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Best Dispersed Camping near Carrabassett Valley, ME

14 Reviews

Primitive camping opportunities exist around Carrabassett Valley in western Maine, with several dispersed sites situated along forest roads and waterways. Sites like Trout Brook Campground, Dead River Access, and the Rangeley-Stratton Road Camp provide free primitive camping on public lands. Most sites permit stays up to 14 days and require no reservations. The Upper Gravel Pit site in nearby Little Moose Public Lands offers an open camping area with mountain views, while water-access sites include Philbrick Landing and multiple primitive spots on Cupsuptic Lake.

Access roads to many dispersed sites require careful navigation, with several locations unsuitable for standard passenger vehicles. The road to Trout Brook Campground features rough terrain not recommended for low-clearance vehicles. Most sites lack drinking water, toilets, and other amenities, though Dead River Access and some Cupsuptic Lake sites have primitive toilet facilities. Fire rings are present at most locations, but some areas require fire permits. Campers must pack out all trash and bring necessary supplies, including drinking water. Cell phone coverage is minimal to non-existent at most sites.

These primitive camping areas provide varying levels of seclusion and natural beauty. The Dead River sites feature riverfront access with the soothing sounds of flowing water. Upper Gravel Pit offers expansive mountain views and proximity to hiking trails in Little Moose Public Lands. Mosquito Rips and other boat-in sites along the Moose River provide greater privacy. "Very wooded. Road is passable for most any vehicle. Not larger RV friendly but was comfortable enough to get the 27' foot trailer in. Cannot be beat for zero dollars." Several sites experience heavy use during peak seasons, with one camper noting that Trout Brook "is overused, and it shows, sites are warn in and if there was room relocating fire pits and allowing some nature to come back would be nice."

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Carrabassett Valley, Maine (9)

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27 Photos of 9 Carrabassett Valley Campgrounds

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Carrabassett Valley, ME

14 Reviews of 9 Carrabassett Valley Campgrounds

  • Nancy W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 29, 2022

    Upper Gravel Pit - Dispersed

    Nice Views, no Facilities

    Dispersed Gravel Pit This is a large mowed area on top of a gravel pit. There are two fire pits but plenty of room for more than two campers. We drove up in our car before bringing our motorhome because we were a little suspicious of the site and didn’t want to get stuck in an inappropriate place. The gravel pit is located in Little Moose Public Lands on North Road. After the intersection of Big Squaw Road, continue on North Road for another half mile and the pit is on your right. The road to the pit is gravel and bumpy but you don’t need a 4-wheel drive or high clearance vehicle. The short road up to the camping area is quite steep with somewhat loose rocks. There are no utilities, potable water, restroom, or garbage facilities so bring the water your need and carry out your trash. (There is a dump station at the nearby Moosehead Family Campground.) 

    Basically, it is a wide-open area with two fire pits.  You are permitted to collect downed wood for fires or there are numerous places to purchase bundles in town. The camping area is level and roomy with some pretty views of the surrounding mountains. The best thing about camping here is the easy access to the great hiking in Little Moose Public Lands. Great views are found along the Little Moose Pond Trail for people looking for a decent hike but not too much elevation change (approximately 4.3 miles and 650 feet of elevation change). Or hike up Big Moose Mountain for expansive views of Moosehead Lake and the surrounding mountains (approximately 4.4 and 1,800 feet of elevation change). This campsite is just a few miles from downtown Greenville where you will find a well-stocked large grocery, restaurants, outdoor oufitters, fuel, and a couple of small museums.

  • Miccal M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 8, 2024

    Trout Brook Campground

    Primitive Camping at it's most Public

    This location is Beautiful, but it comes at the cost of privacy.  When I first discovered this spot, it wasn't an official campsite, people just came here to swim and there was a fire ring. That was over 20yrs ago.

