Basecamp: Little Lyford Lodge and Cabins & Medawisla Wilderness Lodge and Cabins
- Getting acquainted with Greenville, Maine
- Explore Maine's scenic backcountry
- Summer camp for the whole family: AMC Family Adventure Camp
- Volunteer for a trail crew service vacation
- Gulf Hagas' famous waterfall hikes
- Cast flies for native brookies
- Get your feet weet: go whitewater or quiet water paddling
- Miles and miles of mountain biking
- Absorb some local history in Piscataquis County towns
- Discover Maine's wildlife
Disconnect from modern day distractions at AMC's full-service Maine Wilderness Lodges, Little Lyford and Medawisla, and enjoy hiking, wildlife watching, paddling, and fly fishing.
Little Lyford is only a two-mile hike from spectacular Gulf Hagas, and Medawisla is located on the shores of Second Roach Pond.
1. Getting acquainted with Greenville, Maine
Little Lyford is located 15 miles east of Greenville, Maine in a remote, backcountry setting situated on a 37,000-acre parcel of land purchased by the AMC in 2003 as part of its Maine Woods Initiative. The vibrant town of Greenville on the shores of Moosehead Lake is the heart of the region. Shops, restaurants, and outdoor outfitters cater to visitors’ needs, and the emphasis is on outdoor recreation.
Many visitors enjoy a cruise of the lake on the historic Katahdin, built as a steamboat in 1914 at Bath Iron Works and later converted to diesel. Visitors who prefer to propel their own craft may opt to rent a canoe or kayak from a local outfitter and dip a paddle in the lake. The Moosehead Marine Museum is another Greenville highlight.
Stay the night in Greenville and then make your way to Little Lyford, where you can spend the afternoon taking a walk around camp or go swimming on one of the Little Lyford ponds. Another option is jumping in a canoe or kayak at the dock for a short paddle before heading back to the lodge for a hearty, home-cooked meal.
2. Explore Maine's scenic backcountry
Routes range from easy rambles around wetlands to mellow climbs with big views of Katahdin and the Barren-Chairback Ridge.
AMC’s 45 miles of trail are the central line to four-season recreation on its KIW property. Hikers have front-door access to many of these from Little Lyford. Nearby Gulf Hagas Trail, an 8.6-mile spur of the Appalachian Trail, is the area’s marquee footpath.
Make a quick ascent of 2,341-foot Indian Mountain for long-range vistas that extend into Canada. Or try 2,180-foot Chairback Mountain, whose aspen-cloaked flanks give rise to the AT en route to Monument Ledge and views of more than half of AMC’s property. But for the truly adventurous, the best may be yet to come. Beyond the Barren-Chairback Ridge, the property’s southern tier holds a wealth of untapped ecological gems: among them Houston Pond, a 130-foot-deep pool ringed by glacial erratics, and the wetlands of Caribou Bog, once home to Maine’s last wild caribou herd.
Excerpted from "The Best of Maine," AMC Outdoors, January/February 2007
3. Summer camp for the whole family: AMC Family Adventure Camp
AMC's Family Adventure Camps at Little Lyford and Medawisla feature a full schedule of daily, family-friendly activities such as:
At Little Lyford:
- Hike to Gulf Hagas, "the Grand Canyon of Maine," a scenic canyon that's about 4 miles long with a series of waterfalls.
- Paddle around the Little Lyford Ponds by canoe and kayak while looking for signs of wildlife.
- Take a close look at the interesting aquatic insects, newts, and frogs living in the ponds nearby.
- Learn the basics of fly fishing and cast flies for native brook trout in the Pleasant River.
At Medawisla:
- Paddle around Second Roach Pond looking for signs of moose and other wildlife, such as otter and beaver.
- Vernal pool exploration.
- Start first life-lists for bird-watching while taking a hike to spot some of the area's many species (including an eagle's nest, as well as loons, warblers, thrushes, vireos, bitterns, eagles, and osprey).
- Learn the basics of fly fishing and cast flies for native brook trout, landlocked salmon, and lake trout in Second Roach Pond.
- Join local naturalist hikes on Emmit Brook Trail and Deer Run Trail to identify Maine Woods flowers and trees.
4. Volunteer for a trail crew service vacation
Make a meaningful contribution by helping to maintain trails during a volunteer trail vacation. Volunteer for AMC's three- to four-day trail crews in the Maine Woods and gain a deeper appreciation for trail upkeep while learning new skills.
5. Gulf Hagas' famous waterfall hikes
A beautiful, slate-walled gorge carved by the West Branch of the Pleasant River, Gulf Hagas is often called the "Grand Canyon of Maine." Its waterfalls, rapids, chutes, cascades, and pools make for a scenic hike. After heading out from Little Lyford, travel along the west side of the Pleasant River to the Gulf Hagas rim trail for various viewpoints of the area's famous falls.
6. Cast flies for native brookies
Along with the iconic native brook trout—a species on the decline nationwide—the area offers excellent angling prospects for landlocked salmon, lake trout, and bass. Lake trout dwell in the deeper glacial lakes and are known for their larger size. Landlocked salmon—Atlantic salmon trapped in inland bodies of water—are prized for their fight. Both swim abundantly in Long Pond, which anglers can access via AMC’s self-service Moose Point Cabin on its southern shores.
Little Lyford is also a popular staging site for fly fishing adventures with so many pools within striking distance.
A Registered Maine Guide is available for introductory to full-day sessions.
Excerpted from "The Best of Maine," AMC Outdoors, January/February 2007
7. Get your feet weet: go quiet water paddling
Hundreds of pristine bodies of water shimmer the landscape, including 17 ponds on AMC’s 37,000-acre Katahdin Iron Works property, nine around Little Lyford alone--with a canoe on every one.
On nearby Long Pond, paddlers can soak up mountain views of the Barren-Chairback Range and bed down at a primitive campsite in the narrows of the 3.5-mile-long pond. North of the property, the Roach River Drainage presents more quiet water opportunities. Named after a French missionary who spent time in the Maine woods, the six eponymous ponds number one through seven and accommodate paddlers of all levels. The jewel is Second Roach, a 3.5-mile-long pond that serves as a backdrop to Medawisla. Using Medawisla as their base, paddlers can access low deadwater areas teeming with wildlife (and birders working on life lists) or portage to the surrounding cluster of Roach ponds on multi-day excursions.
Excerpted from "The Best of Maine," AMC Outdoors, January/February 2007
8. Miles and miles of mountain biking
Don't forget to bring your mountain bike along for rides on woods roads surrounding Little Lyford. There's something for everyone, from relatively flat leisure rides to more strenuous routes.
9. Absorb some local history in Piscataquis County towns
In the Katahdin Iron Works Township, between Little Lyford and Brownville, ruins of the historic Katahdin Iron Works can be seen. The Brownville Historical Society operates a museum for the public, as does the Milo Historical Society. Thoreau’s Park in Greenville commemorates Henry David Thoreau’s 19th century explorations of the area. Dover-Foxcroft is home to the Blacksmith Shop Museum, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
10. Discover Maine's wildlife
Moose are said to outnumber people three to one in the Maine Woods, giving rise to a growing Maine past-time – wildlife watching. You stand to spot moose, beavers, foxes, and eagles while you're out hiking the trails, or spend some time paddling around on one of the many nearby ponds for a chance close-up encounter with a bull moose wading chest deep through the water.
