Best Dispersed Camping near Madison, ME
Dispersed camping near Madison, Maine includes several primitive sites located within driving distance of town. Dead River Access on Long Falls Dam Road provides about 10 narrow sites bordered by large rocks, with a single vault toilet and river access. Upper Gravel Pit offers two dispersed sites on a large mowed area atop a gravel pit with mountain views, located in Little Moose Public Lands. Trout Brook Campground features four primitive sites with minimal separation between them, while Philbrick Landing is accessible only by boat along the Northern Forest Canoe Trail. Additional options include Rangeley-Stratton Road Camp and remote sites like Eagle Cove and Raven, which require boat or hiking access.
Road conditions vary significantly across these dispersed camping areas. The access road to Trout Brook is described as rough and not suitable for standard passenger vehicles. Upper Gravel Pit has a bumpy gravel road leading to the site, with a steep section featuring loose rocks to reach the camping area. Most sites lack amenities such as drinking water, trash collection, or hookups. Camping is permitted for up to 14 days in most locations. Fire rings are present at many sites, though campers should check current fire restrictions. Visitors must pack out all trash and bring their own water. Several sites require high-clearance vehicles or alternative access methods like boats or hiking.
These primitive camping areas provide varying levels of privacy and natural settings. Upper Gravel Pit offers "amazing views of the surrounding mountains" with "plenty of space between" the two available sites. Trout Brook Campground provides lake access but suffers from overuse, with one visitor noting it has "no separation between sites" and "0 privacy." Philbrick Landing along the Dead River features "a small impacted spot" that "is not easily visible from the river" with "a steep bank you have to navigate." Eagle Cove and Raven sites on Cupsuptic Lake can become problematic in wet weather, with one camper reporting that during rain, the site was "a literal mud pit" and it was "tough to find a spot to pitch the tent that wasn't going to put us in a puddle."