    There are 4 sites, 3 have no separation between them, 1 is at the entrance, all are on the access road with 0 privacy.  This area is overused, and it shows, sites are warn in and if there was room relocating fire pits and allowing some nature to come back would be nice.  I managed to tuck myself into a private alcove of trees on the #1 site, but still was in full view of headlights and people driving in to see if there was space.  The site I had was big enough that I shared it with a couple that had a small child, and they had their own section. 

    There are no service, no water, no electricity, no to little cell coverage.  There is one pit toilet.  

    The access road in is rough, not for normal street cars.

    Did I mention lack of privacy?

    See pics.

  • Thomas B.
    Sep. 2, 2024

    Upper Gravel Pit - Dispersed

    Great Views

    Great spot is you don't mind dry camping. Amazing views of the surrounding mountains. There are two sites and plenty of space between them. When I went (labor day weekend) there was a porta-potty about 1.5 miles down the road. Plenty of trail heads nearby. About 30 mins to downtown Greenville.

  • Sarah C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 12, 2022

    Philbrick Landing

    Secluded spot along the NFCT

    This is a small impacted spot along the Dead River along the Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT). The site is not easily visible from the river and there is a steep bank you have to navigate to unload and pull your canoe or kayak up for the evening. That being said, it is a nice spot to spend an evening.

    When we were there, there was a small bench and a few stumps that were nice for seating. The campsite is at the end of an old logging road that you can walk down quite a ways. In the summer months, you will find an abundance of blueberries! 

    This is a primitive backcountry site so pack it in, pack it out. And maybe take a few extra pieces of trash with you! There is a large fire ring and a little gravel area we used to cook. There's plenty of flat space for a couple of 2-3 person tents. The stars are beautiful to boot! Definitely bring everything you need with you because there's nothing anywhere around.

  • Chris T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 5, 2023

    Trout Brook Campground

    Dispersed site with lake access

    Very wooded. Road is passable for most any vehicle. Not larger RV friendly but was comfortable enough to get the 27' foot trailer in. Some fire rings and tables available. Cannot be beat for zero dollars. Posted up to 14 days max. Even an out-house.

  • Sarah C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2023

    Raven

    Super Impacted

    This site, while in a beautiful spot perched above Cupsuptic Lake, it is so impacted that in the rain it was a literal mud pit. While there was a picnic table to get up off the ground, finding a spot to pitch a tent where water wouldn't puddle would be impossible. We hiked in, but you can paddle into the site just know that the exit/entry to the water is a bit tricky and not as easy as some of the other sites available along the way. 

    There is a large fire pit, also a mess in the down pours. The picnic table is in far better shape here than the one in Eagle Cove (rotting) and Cedar Bay (non-existent). The site is quite small and wouldn't be able to accommodate more than two small tents. I wouldn't make a special trip to stay here.

  • Kevin C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 30, 2024

    Dead River Access on Long Falls Dam Road

    Beautiful location on the river

    The main camping area has about 10 long narrow sites that have large rocks bordering each site. Each site is bordered by the road. There is a single vaulted toilet.

    The paved area of the road ends just past the campground. Lots of people drive just past the pavement and then they turn around.

    Across the road from the campground is a beautiful river. The sound of the river put us to sleep and greeted us the next morning.

  • Sarah C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2023

    Eagle Cove

    Not good in the rain

    We stayed here during a torrential downpour and it was tough to find a spot to pitch the tent that wasn't going to put us in a puddle. The site has very little clear flat area for an established campsite and it took a little bit of strategy to find a spot where we could actually sleep and stay relatively dry given the circumstances.

    This is a waterfront site but there isn't super easy access to the lake, but the view is pretty amazing! There is a rough fire pit that had a stack of wood next to it that was clearly part of an old picnic table. The picnic table that was in the site was, well...let's call it a "living picnic table." It was not in great shape and was actively rotting. We made it work because we had already traveled through the other available sites and they were in worse shape than this one. It did the trick for an evening but I certainly wouldn't go out of my way to stay here.

  • Sarah C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2023

    Smudge Cove

    A Favorite Spot

    This campsite is along the Forest Legacy Trail and while the trail is managed by one entity, the remote campsites are managed by another. The Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust maintains the trails in and out while Cupsuptic Campground manages the campsites.

