Best Glamping near Stratton, ME

Here I am, going to ruin it... no, really pretend you didn't read this... The main campground is nice, it has some great group spots, and some close sites, even a few semiprivate ones. After all it is a campground build on an old section on RTE 16.  The campground as others have mentioned is right on the river, and a wonderful river it is.

This is primitive camping, no water, no electrical, but it does have pit toilets and boat rentals and a day use area.

The hidden spots though are totally private and not at the main site but else ware on rte. 16, the ranger told me about them.  They are amazing (I didn't say that)

Access is easy for any vehicle, minimal cell coverage.

They are currently doing a dig and finding some amazing artifacts!

Rachel P has given a great review of the individual campsites; i have nothing to add to that! It's a rustic/no frills campground with vault toilets. This area is definitely a great spot to view moose or go fishing. It is also near Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge where you can view moose and loons galore! I've enjoyed kayaking and photography there. 

There are a mixture of sunny and shady sites, most along the river itself. The more open ones are better suited to RV/trailers. Scout out the ones at the very end before you drive down to 42. Kayaks and canoes are available for rental.

Beware! Google will direct you to a closed entrance to the park! If you're coming from Errol, you'll be fine, you'll see the main entrance before the closed one; If you're coming from the south, then continue past the first entrance and you'll reach the main one. i was here in October and it was COLD, so be prepared for all kinds of weather.

Jake from the Dyrt here!  The Loon's Nest is the perfect setting to enjoy the best of Maine, sitting along the lake with several mountains nearby.  Your hosts are also experienced with hosting guests and are excited to provide a great experience!  Check them out and please share some photos of your time at the Loon's Nest!

I stopped here along a Cohos Trail thru-hike with a reservation. I had pre-booked campsite 41 and it did not disappoint, with a tent platform right off the water with great views, and a short walk up to the facilities. The campground was busy but things were quiet early.

Facilities in the main office were clean. Amazing fishing was also a short hike away up the Connecticut River up to the River Road covered bridge.

Quiet, remote, serene and clean. I love this campground. It is a New Hampshire state campground so the prices are low and the place is very well-kept. They even have a sink with hot running water where you can wash your dishes at the main house. There is a boat launch to put in a small boat, kayak or canoe. It’s just overall a really nice place to go in the wilderness where it is quiet and no cell phone service at all for miles.

Spent three nights at Mollidgewock State Park recently. Absolutely beautiful positioning next to a river. Clean sites - many covered in grass with wildflowers which were stunning. Ours had gravel which I ended up being pleased about after finding a tick crawling on our tent. The owner/manager was extremely friendly and helpful. The pit toilet was very clean, well-ventilated, and stocked with toilet paper and hand sanitizer. The main bummer was the proximity to a road -- the road noise was pretty significant (you could also hear ATVs behind the road). I think it would have been less noisy further in the campground (higher-numbered sites) where the river noises were louder. I would definitely recommend a campsite further in (avoid sites #1-5 ish that are directly next to the road - car lights will shine in your tent at night as cars drive in). This wasn't a huge deal, but the sites further down were more private and further from the driveway. 

Errol does not have much in the way of grocery stores and there are apparently two restaurants but we didn't check those out. Excellent outdoor gear/supply store! 

They rent kayaks/canoes on the property which was fun (saw a bald eagle). Awesome hikes nearby - we did Dunn Falls in Maine. 

Overall, great campground but would probably choose a different site next time as I prefer a more private set up.

This campground on the shore of Flagstaff Lake features large level sites nestled among towering pines, both with and without hookups (w/e; dump station available). There are clean showers, flush toilets, laundry, wifi in some locations, a campers only and a public beach, opportunities for canoeing and kayaking Flagstaff lake with rentals available if you didn't bring your own. Get a lakeside site to watch the sunrise, but know that the sites don't necessarily provide easy access for launching a canoe or kayak. I've used this campground as a basecamp as I was bagging the Maine 4000-footers in the area. It's a great place to return and relax after climbing the Bigelow range, Sugarloaf & Spaulding, the Crockers, even Saddleback, although that's a little farther away. If riding an ATV on the many area trails is your thing, just be aware that ATVs can't be ridden in the campground. In the evenings or early mornings you can explore the area in search of moose. There's a small rec hall as well as a cabin for games/reading/puzzles on a rainy day. There's also a playground and you'll often see kids riding around. It's a gated campground, so you'll get a gate pass for a $10 deposit, refundable upon return. There's a gas station/general store nearby. Group camping sites are separate from the individual sites. Reservations are low-tech…although you can inquire about availability via email, give them a call to make the reservation (or send a letter) because deposit is required at time of reservation. This is a beautiful non-profit campground I've returned to each time I'm in the area.

