Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Jackman, ME

There are two large sites here that are absolutely beautiful along the Moose Bow Loop. There is also one campsite at the start of the portage (the two ends are less than a 10 minute walk apart, a little longer if portaging). The photos are from the end with two larger sites. There are also two rustic cabins/shelters available first come/first serve. The sites aren't super far apart from one another, but there is a fair amount of space for two different parties to spread out.

The sites sit among large evergreen trees and have fire rings and picnic tables. There is an outhouse available as well and was super clean when we were here in October. The scenery (especially in the fall) is stunning and sites are secluded given their location along the Moose Bow Loop. You do need to purchase a fire permit prior to paddling away from Jackman in order to have a fire at any of these sites.

We enjoy our weeks on Moosehead Lake. Lily Bay Campground has spacious and wooded. The staff is very helpful and friendly. There is a beach and a playground. A clean shower and flush toilet facility. The sites have pit toilets that are plentiful and well maintained. Pets are welcomed. There is a boat launch and if you get a water site you can launch your canoe or kayak from there. The hosts clean the sites after check out so they are clean and ready for the next guests. There are no hookups, electric or water on site. Water is available at faucets every few sites. There is a dump station and there is potable water to fill you fresh water tank there. Plenty of hiking, fishing opportunities. You can take a short ride to Greenville for shopping, restaurants, laundry and a hospital. We are Mainers, but Lily Bay always feels like getting away.

Another small site at one of the rapids on the Moose River. 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. Depending on your plans, this site may be a good stopping point for the day. The site is small and impacted but has a nice picnic table, fire pit and outhouse. It isn’t the best site along the Moose Bow Loop but it fits the bill if you just need a place to sleep for the night and isn’t already occupied.

Note: you need a fire permit in order to have a fire. You can obtain a permit at the Fire Department in the town of Jackman.

We love everything about this campground and were glad we booked for the whole month of September! The campground opened in May 2022 and is just what the Greenville area of Maine needed– a nice, large campground which is big-rig-friendly, nice amenities, and close to downtown. Everything about this park is very well-done from the layout to the landscaping to the fancy fire pits. 

The owners are super friendly and take great pride in how the campground looks. Moose Creek has just over 100 sites and they are expanding in 2023 to include more RV/tent sites, cabins, and a rental house. The place really deserves the title of “resort” with amenities like a large 25 x 90’ heated swimming pool, 3.5-acre stocked fishing pond with kayaks/paddleboats/canoes, large spacious sites, restaurant and bar with live music on the weekends, nice camp store with clothes, gifts, food and RV supplies, dog park, volleyball/basketball courts, and a playground. 

All campsites and roads are gravel with a mix of pull-thrus and back-ins. All sites have a nice picnic table, large gravel patio and well-placed water/sewer/electric hook-up. There is no cable but many sites have a clear view to the sky so you can pick up satellite or over-the-air channels. The only critism we have is that a handful of sites are sloped and we would not be able to get our 45’ motorhome level, luckily our site (#10) was perfectly level. Our favorite sites are 10 and 17–26 which are back-ins with privacy behind you and nice separation between sites. 

The pavilion and café are the hub of activities and a great place to grab a bite after a long day hiking. The food they offer is not what you would typically find in a campground and much more creative like a smoked trout plate, charcuterie, roasted mesquite Brussel sprouts, and slow roasted pork pile nachos. They also have a full bar and great beer list. In addition to bar seating and plenty of indoor tables there is lots of outdoor seating and propane firepits with comfortable chairs. There is live music on the weekends which draws a great crowd and all the bands played a nice mix of music that seemed to please everyone. 

Prices during the summer season are$55 (for a standard site) and$60 for premium– which is a great price in this region of the country and for a nice campsite with lots of amenities. Monthly discounts are available which drastically reduce the price. Campsites are designed for RV’s but you are permitted to put a tent on any site. All the facilities were super clean and the grounds were very well-maintained. The bathhouse (which was spotless) has six individual rooms with toilets and shower and two are ADA accessible. There is on-site laundry with three washers and three dryers costing $2.00/load. 

One of the great aspects of this park is that they put the pavilion and pool in the front of the campground so the noisy aspects are not smack in the middle of the campground and you don’t have to listen to “Marco Polo” all afternoon at your campsite. Since campsites are located in the back portion of the property, you don’t have any road noise. Another great thing is that the dumpsters and recycling is located at the exit gate so there is no stink and crashing sounds of garbage trucks at 8 am. While the surrounding area is popular for ATVing, they do not permit them in the park which cuts down on noise and dust (there is overflow parking for those units across the street). 

