Camping cabins near Gilead, Maine provide convenient accommodations in this western Maine region situated at approximately 700 feet elevation in the Androscoggin River valley. Winter temperatures frequently drop below zero, while summer days typically range from 70-85°F, making cabin rentals particularly valuable during seasonal extremes. Most cabin accommodations remain open from May through October, with limited winter availability at select locations.
What to Do
Riverside recreation: At Coos Canyon Campground and Cabins, visitors can enjoy gold panning directly from the campground. "The camp store has some bare necessities, but did not have any bug swatters (the horse flys can get crazy here) but a spatula from the camp store worked OK. We will definetly be back for some more gold prospecting!" notes David B.
Mountain exploration: Moose Brook State Park Campground offers access to numerous mountain trails. "One of the best parts about this place is its location...it isn't any where near the hustle and bustle of touristy North Conway. It sits on the northern side of Mt. Washington but not in the national forest like many of the camping areas in the vicinity," explains Sarah C.
Water activities: Family-friendly water recreation options abound at multiple lakes. "Perfect for family camping! Fishing, swimming, river walks, biking and movie nights!" says J L. about the facilities at Moose Brook.
What Campers Like
Secluded riverside sites: White Birches Camping Park offers special riverside accommodations. "The two walk-in tent sites are very secluded and offer fire rings, picnic tables, a bear box and one of the two sites has a wooden tent platform. These sites sit right on the beautiful Androscoggin River," describes Sarah C.
Spacious family cabins: Papoose Pond Family Campground provides larger cabin options. "We stay in an HHK which is a site that has its own electric stove, kitchen sink, covered picnic table, and small bathroom in the back! It's definitely more lux than a standard site, but it makes camping with kids insanely easy," shares Jessica W.
Private wooded settings: Many cabins offer natural surroundings. "The campsite was large and private with good distance between the next sites. We were on the pool/rec hall side and it definitely seemed less condensed over there than the pond side," reports Kaileigh K. about her Papoose Pond experience.
What You Should Know
Seasonal policies: Most cabin facilities close during winter months. "Umbagog Lake Campground is a great place to stay! The campground offers a wide range of different experiences, from on-shore campsites with a more car-campy feel to very secluded paddle-out sites on islands across the lake," notes Lucy S.
Booking requirements: Cabin rentals typically require advanced reservations, especially during summer weekends. "The campsites were well spaced and the group sites are in a different location, on the opposite side of the road, from the main campground which is nice. Sites have fire rings, picnic tables and nice areas to pitch tents," explains Sarah C.
Pet regulations: Base Camp — Umbagog Lake State Park allows pets but with restrictions. "Pets are allowed, but not in the cabins. Most of the sites are large enough to accommodate your ATV/trailer, but there is also a large parking lot," reports Jean C.
Tips for Camping with Families
Look for dedicated facilities: Jellystone Park™ Glen Ellis provides extensive family amenities. "Perfect for family camping! Plenty to do at the campground and around the surrounding area for people of all ages. Remember you are in the mountains... you will see wildlife," cautions Kelly T.
Consider water proximity: Water access enhances family experiences. "There are two sides across a road of this campground-pond side and pool side. Pond side is a lot more crowded and desired so if you're more into a quiet experience, stick to pool side," advises Jessica W.
Evaluate activity schedules: Many campgrounds offer organized events. "They have weekly events that we love! Tuesday trivia, Wednesday beach party, Thursday dance party, and Friday karaoke- the latter being the most fun! There are so many things for kids to do throughout as well," notes Jessica W.
Tips from RVers
Utility reliability: Timberland Campground offers varied power situations. "The power at this place is clearly overloaded. On the weekend I was getting warnings that the voltage was in the 95v range(120v) The National Electric Code states that the lowest permissible voltage is 114 to national code at the furthest part of the line," warns Adam A.
Site selection considerations: Choose locations based on noise preferences. "There are active tracks literally on the other side of the line of sites(lower sites are even worse as they arent at least elevated) and there are freight trains that come through regularly including all hours of the nights," notes Adam A. about Timberland.
Seasonal campground variations: Some campgrounds change significantly by season. "It was bitterly cold overnight (24-27 degrees), so I was grateful for my trailer, but it made for some beautiful, if foggy, mornings and brilliantly clear skies for stargazing," reports Jean C. about her October visit to Umbagog Lake.
