Searching for the perfect place to dispersed camp near Bangor? The Dyrt can help you find the best dispersed campsites for your next trip. Each dispersed site offers quick access to one or more of Bangor's most popular destinations.
Here you will find remote camping, fishing and boating with impressive views. Park Map available: https://www.maine.gov/dacf/parksearch/PropertyGuides/PDF_GUIDE/seboeisguide.pdf Campers, boaters, fishermen and wildlife watchers at the 21,369-acre Seboeis Public Lands enjoy a large expanse of clear water studded by wooded islands and framed in the north by Mt. Katahdin. These Public Lands encompass 95 percent of the Seboeis Lake shoreline, all of Northwest Pond, the southwest shore of Endless Lake, and the entire shoreline of Turtle Pond. Seboeis is a favorite destination for fishermen throughout the year, providing both cold water and warm water species. Landlocked salmon, splake, white and yellow perch, small mouth bass and chain pickerel are caught in Seboeis and Endless lakes. Brook trout are found in Turtle Pond and several tributary streams that enter Seboeis. In fall, hunters frequent Seboeis Public Lands in search of deer, moose, bear and waterfowl. Seboeis has 15 campsites, including ones on wooded islands with sandy beaches. Six sites are accessible by vehicle (and one involves a short walk); the others require a boat. The surrounding hills are gently rolling, and the lake shoreline has an interesting mix of rocky, boulder-strewn stretches interspersed with sand beaches and secluded coves. Only a few camps (privately leased) can be seen along Seboeis Lake's 19 miles of shoreline. Abundant wetlands (primarily at the southern end of Seboeis Lake) and productive fisheries support a diverse array of wildlife. Seboeis Lake has high numbers of nesting loons. Bald eagles, ospreys, belted kingfishers, mergansers and common terns all rely on the lake's abundant fish as a vital food source. Visitors may spot snowshoe hare, ruffed grouse, coyote, fox, beaver and otter in the vicinity and may see moose feeding in coves. Snowmobilers pass along the land's western boundary in winter, traveling on a major trail (ITS Connector 111) between Brownville and the Millinocket area. The Seboeis Lands include junctures with ITS 83 and 82 that lead off toward Medway and Lincoln respectively. ATV riders can enjoy 12 miles of designated trail on shared-use roads within the property.
Scout
Great free off grid camping near Canadian border. The other previous reviewers did a great job explaining the campground. The only exception is that we had 4 bars of LTE service (AT&T) which was nice. Camp sites today are very buggy- bring your repellent and/or netting.
TravelerBeautiful place. Clean sites. Easy to find and right off rt 9. Seems to be a bathroom pit-stop for travelers on rt 9 due to having the maintained bathroom. So lots of traffic driving in, using the toilet and then driving right back out.
GuideThis campground is one of my favorites in Maine! Sitting only an hour from Ellsworth and Bangor ME this is a nature lovers dream!
The dirt road leading to the camp can be easily missed if not paying attention! But is clearly marked with a blue sign at the head of the road. Your GPS might not give you an “exact” location but i promise I found the place with no problem!
The road has a few pot holes but nothing my stock (Low to the ground) Dodge Caravan couldn’t handle, There is about 4 Sites with river front views and trails leading to the water from each camp. There are also bigger sites for campers and RV’s. There is a site with a wooden protection shelter for tent campers as well!
New style out houses are on site but other than that it’s completely off grid!
Most Cell phone carriers won’t have service back at the camp, I myself had to drive 20 Minutes up the road for signal, A cell signal booster may work here. Radio signal is fine tho.
Great spot to fish and swim! I’ve caught smallmouth bass, chubs and trout in the river so far! (Black and silver Jerk baits work great) The mosquitoes can get bad in the area but fire pits and fires are permitted in the camp and they helped keep me comfortable from bugs!
There is also a marked trail in the camp that leads deep into the woods, I followed it for about a mile before it got too thick for my interest. Could be the trail that connects to the large pools of water up the river with ADDITIONAL camping there as well.
Legend
There's no fee to camp on Seboeis public lands and you can stay up to 14 days. That said, because it’s free and extended(14-day) stays are permitted, it can be hard to snag a drive-in, lakefront site. I returned on 3 consecutive weekdays and the only drive-in sites were occupied by the same campers.
There is some slope to the lakefront sites, but there seemed to be relatively level space to pitch a tent. In addition to a couple of drive-in lakefront sites, there is another one where you park on the road and walk down to, also along the waterfront.
There are two sites in the‘pit,’ and one of those emptied out the first day I visited, but it wasn’t an appealing area. It is very large and flat, however, so if you have a group or a lot of gear, this may be the best option. If you’re in a tent, be sure to bring a groundcloth to protect the tent, a mattress to cushion your sleep.
The other sites are accessible by boat with parking available near the boat launch, but there’s not extensive parking here, so plan to arrive early to ensure you get a spot on busy weekends. There’s a boat ramp with a small dock. Latrines provide toilet facilities. Cell phone coverage(Verizon) is spotty once you turn off the main road, but you may be able to find a place to send texts; you can definitely text from the main road and get intermittent data.
Activities include boating (can get choppy when it's windy), fishing, hunting, ATV riding.
The campground is open year round, but you’ll need a snowmobile or skis to get in during the winter. The road starts out paved, then switches into a graded gravel road.
LegendSituated right off of Route 9 between Amherst and Wesley Maine, you can access the Machias River Corridor Public Lands. At this particular location, there are 2 RV sites, 3 tent sites and a lean-to shelter, all situated right on the bank of the river.
We spent one night here in the lean-to on our way to the Cutler Coast. The lean-to was in decent shape but it's definitely been marked by its visitors and has quite the slope to it. It was large enough for us to pitch our 3 person tent in and it was pretty great to fall asleep to the sounds of the Machias River a stone's throw from our tent.
There was a massive fire pit at the lean-to that we didn't utilize. There was also a fair amount of trash in the site, and oddly enough a lot of chewed bubble gum. The sites are spaced out nicely and there's a fair amount of shade to be had. There is also a relatively new and quite clean pit toilet available for use.
All in all, it was a great stopping point that set us up well for our early morning departure to get to the Cutler Coast. I would certainly stay here again if I were in the area.
Legend
One of the MITA (Maine Island Trail Association) camping areas in the Deer Isle Archipelago, this island has 2 sites – one larger area up in the woods, the other quite small near the granite shore, but both accessible from the east side of the island. We stayed at the site by the shore and had a gorgeous view of the sun setting.
This is a perfect island for those new to sea kayak camping as the sandy shore, which is exposed for a good portion of the day, is easy to land on and a short walk to a trail into the woods.
Come prepared with fresh water(there is no fresh water for filtering) and wag bags (no toilets). Sites are first come, first served and completely free for MITA members.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Bangor, ME?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Bangor, ME is Machias Rips Campsite with a 4.5-star rating from 4 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Bangor, ME?
TheDyrt.com has all 4 dispersed camping locations near Bangor, ME, with real photos and reviews from campers.
