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Welcome to Brighton State Park, located on the shores of Spectacle Pond. The outstanding attraction of this area is its remoteness: mountains with tree-covered slopes, fast running streams, and clear lakes. It is common to hear loons calling at night. The wild lands to the northeast and southeast of the town of Island Pond are suited to the angler, the hunter, or the outdoor lover who likes to roam away from developed roads or towns. Logging roads into the deeper reaches of this area offer adventurous side trips.
Island Pond enjoyed a heyday from the late 1800's until the Depression years, along with the fortunes of the Grand Trunk railroad between Montreal, Canada and Portland, Maine. Island Pond was the site of the first international railroad junction in the United States. At the height of the town’s population, its streets were lively with railroad men and loggers, most of whom rode in on one of the 13 rail tracks that passed through town. A mere two tracks remain today. The unique wooden bridge, which once held all 13 tracks, is gone, but the heritage of railroading is still evident in the well-kept train station and a few associated structures at the north end of town.
Cabin at Brighton State Park The park has five cabins available to rent There are 5 cabins, 54 tent/RV sites and 23 lean-to's. All three restrooms have flush toilets, hot and cold running water and coin-operated hot showers. A sanitary dump station is available, but there are no hookups. There are hiking trails, a campers' beach with boat rentals, a nature museum, an amphitheater, a garage theater, and a play area. At the nearby day use area (at the southern end of Island Pond) there is a long, sandy beach, a bathhouse with restrooms, and boats available to rent.
There are 5 cabins at the park that are available to rent. They are all located near the waterfront.
$20 - $50 / night
$33 - $75 / night
$55 - $70 / night
$23 / night
$30 - $80 / night
$23 / night
Scout
I stayed at Art and Health Chill Camping recently, and it was a truly relaxing experience—just nature, art, and fresh air all around. The only thing I’d advise is to come prepared if you're concerned about health safety. When camping in remote areas, it's always wise to have a few essentials, especially if you’re camping with a group. Personally, I’d recommend taking a rapid STD/STI test on https://readyhelp.it/rapid-std-sti-test/ beforehand. It’s quick and easy, giving some extra peace of mind.
Legend
Nice and quiet
Legend
I come back to this area every year; I missed my spring trip this year though. A friend was camping and invited me to join them. We had a site on the B loop, I have only camped on the A loop...
The site was nice with some great rock features, the sites have enough space between them to give privacy, but you know you're not alone. The facilities on the B loop are vintage 1950s, simple clean but not new or the same caliber as the facilities on A loop. Plenty of water faucets on the B loop.
Both A & B are easy to get around on, all of the roads are dirt but well maintained. Both loops have their own Trash and Recyling. The access road into the park is a well-maintained dirt road and about 5 miles long. Look for the bears, and other cutouts creatures in the clearings on the way in.
This campground is remote and it's about 45 min. to the nearest town. There is no cell service, even with a booster. The lake is wonderful.
Scout
Stay in a 45' motorhome for a couple nights. Going up to mt Washington to ride the cog rail
Legend
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!
Guide
The first thing that happened is you go over the train tracks to go to the office to register and you have to turn your rig around to go to Riverside which the sites are extremely small had a 42 foot fifth wheel and took me 15 minutes to get set so I could disconnect. good thing there was no one next to me on both sides so I had room to move around otherwise I would’ve never made it in there. The view is beautiful. The lake is pretty. They have seasonals set up on the lake and when we were there, they were pretty obnoxious and loud cursing every two seconds no one came around to check anything. They have a lot of rules, but they don’t enforce any of them. If you want to go to pull through you go on the other side of the camp where you have to climb a huge hill and then maneuver around to get into a pull through that’s only about 10 foot wide. So my suggestion would be if you have a small camper great if you have anything over 30 feet find somewhere else.
Guide
Couple-owned and very attentive. He assisted me backing into a spacious wooded site. You can also be on a nice field or on the edge. Pool was damaged during winter and not available. 2024
Guide
There are a number of nice campsites right on the lake, but even if you don’t have a waterfront site, there is a public boat launch. There is a dishwashing station, laundry facilities, showers, and bathrooms, all very clean. Perfect for fishing, hiking, and kayaking.
ScoutBeen camping here since I was a kid and will forever continue the tradition! So peaceful and beautiful
Scout
Great spot if you are looking for a simple place to stay. Amazing location. Can walk right into town and never use your car the entire time you are there. Bike trails are right off the campground.
LegendWhile this is close to the road, there is a good buffer of vegetation between the road and the campsites. I've camped here multiple times and never hear the road. Most sites are right on the Androscoggin River and the serenity is priceless. There are many grassy tent sites that can also accommodate small campers, like pop ups. There are a few lean-tos (2) and a few sites with wooden platforms.
The gentleman working the office was super kind and helpful. There was good signage indicating how to proceed for various needs in his absence, including how to purchase firewood and checking in/out. There is recycling available near most sites next to the various pit toilets. At this time, there are no showers or flush toilets but according to park staff, a facility for these items will be built in the near future.