Greenville, Maine is one of our favorite towns. The hiking is great, there are tons of places to paddle and fish, and the fall foliage is spectacular. Downtown is a fun mix of outdoor stores, lakeside restaurants, a couple of museums, and a scenic tour boat that travels up and down Moosehead Lake. In early September, Greenville hosts the International Seaplane Fly-in where planes from all over descend on the lake participating in competitions.

If your looking for a great little get away where you can get unplugged from society, then this is the place for you. Has a great place to go four wheeling. A place to enjoy the lake and all the fun activities that go along with it. As well as a bathroom facility for showering and all your tolitere needs. The kids can also enjoy the playground, and the various activities they provide. And you may even be visited by the campgrounds own family cat. This place is not only a great place to go tenting, but can also be a place where you can hook up your camper. This beautiful place sits in the woods off the maine road. It gives you the real feel of being out in the woods. It is a very secluded place.

Located at the Camel Rips rapid on the Moose Bow Loop, this is a sweet small site that allows you the ability to fall asleep to the sounds of gently flowing water. Large enough for two smaller tents, this is a great spot for solo travelers or a smaller group. 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 and were taking out here for the evening. 

There is a small fire pit with some rustic benches and a small picnic table, you do need a fire permit which can be obtained in the town of Jackman. A short walk from the site is an outhouse. It was in good shape and pretty clean after a busy season, this was in October of 2020. The picnic table has the ability to easily pitch a tarp over it if it’s raining. Luckily for us, the rain stopped just before we quit paddling for the day. The scenery is beautiful and if you’re lucky, you’ll have the place to yourself!

Nestled in western Maine just past Sugarloaf ski mountain lies Cathedral Pines. When you arrive you will appreciate the name. Running alongside beautiful Flagstaff lake this campsite offers something for everyone. Beautiful sunrises over the Bigelow mountains, hikes along the Appalachian Trail, bike trails, kayaking, canoeing, swimming , fishing and the ability to just huddle around the fire with a book! You can even take a short drive to the Canadian border or visit the numerous antique shops along the way in town.

There is a kids activity center where planned activities are always a hit. There is even an arcade for the kids if weather is bad. Spacious sites, some with power and water and some without. A winding maze of paved roads intertwine thru the woods. Perfect for the kids and adults alike to bike!

I am partial to waterfront sites because I love being the first up to start coffee and watch the sun rise and morning break. I've also stayed inside the campground more away from the water and have no complaints. All the facilities are meticulously cleaned and the staff are amazing!

Every year when the few families we camp with get together to pick our campgrounds and dates, it's always when are we going to Cat Pines, not will we go.

15-site primitive campground with fire rings. We saw cross bill birds there eating the pinecone sap. They also came down and ate ash from our fire pit in the morning. The BEST site in my opinion was ours. It's right next to the dock area and no other sites can go next to it, only across the lot.

This site has picnic tables, and 3 outhouses, located along Cold Stream east of Lone Jack Pond. There is a small floating dock on the stream. Four additional roadside shoreline campsites were established next to Durgin Pond, and several others in scattered locations near to roads.

There's a 0.4 mile walk-in trail into Lang Pond, and a 0.5 mile trail into Big Berry Pond. People can fish here, it's supposed to be a hidden jem or hot spot. There are some additional trails into Snake and/or Fernald Pond, and into Cold Stream downstream of the headwaters area. You can also walk down the roads, there's old logging roads that split off here and there from what it seemed like.

Great kayaking up and down the stream and pond area. The roads were a bit crazy as you can see in my pictures. A bunch of warblers were there too. We drove into Jackman one day when the weather wasn't so great. Cute little town.

Located along the far west end of Attean Pond, this campsite is a lovely place to spend the evening or even a few evenings. There is a large beach with beautiful views of the pond that makes launching and landing boats easy. It can get rather windy here and depending on the direction, can also make launching and landing nearly impossible so be sure to check the weather. 

The portage trail that connects Attean Pond to Holeb Pond is located adjacent to the campsites. There is room for at least a couple of tents here and there are a couple of picnic tables. When we were here in October of 2020, there was a large fire ring full of trash that was partially burned. Please note that you need to obtain a fire permit prior to your arrival if you plan on having a fire. Permits can be obtained in the town of Jackman which is close to the put in at Attean Pond. 

It really is a gorgeous spot but is highly impacted, especially after a summer of increased outdoor recreation and use. It was a great place for us to spend our first night on a multi night trip on the Moose Bow Loop. It isn’t the only site good for the first night but know that it may be occupied so do some research so you know what other options are available.