Basecamp: Little Lyford Pond Camps & Medawisla Wilderness Camps
- Exploring Maine's scenic backcountry
- Gulf Hagas' famous waterfall hikes
- Cast flies for native brookies
- Go for a paddle, spot a moose!
- White water paddling
- "Moose Mainea"
AMC now owns and operates two full-service lodges in the Maine Woods, Medawisla Wilderness Camps and Little Lyford Pond Camps, and each lodge is located steps away from a wealth of mountain biking, fly-fishing, hiking, and paddling adventures.
Both lodges are key components of AMC’s Maine Woods Initiative, a broad plan for land conservation in the Maine Woods, and part of the Maine sporting camp tradition.
Everyone from families to outdoor enthusiasts seeking remote wilderness experiences will find a unique opportunity to plan lodge-based or multi-day, "off-the-beaten-path" backcountry itineraries in Maine’s 100-Mile Wilderness region.
Guidebooks and maps: Maine Mountain Guide, Quiet Water Canoe Guide: Maine, AMC River Guide: Maine
1. Exploring Maine's scenic backcountry
Greet the day with a sunrise hike up Indian Mt. You'll not only be rewarded with a great sunrise overlooking the camp and the surrounding ponds, but also an impressive view of Mt. Katahdin. If you're not an early riser, the sunset gives you a second chance. Cut over on a short trail to the western peak of Indian Mt. overlooking Moosehead Lake and Horseshoe Pond.
For more backcountry hiking recommendations, refer to "The Best of Maine" from the Jan./Feb. 2007 issue of AMC Outdoors.
2. Gulf Hagas' famous waterfall hikes
Little Lyford Pond Camps is just a two-mile hike from spectacular Gulf Hagas, known as the “Grand Canyon of Maine,” and a four-mile hike to the Appalachian Trail.
A series of waterfalls, rapids, chutes, cascades, and pools make Gulf Hagas a sight to behold at any time of year, but particularly during the spring when the ice is opening up and there's a surge of water flowing through from the snowmelt.
3. Cast flies for native brookies
Peak season for fly fishing in the Maine Woods is during the cooler days of May, June, and September. While on the decline nationwide, native brookies are plentiful in the ponds and rivers nearby AMC’s Maine Woods lodges. AMC’s full-service Little Lyford Pond Camps and Medawisla Wilderness Camps are popular staging sites for fly-fishing adventures, as is AMC’s self-service Moose Point Cabin on the southern shore of Long Pond. There is easy access to stream fishing on the West Branch of the Pleasant River, or anglers can take to the water in canoes available to guests on more than ten ponds.
4. Go for a paddle, spot a moose!
Moose are said to outnumber people three to one in the Maine Woods, giving rise to a growing past-time – wildlife watching. Medawisla Wilderness Camps, in particular, has earned its reputation for the abundance of water activities at its doorstep. Kayaks and canoes are available for guests to take a moose-watching paddling trip or a longer, multi-day tour of the beautiful Roach ponds network located nearby. Paddlers will likely encounter eagles, beaver, moose, muskrat, and a number of birds that live and breed in the area - or have an up-close encounter with a bull moose wading chest deep through the water. Spend a couple of nights under the brilliant sky at shore-side campsites and sandwich the tour with two or more nights at Medawisla for freshly prepared meals and hot showers.
5. White water paddling
Mid-May to mid-June is prime time for hitting the choppy, fast-moving waters of the West Branch of the Pleasant River. The AMC's River Guide: Maine recommends putting in near where Long Pond Road first comes near the river after crossing the log bridge. Gravel riffles, downed trees, and forest debris form Class I obstacles. More experienced paddlers can continue downstream to Silver Lake for Class III and Class II rapids, followed by quickwater and flatwater to the ME 11 bridge.
For more whitewater and quiet water recommendations, refer to "The Best of Maine" from the Jan./Feb. 2007 issue of AMC Outdoors.
6. "Moose Mainea"
Each spring the Moosehead Lake Region hosts a month-long celebration from mid-May to mid-June honoring the region's favorite resident – Moose. Activities include a kids' fun day and craft fair.
