in northern Maine.”
The win went to Caleb Torres of Burlington, Vermont, who finished in 1 hour 8 minutes. “The flow sections through the pines are world-class,” Torres said. “I’ve ridden Kingdom Trails. This is different — raw, technical, beautiful.”
Riders and spectators generated an estimated $22,000 in day-trip spending, according to the town office. First Selectman Arthur Pendelton said the event strengthens the case for further trail investment. “The bike race proves we’re not just a hiking town,” Pendelton said. “We’re an outdoor recreation town.”
The 2026 race is scheduled for the third Saturday of May.