Small campground with 36 RV and tent sites located just a couple of miles from downtown Greenville. The owners are very nice and helpful and are always busy working in the campground. The campground has lots of large trees and narrow roads which make it very difficult for big rigs. In fact, there was only one of two sites in the front section that would fit our 45’ motorhome. The back section of the park was way too tight for us to navigate. 

Our site (#25) was a long pull thru that sloped down in the front and took a bit for us to get level and our front steps were pretty high off the ground. We had 50-amp electric which worked fine and a water hookup. Since we had a clear view to the sky, we were able to use our satellite television. Due to the campground’s location in a remote part of Maine, I’m sure our over-the-air antenna would not have worked. They did have wifi which worked great at out site. The tent sites are located off to themselves in a wooded area not too far from the bathrooms. The back section of the campground is heavily treed with nice amounts of shade. Most of the sites have good separation from the neighboring site and privacy. The fire pits have grates next to them so you can cook over the fire. There are garbage cans scattered about the campground which makes it easy to dump your trash. No sewer at any sites but there is a dump station and they offer a pump out service for$20. We contemplated using the dump station but the roads were so tight that it would have been difficult for us to pull into it and our RV would have scrapped lots of trees. There are apple trees everywhere in the campground. The owner said he does rake them but so apparently it was a banner year, so there were tons of apples which meant that you did get a smell from the rotting ones. The bathrooms were old and pretty nasty and we didn’t want to use the toilet, much less shower there. Despite having a pull thru site, we had to back out because we would have had to go thru the back part of the park and because of the low hanging trees without scraping our RV. Also, the turn into the campground from the main road (Route 6) is very tight and we ended up having to go into the other lane and take up the whole road in order to make the turn in. 

We did like the proximity of this campground to downtown Greenville. The area is beautiful with great hiking, boating, and fishing. Just a short drive away is the east outlet of the Kennebec River which is renowned for its fly fishing. Some touristy things to do are a boat ride on the Katahdin (an old steam ship), ferry ride over to Mt. Kineo for hiking with a great view, and a drive out to the B-52 crash site.

I tent camped at site 6 for two nights in early September for a trail volunteer event for the Cohos Trail I and had an awesome stay.

For facilities, there is a camp office (though hours were not consistent), basic camp store, coin op showers, coin op laundry, a big dish cleaning station, and clean bathrooms.

For activities, this site is awesome for fly fishing folks since it’s a short walk from one of the best spots in NH.

I saw lots of folks kayaking and canoeing and there’s a public boat ramp a short walk from the campground. There was a sign for rentals but I didn’t see any available. This may be for earlier in the season.

The sites vary in terms of privacy. The lakefront sites were spectacular but you are close to your neighbors. I was in site 6, in one of the small loops off the waterfront drive. These spots were close together but were separated by some brush to make them feel more secluded. The tent sites in the outer loops looked to offer more privacy.

This campsite was full the weekend I was there and very lively during the day but very quiet and peaceful in the evening.

Lake Francis is way up in NH so this does feel remote. The main activities are hiking, fishing (both fly and from the boat), and I saw a host of folks ATVing.

I would definitely come back on account of the great fishing and peacefulness at night.

As you make the final approach to Greenville from the south, the Moosehead Family Campground will be on the right. The first time I arrived, I missed the turn-in and had to do a u-turn.

You can make reservations online, although they're contemplating some site changes, so for now, you'll need to call to make reservations for 2019. Season opens around Memorial Day and when I visited midweek in late June it was still quiet. Most sites are back-in, though they offer some pull throughs, and most are wooded or in the orchard. Rates vary depending on the dates, special events, and utilities you select. They provide a discount for a week-long stay. Bathrooms are clean with odorless composting toilets. Although they don't offer sewer connections, there is a dump station and they also offer collection service. They offer wifi and I had good service with Verizon (you'll lose coverage just a little farther out of town). Hosts are friendly and offer free hot drinks in the office on weekend mornings. You will hear some road traffic.

There's a small playground, but the real playground is beyond the campground. Explore the many small ponds in a kayak or canoe, ride your ATV on area trails, capture wildlife with your camera, take on the Pinnacle Pursuit, or cruise Moosehead Lake on the Steamboat Katahdin. Drie and hour and you can go white-water rafting. Moose come out at the Maine DOT, so you don't have to go far to see some, though the ponds and backroads provide a better background. There's a firetower nearby that provides a nice view, too. It is a little far if you want to drive toward Kokadjo and smaller, remote pounds to look for moose on your own in the early morning hours, but if you are joining a wildlife viewing tour out of Greenville, it's convenient.

Mollidgewock State Park, overlooking the Androscoggin River, is embedded in the beautiful and tranquil scenery that makes up what I would call, the moose capital of NH.

My visit proved incredible as I got to experience my very first moose sighting! In fact, Rte 16, along where Mollidgewock is located, is one of the most prominent places for spotting moose in NH. As long as you keep your distance, it’s amazing to see these breathtaking animals. They generally come out at dawn and dusk and are truly, truly magnificent.

