After years of deterioration at some sites, crews last year worked to make significant improvements at several campsites and surrounding trails along Maine’s historic Allagash Wilderness Waterway.
“We learned from site visits that folks were starting to skip over certain locations because campsites were in varying states of disrepair, and because many of the trails were heavily eroded and muddy,” said Nick Hall, the assistant trail director for the Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT). “Fortunately, we were able to make big improvements across the board and we hope outdoor enthusiasts will take advantage.”
The work was led by the NFCT’s Allagash stewardship crew, with support from the Maine Conservation Corps, the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Maine chapter, community volunteers and the Allagash Wilderness Waterway.
The Allagash Wilderness Waterway is a 92-mile paddling route through remote, pristine wilderness in northern Maine. Considered one of the country’s premier paddling routes, it was established in 1966 by the Maine state legislature, and in 1970 it was designated the first state-administered component of the National Wild and Scenic River System by the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Crews tackled projects along the waterway at the East Twin Brook campsite along the Allagash River, and a series of campsites on Chamberlain Lake. The work focused on improving tenting pads and existing access paths.
The biggest project took place at Gravel Beach, where crews worked to expand accessibility for users with mobility issues and physical limitations.
A new, ADA-compliant privy was installed, complete with a 20-foot inclined ramp to a lifted platform, hand rails, and extra interior space. The NFCT collaborated with Enock Glidden of Outdoor Access Solutions on the project, who helped make sure it met accessibility standards.
“The Allagash long seemed like an unreachable destination based on the local lore I grew up with in Patten,” Glidden said. “As someone who thrives on overcoming challenges, I saw this project as a vital opportunity to show the disability community that the waterway is a place for them to enjoy.”
Crews also removed roots and rocks at Gravel Beach to make moving around the site easier, and refurbished tent pads.
At East Twin Brook, crews installed a new bench cut trail leading from the river access to the camping area. The old trail had eroded to the point where it was often muddy and unsafe, so users began creating their own herd paths, which makes erosion worse over time. The new trail provides safe footing and better drainage.
A new privy trail was also added. Formerly, users had to walk through other campsites to get to the privy. The new trail creates more privacy. Additionally, new tent pads were created on level ground and with improved drainage.
Other work completed included the construction of two sets of stone steps at the Boy Scout Campsite to ease access to campsites from the lake. Both older stairways were constructed with timber and had rotted significantly. Additionally, the steps themselves were built too high, making them difficult to use when hauling gear or for those with mobility issues.
Elsewhere, crews used mulch and topsoil to stabilize eroding banks at the Boy Scout Campsite and installed new tent pads and privy trails.
Two more sets of stone steps were constructed at the High Bank campsite, making steep ascents from the water easier for paddlers. Workers also built new retaining walls at several locations, helping to stabilize banks and prevent erosion. Tent pads were also added to the High Bank campsite, and the crew made minor improvements to an existing privy trail.
“This was the toughest project of the summer,” said Hall. “The steep steps made things difficult, and the more steps we installed, the higher up we had to move these heavy rocks. And removing the old timber steps meant getting rebar and tarp out.”
At the Murphy’s Field campsite, the NFCT crew worked alongside the Maine Conservation Corps to install new tent pads, using deadfall to create cribbed pads that visually fit the campsite’s aesthetic.
Although crews made many improvements along the waterway in 2025, Mark Deroche, superintendent of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, said more work is planned in the future.
“The water trail expertise and exceptional efforts of the NFCT crews and their partners have greatly improved the quality of our popular remote campsites,” said Deroche. “Our goal is to continue this important work until we have upgraded every campsite and access point so future generations are able to enjoy and marvel at the beauty of one of our nation’s premiere wilderness waterways.”