    There is a tent platform at Smudge Cove but it is in desperate need of repair and it sounds like that's in the plans for next summer. There is a nice picnic table available as well as an established fire ring. The site is just off the water and there is a nice long dock that makes it super easy to boat into and unload. You can also backpack in and enjoy some pretty cool Maine forests along the way. There is also relatively easy access to the water by way of the rocks, beside the dock.

    These sites are secluded and offer a lovely amount of privacy and rest assured, the only sounds you will hear at night are the loons!

Guide to Carrabassett Valley

Dispersed camping near Carrabassett Valley, Maine offers primitive sites throughout the western Maine mountains. This region sits at elevations between 1,000-4,000 feet with the Appalachian Trail crossing nearby. Most free camping locations require self-sufficiency as facilities are minimal, with sites primarily located along rivers and lakes.

What to do

Hiking access: Trout Brook Campground provides a wooded base camp for outdoor activities. "Very wooded. Road is passable for most any vehicle. Not larger RV friendly but was comfortable enough to get the 27' foot trailer in," notes Chris T.

Paddling opportunities: Philbrick Landing serves as a stopping point along the Northern Forest Canoe Trail. "This is a small impacted spot along the Dead River along the Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT). The site is not easily visible from the river and there is a steep bank you have to navigate to unload and pull your canoe or kayak up for the evening," reports Sarah C.

Mountain views: Upper Gravel Pit offers access to nearby hiking trails with scenic vistas. "The camping area is level and roomy with some pretty views of the surrounding mountains. The best thing about camping here is the easy access to the great hiking in Little Moose Public Lands," explains Nancy W.

What campers like

Water access: Dead River Access on Long Falls Dam Road provides riverfront camping with natural soundscapes. "Across the road from the campground is a beautiful river. The sound of the river put us to sleep and greeted us the next morning," Kevin C. writes.

Privacy options: At Smudge Cove, campers appreciate the solitude. "These sites are secluded and offer a lovely amount of privacy and rest assured, the only sounds you will hear at night are the loons!" Sarah C. observes.

Free accommodations: Most dispersed sites around Carrabassett Valley cost nothing. At Trout Brook Campground, one camper noted it "Cannot be beat for zero dollars. Posted up to 14 days max. Even an out-house."

What you should know

Site limitations: Many primitive camping areas near Carrabassett Valley have limited spaces. At Rangeley-Stratton Road Camp, "There are three free campsites off Route 16 between Rangeley and Stratton, ME, located on the Dead River. Head northeast out of Rangeley toward Stratton. They are located just after you cross the bridge over the Dead River on the left side of the road."

Road conditions: Access to remote sites often requires appropriate vehicles. At Trout Brook Campground, "The access road in is rough, not for normal street cars," warns Miccal M.

Weather preparedness: Rain can significantly impact primitive campsites. At Raven, "This site, while in a beautiful spot perched above Cupsuptic Lake, it is so impacted that in the rain it was a literal mud pit. While there was a picnic table to get up off the ground, finding a spot to pitch a tent where water wouldn't puddle would be impossible."

Tips for camping with families

Blueberry picking: Philbrick Landing offers seasonal edible treats. "The campsite is at the end of an old logging road that you can walk down quite a ways. In the summer months, you will find an abundance of blueberries!"

Site selection: Choose sites with adequate amenities for children. At Dead River Access, "The main camping area has about 10 long narrow sites that have large rocks bordering each site. Each site is bordered by the road. There is a single vaulted toilet."

Water safety: Sites with water access require supervision. At Mosquito Rips, "Depending on the water level and your skill, you can paddle the rapid or line your boat. We chose to line given we were traveling with our dogs."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Carrabassett Valley, ME?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Carrabassett Valley, ME is Trout Brook Campground with a 3-star rating from 4 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Carrabassett Valley, ME?

TheDyrt.com has all 9 dispersed camping locations near Carrabassett Valley, ME, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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