June 20-September 1
Our camp-to-camp bike route is recommended for intermediate to experienced riders who are comfortable in a backcountry setting. Our recommended route runs from
Medawisla Wilderness Camps south to
Little Lyford Pond Camps along the scenic Pleasant River Valley. All trails are marked with green diamonds.
Day One Your biking adventure starts at Medawisla Wilderness Camps. Once you’ve checked in, you’ll find plenty to keep you busy. You can fish for land-locked salmon and brook trout, hike to views of Mount Katahdin, or borrow a canoe (free to guests) and paddle on Second Roach Pond. You’ll also enjoy a private cabin and a family-style dinner.
Day Two
On day two, you’ll head out on the designated bike route. The first portion of the ride is eight miles along the west side of Shaw Mountain, where you’ll see incredible views of First Roach Pond.
The next portion of the ride you’ll travel another eight miles (for a total of 16 miles between camps) where you’ll follow a path between White Cap Mountain and Bluff Mountain, down the valley of the West Branch of the Pleasant River to Little Lyford Pond Camps. While traveling this section of the route, you will see spectacular views of Baker, White Cap, Hay, and Gulf Hagas Mountains and travel through the beautiful Baker Valley (which is inside of AMC’s ecological reserve).
Once you arrive at Little Lyford Pond Camps, you can take a hot shower and relax in your private cabin before joining us for a family-style dinner in the main lodge.
Day Three
You can opt to linger and explore Little Lyford Pond Camps and the surrounding area, or you can return to Medawisla and spend your last night there. At Little Lyford you can hike to Gulf Hagas, the "Grand Canyon of Maine," on a two-mile trail from the Camp; borrow a canoe (free to guests) and fly-fish or paddle on nearby ponds and rivers; or visit Katahdin Iron Works.
Transportation
Guests can drive from Greenville into Medawisla Wilderness Camps. Mountain bikes with front suspension (includes a helmet) can be rented at Northwoods Outfitters for $25. There is the option to have Northwoods Outfitters transport you from Little Lyford back to your vehicle at Medawisla if you are too short on time to do the return ride. Northwoods Outfitters can be reached at (866-223-1380) or info@maineoutfitter.com.
Equipment
Mountain bikes with front suspension (includes a helmet) can be rented at Northwoods Outfitters for $25 (call 866-223-1380 or info@maineoutfitter.com.) You will be mountain biking in a remote backcountry setting and will likely encounter few if any other people during the day. AMC does not patrol the trails. Your party should be self-sufficient and prepared for changes in the weather. You should bring a trail map and compass and know how to read both. You will also want to bring a helmet, a sleeping bag, warm clothes, a minimum of 2 liters of drinking water per person, bicycle repair kit, and a first aid kit. See our recommended summer gear list; you will also receive a “what to bring” list with your reservation. Note that there is no gear shuttle in the summer so bikers will need to carry their own gear from camp to camp.
Rates
Package price including three nights of private cabin lodging and all meals is $255/person for AMC members ($297/person for non-members). AMC Reservations Staff will take care of reservations at both camps. Check availability at AMC’s camps here. To book your trip, contact AMC Reservations at 603-466-2727.
