The Golden Road in the North Woods of Maine is a 96-mile private road built by the Great Northern Paper Company. Of that, about 32 miles of the road is paved (some would say semi-paved). Fortunately, the Paper Company allows the public access to it, and many visitors and sportsmen use it as a major thoroughfare through the North Woods. The west branch of the Penobscot River parallels parts of the road and it is a prime destination for whiter water rafting. The Golden Road is believed to be named so because of the cost of it, but the company has stated that it was actually cheaper that floating the logs downstream to its mill. The road has many spots where you can see the superb landscape and fall foliage on full display.