Camping opportunities around Brownville Junction span northern Maine's remote wilderness, with sites nestled along rivers and forests at elevations ranging from 400-600 feet. Winter temperatures often drop below zero, while summer days typically reach 70-80°F with cooler nights. Most campgrounds operate from May through October due to the region's distinct seasons.
What to do
Hiking at Little Wilson Falls: Explore the 2.4-mile round-trip trail accessible from Wilson Streams Area campsites, which follows water with several swimming holes and crosses the Appalachian Trail. "There are six primitive first come, first serve campsites near the trailhead of Little Wilson Falls... The waterfront campsites seemed pretty well used as there was lots of evidence of people not practicing carry in, carry out," notes Nancy W.
Boat on Moosehead Lake: Launch from Rowell Cove Campground for lake access and fishing. "Two boat launches are adequate to launch trailered boats and great for kayaks and canoes. There are floating docks so you can leave your boat in the water during your stay," shares Nancy W. Sites along the shore provide direct water access: "Site 16 on the water you can launch your kayak from the site," explains 9843 A.
Wildlife photography: Early morning and evening hours offer prime wildlife viewing opportunities near Greenville. "Rum Pond is a nice place to hike if you are interested in seeing moose. We saw tons of droppings along the trail and finally saw a beautiful bull moose in one of the ponds," reports Nancy W. The region maintains significant wildlife corridors throughout its forested landscapes.
What campers like
Natural swimming areas: Streamside campsites provide cooling options during summer months. At Wilson Streams Area, "Sites 1, 2, 3, and 6 are right along the stream with access to the water and nice tall trees for shade," according to Nancy W. These natural swimming spots offer alternatives to developed beach areas.
Privacy between sites: Spacious Skies Balsam Woods features well-separated camping areas. "Large, level site with water and electric hookups. Large, clean shared bathrooms with good water pressure," notes Ingrid W. The campground layout enhances the wilderness experience: "Nice large, level site with water and electric hookups... Loads of amenities - general store with basic supplies, tons of activities for kids, pool, atv trail access and walking trails."
Pet-friendly environment: For those seeking pet friendly camping near Brownville Junction, Maine, most campgrounds welcome dogs with adequate space for exercise. "We are a full-time traveling family (2 kids - 8 & 13) and 2 English Bulldogs. We have a Class A motorhome and flat tow a Jeep. We stayed here in June for 11 nights in site B6 and loved it!" shares Jen O. about Spacious Skies Balsam Woods.
What you should know
Accessibility challenges: Some campsites require planning for larger vehicles or equipment. At Moosehead Family Campground, "Small campground with 36 RV and tent sites located just a couple of miles from downtown Greenville. The campground has lots of large trees and narrow roads which make it very difficult for big rigs," warns Nancy W.
Supply limitations: Remote locations require advance planning for provisions. "The area is beautiful with great hiking, boating, and fishing. Just a short drive away is the east outlet of the Kennebec River which is renowned for its fly fishing," notes Nancy W. Greenville, approximately 15-20 miles from most campgrounds, serves as the main supply point.
Variable campsite quality: Site selection significantly impacts the camping experience. "There are six primitive first come, first serve campsites near the trailhead... Sites 4 and 5 are across the gravel road in a shrubby area and super close together as well. The trees surrounding these sites are not very tall and don't provide any shade," explains Nancy W. about Wilson Streams Area.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Jo-Mary Campground provides water-based recreation options. "If you can get a site on the water, the views are outstanding! The most scenic site we had on our trip to Maine. My husband had a Maine fishing license & fished from our site," shares Cynthia K. The campground's waterfront location creates natural play areas.
Evening entertainment: Some campgrounds organize activities for children. "The kids also loved the Saturday night movie they would play on the big screen as well as the movie rental options available for personal use while there," mentions Jen O. about Balsam Woods Campground.
Weather preparation: Temperature fluctuations require layered clothing, even in summer. "We stayed here in June for 11 nights... The campground is within 20 minutes drive or so to Hannaford grocery and there is a great little market, Whitney's Market, even closer in Guilford," reports Jen O., highlighting the need to plan for variable weather conditions.
Tips from RVers
Hookup positioning: At Balsam Woods, hookup locations require planning. "The sites are designed for larger RVs with full hook-ups, but they have just a handful of simple tent/small camper sites without services, which is exactly what we needed," explains Shari G. Longer power cords and water hoses prove useful at many area campgrounds.
Low clearance areas: Tree limbs can restrict movement for larger rigs. At Moosehead Family Campground, "Despite having a pull thru site, we had to back out because we would have had to go thru the back part of the park and because of the low hanging trees without scraping our RV," cautions Nancy W. Advance site research proves essential for successful pet friendly camping near Brownville Junction with larger vehicles.
Dump station availability: Limited facilities may create waiting times. "We contemplated using the dump station but the roads were so tight that it would have been difficult for us to pull into it and our RV would have scrapped lots of trees," notes Nancy W. Many campgrounds offer pump-out service as an alternative to dump station use.