When not out searching for moose, I camped out in site 30 - and while I traditionally would have disregarded this site altogether due to its openness - I was certainly rewarded for giving it a go. What you make up for in sparsely wooded sites, is an expansive star-studded sky. Combined with the music of the nearby rapids and the backdrop of Errol’s alluring wilderness, you’ll be lulled into a deep relaxation. The only potential downfall is that the site adjoins the grounds’ natural beach, so everyone and their brother will think nothing of crossing through your space to get there. It felt very “shared”- but it only proved an issue a couple times when various toddlers ran to my tent. Otherwise, I met some really cool dogs (and neighbors) out of the deal!

The grounds host about 40+ sites and offer pit toilets for campers. No hot water or showers, but water spigots are dispersed throughout. So, definitely be prepared to rough it for a couple of days.

Mollidgewock seemed an extremely popular venue for fishing and many had luck in catching their dinners! The main office was super friendly; check-in/ check-out was easy and they had canoes and kayaks available for rent.

The locale itself definitely moves to its own pace. Errol is a small community, with only a few convenience stores, gas stations, gift shops and restaurants in town. You’ll want to keep in mind that many places are closed sundays and Mondays. Make sure you plan ahead!

For hiking enthusiasts, there are numerous lookouts and trails to explore along Rte 16 and 26-from the Moose Caves in Grafton State Park, the Appalachian Trail, Diamond Peaks Trail, and various river paths, you won’t be bored!

In terms of my favorite Mollidgewock campsites, for those that crave solitude, sites 19 and 7a were where it’s at-19 offers the most privacy, while still bordering the river bank; 7a was along the opposite side of the road in a more densely wooded, discreet area. Site 41 was relatively private and within vicinity of rapids. Site 36 is another decent option, providing a lean-to edging the riverbank. Sites 4, 5, and 6, though quite open and visible, seem pretty cool options for riverbank camping.

I would definitely beware sites 20 and 23 as they were both extremely wet and muddy, particularly #20. Not exactly fun nor relaxing in my book!

Mollidgewock was an amazing experience and I totally recommend this magical place for camping, nature and animal lovers alike! It’s perfect for short escapes from City life!

 There are a few times in your travels when you find someplace you never want to leave. It’s the kind of place where you pull in and it just feels right and we found ourselves at the registration desk extending your stay…and again…and again. The Birches Resort and Campground in Rockwood, Maine was that slice of paradise we absolutely loved. 

The Birches is perched on Moosehead Lake about 30 minutes north of Greenville which is a pretty small town (we’re talking population 1,600) with a few restaurants, a fly fishing shop, a great grocery/outdoor/camping/clothing store and a scattering of interesting attractions like an old passenger ship offering lake excursions. There is a ferry over to Mt. Kineo which has spectacular hiking and definitely worth spending an afternoon. There is great fishing in the area in numerous rivers and lakes. 

The Birches has a magnificent historic lodge dating back to the 1930’s that is warm and comforting and smells of wood burning fires, fresh coffee, and salty bacon. There are only a handful of campsites (for RV’s and tents) and a bunch of cabins all with great views. Don’t be expecting to have all your creature comforts of television, wifi, and phone service because they are nonexistent or sketchy at your site. However, the lodge provides all those services where you can enjoy them by the fire or at the bar. There is also a full-service restaurant serving three meals a day with delicious comfort food like Thanksgiving turkey dinner, slow roasted prime rib, and French onion soup. RV sites can be a little tight for larger RVs but we were able to manage. The best campsite (#5) backs up to the lake so your patio and fire pit are right there on the water and provide spectacular sunrises. Our site was 30-amp which was fine for us as we were there in October and didn’t need air conditioning. Since no one else was coming into the site next to us, we were allowed to pull in such that we took up two spots and overlooked the marina. There was water but no sewer however the dump station was easy to access and never very busy since the campground is so small. The tent sites are located farther away from the lodge and facilities but are spacious and private with great water views. The sites are surrounded by trees so you get some shade if you want or can be in the open sunny areas. Each tent site has its own garbage can so you don’t have to trek over to the dumpster. There are also picnic tables, rock-lined fire rings, low electric hook-up, and a water spigot. The restroom/showers were older but clean and we did not mind showering there which meant we didn’t have to pack up the RV and dump our tanks during our stay. They do have a hot tub for those who like to soak in steaming water. 

We absolutely loved our stay at the Birches. Having the lodge for warm fires, cold beer, and hot meals was a definite plus. There are so many outdoor activities between hiking, fishing, paddling, and just enjoying the natural beauty. There are boat rentals and seaplane flights you can book for sightseeing and a launch for boats/paddle craft. We will definitely be back.