Most sites are grassy but a few are hard packed dirt and a few had newly dispersed wood chips. Bathrooms were clean, water spigots are readily available as well. Sites are well maintained and some are closer together than others. Many have direct access to the river. There's really not a bad site.
Legend
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.
Legend
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!
LegendWe made the mistake of camping here for the 4th of July and should have known better, especially with a dog terrified of fireworks! While they aren't allowed in the State Park, much of the lake is private property...so between the rule breakers and the private land owners this was a cacophony of noise for days. The other bummer about this park in particular is that many of the sites were marked as reserved even though they sat empty for the three nights we were there and many of them were lakeside. Sadly, no shows don't forfeit their sites which was frustrating.
Our site, though not on the water, was nice and had a lean-to. The nice new bathhouse was also very much appreciated. Though it seemed that the drainage system could use some work, as the showers continually backed pretty far up. Thank goodness for shower shoes!
The campground employee was incredibly talkative and a little nosy but we didn't mind it so much sense we are generally well behaved campers.
Our site was spacious and we enjoyed having a lean-to for some shade. It easily accommodated two vehicles, two canoes, three dogs and four humans. Firewood and ice are readily available. Be prepared to drive a fair distance down gravel roads to get there.
There are a few hiking trails available in the park as well as several public access points to the lake. There is also a small swimming area/beach.
Legend
This is another beautiful site along the CT River Paddler's Trail. It is well maintained and tucked on a knoll in a pine forest. There is a picnic table, fire ring and composting toilet box seat. The takeout is easy to miss if you aren't looking as it sits right in the bend of the river. There is a set of wooden steps that go down into the water at a relatively steep angle. Be sure you tie your boat up while unloading as there is a fair amount of current sweeping around the bend. Use caution moving up and down the steps.
There is a flat area at the top of the steps where you can tie up your boat for the evening. Follow the path along an electric fence (be careful if you have dogs with you) up into the campsite. There you will find a nice shady spot with plenty of flat space for tents. Beware the ticks! They weren't the worse I've seen, but they are definitely around.
Aside from the tricky loading and unloading on the water, this site is pretty dang perfect!
Legend
While reservations are not required, there is a registration page on the CT River Paddler's Trail Website that they ask folx to complete just so spots don't get overcrowded.
There are several sites available here and a really nice rocky beach with easy access fo loading and unloading. It's also a nice spot to fish from. There is a site perched high on the hill where there is a picnic table and fire ring. There is also a spot lower down that is nice and flat and probably better spots for tents. We did have an ATV almost run over us at 1:00 a.m. that scared the dickens out of us. They were clearly unaware and intoxicated, it was a scary moment. But aside from that, it's a wonderful site. If you walk through the campsite, there is a massive cornfield, just beware that the ticks in the field are insane! They weren't bad in the campsite but in the grass, they were epic. There's nice shade available as well.
Legend
We started a multi day canoeing trip from this spot. While close to the road, it's not highly trafficked and the road noise is almost non-existent which was a nice surprise. The riverbank is a great spot to fish from and enjoy the afternoon sun. The top site is well maintained and the lower site could use a little work. Sadly there is no picnic table at the top spot but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. While we saw other folx on the river, we were the only ones in the camping area. Nice vault toilet also available.
Legend
As we got about a mile from the campground we had a moose walk out in the street in front of us. It looked at us for a few minutes and took off. That was a great sign. We were there for 14 nights over the 4th of July. We were in site 42 which has a waterview. You can kayak right from your campsite. It's a little tight trying to back in, yet the site itself is big. We had water & electric and there is a dump station onsite. Our site was shaded and private. They sell ice & firewood there along with a small store with a few supplies. We had a great sunset view and then the lighting bugs come out. The bullfrogs would sing and the Loons are nice to hear & see.
The staff and volunteers were amazing, helpful and you can tell they love their jobs.
There are some waterfront sites near the swim beach too some do not have any shade.
Site 1D is right on the water and has a little shade. Site 1 C next to 1 D isn't bad either. Site 41 is nice yet it's more for a tent camper. Site 43 backs up to the boat house so you don't have water access yet it's a big shaded site.
They have primitive sites you can boat to or you can hire the park to take you back & forth. I believe some are as far as 12 miles from the park. They have these metal boats that the front end drops down you can walk stuff right on & off the boat. There are side bar kayak/canoe carriers too so you can take your kayak with you. The park also rents kayaks & canoes.
We really enjoyed sitting on our chairs in the water at our site watching the boat take people out.
There is a nice bath house and laundry room. There are some cabins too.
When you leave the park and go left your in Maine within a few miles. There is a little store called Upton's that has some food, beer & wine, water and items for sale along with they do lunches and breakfast sandwiches. We bought some chicken salad, potato salad and fresh carrot cake cupcakes from there it was good. If you pass the store you will come to Grafton Notch state park. There are some overlooks and hiking trails. Screw Auger falls was nice and the beautiful wildflowers were in full bloom.
When you leave the park and turn right toward Errol there is a small grocery store that was just opening they had some groceries and Liquor. There is large outfitter/grocery/ Ace hardware store and a gas station. It was packed. We needed propane so Ace filled our tank. The outfitter store sells hunting/fishing permits and any sporting good item you can think of. There are a few little stores to shop for a souvenir.
