Basecamps: Little Lyford Lodge and Cabins and Medawisla Wilderness Lodge and Cabins
- Lodge-to-lodge skiing in the Maine Woods
- Maine Woods backcountry skills weekends - cross-country skiing to building snow shelters
- Little Lyford: exploring local snowshoe and cross-country ski trails
- Medawisla: exploring local snowshoe and cross-country ski trails
- Gulf Hagas cross-country ski and snowshoe adventure from Little Lyford
- Backcountry side-trip to Moose Point Cabin
Unwind in a magical outdoor setting at AMC's full-service Maine Wilderness Lodges, Little Lyford and Medawisla. Set within 66,500 acres of AMC conservation and recreation land, both lodges offer a unique opportunity to snowshoe and cross-country ski on an expansive, protected natural landscape in the heart of Maine’s 100-Mile Wilderness. For additional ideas and packages, check out AMC's
Winter Guide.
1. Lodge-to-lodge skiing in the Maine Woods
Modeled after AMC’s popular hut-to-hut hiking experience in New Hampshire, AMC’s lodge-to-lodge cross-country ski package has introduced this AMC tradition to the 100-Mile Wilderness of Maine. Plan a three- or five-night getaway and cross-country ski between AMC's Medawisla Wilderness Lodge and Cabins, partner West Branch Pond Camps, and AMC's Little Lyford Lodge and Cabins -- gear shuttling and meals are included, so you can travel relatively light. The self-guided tour starts at Medawisla, perched on the shores of Second Roach Pond, before heading to partner West Branch Pond Camps. One route option is a nine-mile trip around Shaw Mountain, with scenic views of the Spencer Mountains, Mt. Katahdin, and White Cap Mt. The second route is for long-distance skiers and traverses frozen Trout and Fourth Roach Ponds, offering beautiful views of Jo-Mary and White Cap Mountains. The most remote, narrow stretch of trail awaits the next day, while skiing down the Pleasant River Valley and past views of Baker, Hay, Gulf Hagas, and Indian Mountains en route to AMC’s Little Lyford, located about nine miles away. Spend the final evening relaxing in the camp’s sauna before skiing six to eight miles the next morning to conclude the trip.
Read about this experience in AMC Outdoors.
2. Maine Woods backcountry skills weekends - cross-country skiing to building snow shelters
AMC this winter is introducing a new series of Maine Woods backcountry skills weekends—featuring experiences as diverse as essential outdoor skills for adventurers, cross-country skiing basics, and a geocaching treasure hunt. All of the weekends are led by Registered Maine Guides and offered at the AMC’s Maine Wilderness Lodges, remote retreats for outdoor enthusiasts to explore the mountains and wilderness of the Moosehead Lake region with the comforts of woodstove-heated private cabins and home-cooked meals.
3. Little Lyford: exploring local snowshoe and cross-country ski trails
With more than 50 miles of recreational trails on AMC's Katahdin Iron Works property, where Little Lyford is located, there are plenty of opportunities for exploring. Here's a sampling:
Snowshoe routes:
- Moderate: Gain some elevation on a five-mile round-trip snowshoe journey up Indian Mt., stopping along the way at Laurie's Ledge for memorable views of Gulf and Hay Mountains. You could even catch a glimpse of Mt. Katahdin in the distance on a clear winter's day. This vantage point also overlooks the nearby Little Lyford Ponds, and gazing up the Pleasant River Valley, there's a view of Baker Mt. Continue to the summit and, with good visibility, you can see all the way to Moosehead Lake in the distance. Closer up, there's a handful of local lakes that include Horseshoe Pond, the two small Pearl Ponds, and Mountain Brook Pond, plus Elephant Mt.
- Difficult: More experienced winter adventurers can start early for a full day of snowshoeing and bushwhacking up Baker Mt.
Cross-country ski routes:
- Easy: Step outside your cabin and warm up your ski legs on a groomed trail that leaves from camp and travels around lower Little Lyford Pond
- Moderate: Explore the Pleasant River Valley ski trail network, tracing the banks of the West Branch of the Pleasant River for a day-long, roundtrip cross-country ski tour on River Trail North up to Big Lyford Pond
- Difficult: Travel out towards Horseshoe Pond along a section of groomed, backcountry trails totaling about five miles round-trip. The next day, start exploring the many miles of backcountry routes from the camp, including an extensive, unmotorized logging road network and ski trails in the AMC's designated ecological reserve.
4. Medawisla: exploring local snowshoe and cross-country ski trails
Adding to the local network around Little Lyford Lodge and Cabins, about 40 miles of cross-country ski and snowshoe trails are nearby Medawisla.
Snowshoe routes:
- Easy: Keep things on the shorter side and snowshoe only 1.5 miles round-trip via the Hinckley Trail, or add on Alex’s trail for another 3/4 miles
- Easy to moderate: For a loop tour covering more than three miles, head out from the lodge to the Emmit Brook trail, travel east to the Shaw Mountain Road, and then circle back to the lodge using the Shaw Mountain Cutoff
Cross-country ski routes:
- Easy, family-friendly: The Deer Run Loop Trail is mostly flat and a shorter distance from the lodge, making it great for kids
- Easy: For rewarding views of Big and Little Spencer Mountains, travel toward the North Inlet of the Roach River on the Wood Lot Trail
- Easy to moderate: A mostly flat route, the Lake Trail Loop takes to the frozen, snow-covered Second Roach Pond for half of the trip
- Easy to moderate, with difficult sidetrip: For a more hilly option, opt for the Trout/Trout Mt. Loop Trail, totaling nine miles, or make it an even 10 miles if you're up for adding a more challenging ascent of Trout Mt.
5. Gulf Hagas: cross-country ski and snowshoe adventure from Little Lyford
A four-mile-long, slate-walled gorge carved by the West Branch of the Pleasant River, Gulf Hagas is often called the Grand Canyon of Maine. Ice crevasses and 60 to 70 foot ice walls make Gulf Hagas a sight to behold. And as you will have already discovered, half the fun is getting there. Cross-country ski 2.5 miles from Little Lyford to the head of the Gulf for a combo snowshoe and cross-country ski excursion. Beginners and experienced winter sports enthusiasts alike can make a full day of it with a classic, moderate to more difficult Maine snowshoe on the Rim Trail for breathtaking views of the gorge. Experienced snowshoers with crampons can opt for the 11-mile roundtrip from camp to the bottom of the Gulf. Beginners can scale back on the mileage, with only one to three miles of snowshoeing on the Rim Trail to catch the main attraction, Stair Falls.
6. Backcountry side-trip to Moose Point Cabin
If you are up for a nine-mile journey from Little Lyford Lodge and Cabins, cross-country ski to Long Pond for a couple of nights at self-service Moose Point Cabin. An access trail from the Little Lyford winter parking lot/trailhead makes for a six-mile, more difficult cross-country ski or snowshoe to the cabin. Consult with the caretakers at Little Lyford about the route and conditions before making this journey. Moose Point is perfect for groups of up to six, and optional snowmobile gear or personal transport is also available.
