Best Campgrounds near Caratunk, ME

This is private land that the owner rents to campers.  It is a lovely single camp site with great views and fields. It is relatively close to the road but there is very little traffic and no noise. The space is level.  There is a picnic table, fire ring, full hook ups, and box with an information sheet that includes things to do and places to eat for the surrounding area. The view was expansive and beautiful, with wonderful sunsets. The walking trails that have been cut are lovely, and a great place for a short walk, or to walk with your dog.  The owner met us immediately upon our arrival and was very friendly. The only challenge is we stayed in July, and the horse flys were viscous. They were not by the campsite, but were abundant on the trails, and I literally had to run to get back to the camper to minimize the bites. If you are susceptible to horse fly bites, be aware during the horse fly season. My husband did not get bit.

This area is very rural.  Skowhegan, which is just over 20 minutes away, is the closest town, and has a few restaurants and a nice farmers market.  There are many hiking  and atv trails in the general area.  I would recommend this spot for a weekend in the area, or passing through for the night.

General: One of three AMC (Appalachian Mountain Club) lodges in Maine’s 100-mile wilderness. This one is located on Long Pond and has 12 cabins plus a bunkhouse. One of the cabins is ADA-accessible. There is a lodge with a living room, dining hall, games, and small store. 

Cabin Quality: Eleven of the cabins are very basic with varying amounts of sleeping arrangements. The ADA-accessible cabin has two bedrooms, electric outlets, and a bathroom with a shower. 

Bath/Shower house: If you are staying in the bunkhouse or a non-ADA-accessible cabin, the bathrooms and showers are in the main lodge. There is also a sauna.

Activities/Amenities: Three meals per day are included. A hearty breakfast and dinner plus a bag lunch. Dietary restrictions are honored. When there is a small group of guests, meals are served family style; for larger groups, they are served buffet style. Rowboats, kayaks, and paddle boards are available at no additional charge, but the wind was too strong for us to get on the water when we were there. In the winter months, snowshoes are available. You can also cross-country ski from but need to bring your own skis. The hikes are awesome! I hiked the Third Mountain Trail directly from the lodge. Signage was excellent. I also hiked the Gulf Hagas Trail, but this requires a drive to get to either of the two trailheads. Don't even try for cell service!

Note that this lodge and cabins are accessible by an approximately 20-mile dirt road from the west and 15 miles from the east. Your fee includes a hefty parking/road use fee. The staff was very present and provided excellent service during our two-night stay.

My husband and I camped at one of three tent sites that are located right on the lake. There is a new (or at least very clean) Porta-Potty for these three sites to share. There was also a VERY outdated/pieced together shower house near the office--something is better than nothing, I suppose. Back to the campsites: private, good amount of space, a picnic table, a firepit, and a trash can provided at each site. We did have some cleaning up to do when we arrived--bottle caps and even some Mich Ultra bottles littered the ground. But overall we had a pleasant stay--being on the lake was enough for us to overlook the litter we had to pick up when settling in.