Before you get to Errol you can take a right onto route 16 and drive to rangeley Maine. What a cute town with shops and good places to eat. There was a fresh market on wednesdays and a fresh seafood truck that sold good seafood from the truck. We bought native scallops, Salmon & shrimp and made a excellent dinner. The first 7 miles of 16 were a little rough yet once you hit the border of Main it's all new paved road. We ate at Parkside & main. Had a lobster roll of coarse and the clam chowder was the best. On the way back to camp we got some farm fresh eggs for $3.00 a dozen. There is an IGA grocery store there too.
We really enjoyed just sitting in our chairs in the water at our site and chilling. There were a lot of baby ducks that would visit everyday. They would swim around us & between us while we sat in the water. Very peaceful and quiet.
On the 4th of July someone had some great fireworks and put on a good show. We loved this campground it was a beautiful place to spend time.
Guide
Wooded sites, some a bit less private than others. Beach for swimming / paddling. Lean to options. There were some larger groups while there. Staff very helpful.
Scout
We booked a no-hookup site by the river for a week long stay with our travel trailer. The grounds were extremely well kept and the showers and main restrooms were the cleanest I have seen. Our site was in an open grassy area that was visible from the road with great views of the river. Though the site was open, the camp sites are spaced far enough apart that we still felt that we were camping privately. The river is clean with a solid though slightly rocky bottom and a moderate current that is suited for wading if that is your thing and excellent for tubing. Fly fishing only is permitted is you obtain the permit. ATT and Verizon both provided cell phone service at our site but data service was not useful on either. The campground does have drinking water and a dump station on site as well as sites with power hookups. Firewood was available for the going rate and each site had a firepit and grate which we found to be very clean and well kept. The host was very friendly and accommodating to us and was able to drop us off upriver so we could drift downstream to our campsite on our tubes. Overall this campground provided an amazing experience that we would not hesitate to repeat.
Traveler
Our stay at Moose River Campground was so nice and peaceful. Our site was pristine and backed by the river. Extremely clean and well kept Campground. The owners are wonderful and very friendly. We would be thrilled to go back.
Guide
I really liked the campground but I was upset that they didn’t say anything about flood damage to their beach . It’s a beautiful spot and the area is great but the beach and boat dock are gone so you need to rent a boat to go swimming.
Traveler
Just beautiful, love the river and lake, super clean, nice hosts. 6 miles from Canada and trails.
Scout
The pictures and website is a fraud. The amenities are non-existent. The mini golf and waterslide are closed and have been for years. They are in total disrepair. The adult pool was closed and green with algae. The kid pool, 3 feet deep with no railing on the steps, was closed on Saturday but finally opened on Sunday. I almost fell walking down the steps. Kids are allowed to go to the pool unsupervised because"their mom works there". They are out of control with their diving and jumping in continuously to make the biggest splash that you can't enjoy the pool at all. People were complaining because their sight was not mowed when they arrived. We saw numerous electrical boxes hanging and hazardous on numerous sights. You had to pay for wifi and it was still spotty. The restrooms/showers were so disgusting that I refused to use them. Many of the bathrooms did not even have toilet paper in them. Water was running down the walls and everything was wet including the toilet paper which made it impossible to get any if you tried. I was told by area businesses that the owner just doesn't care any more and doesn't want to fix anything. His son has no interest in taking over the business so all the owner is doing is collecting money. The workers make excuses saying"there was a group the week before that destroyed things and broke windows" but that is all a lie. The fact is that this place became uninhabitable about 10 years ago and that is why the owner does not allow the city to inspect it. If the city came in they would shut them down as unsafe and hazardous to your health. I will never go here again as there are so many other beautiful camping areas around there that don't falsely advertise and mislead the public. Do yourself a favor and do not stay here. It wouldn't be worth it if it was free.
ScoutSpent 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.
Scout
All about the family, from the owners to the guests family friendly first
ScoutI enjoyed reading your article about the benefits of camping for mental health. It's great to see how getting outside and connecting with nature can have such a positive impact on our well-being. While camping can be a great way to support our mental health, it's also important to recognize when we need additional support. That's where resources like online therapy service Calmerry come in. Calmerry is an online therapy platform that provides access to licensed therapists for those who may have limited access to traditional therapy services or who prefer the comfort and privacy of their own home. They offer individual, couples, and family therapy, as well as specialized therapy for specific issues like anxiety, depression, and trauma. In addition to seeking therapy, there are many other things we can do to support our mental health while camping. Taking time to unplug and disconnect from technology can be incredibly beneficial, as can practicing mindfulness, getting enough sleep, and engaging in physical activity like hiking or yoga. Thank you for highlighting the connection between art, nature, and mental health, and for providing valuable insights and resources for those who may be struggling. If you or someone you know is in need of additional support, I encourage you to consider seeking help from a mental health professional, like those available through Calmerry's online therapy platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Norton, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Norton, VT is Brighton State Park Campground with a 4.9-star rating from 12 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 69 dog-friendly camping locations near Norton, VT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
