For those who enjoy exploring woods and parks when there’s a chill in the air, snow on the ground, and no crowds to be found, the season for winter camping is on the horizon.
In Maine, winter camping will be available at select state parks and public lands beginning on December 15.
Officials with the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands recommend that anyone new to winter camping should start by camping at a Maine State Park.
They say the state’s parks provide the challenge of winter camping and offer a good range of front country and remote sites to test a winter camper’s skills.
Even for the experienced, it is good to start the season off with an easily accessible location as a test run before heading out to more challenging terrain.
Highly experienced winter campers, or those who will be led by a registered Maine guide, are ready for the remote settings found on Maine’s public lands.
A winter camping video from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry reviews details campers need to know about off-season and winter camping in the state.
Officials cautioned campers to be prepared for changeable weather and variable terrain, and to use caution around frozen lakes, ponds and rivers. Check out these tips for checking the safety of ice.
Being prepared is especially important when winter camping on Maine’s public lands. Winter camping experience and self-sufficiency is a must. Those seeking more information about camping on public lands are encouraged to call the Public Lands Region office that corresponds to their destinations. For contact info, check out this map featuring public lands regions and contacts.
Remote campsites at state parks are almost exclusively first-come, first-serve; reservations are not generally possible. Sites at most parks often have a rustic picnic table, access to a pit toilet, and fire ring.
Winter camping at Maine state parks is primitive tent camping only, and is available from December 15 to March 15. Sites and trails are not cleared, and sites have no water or amenities.
Maine state parks that allow winter camping include:
- Bradbury Mountain State Park, Pownal – (207) 688-4712 Conditions
- Walk-in access as well as ski and snowshoe.
- Camden Hills State Park, Camden – (207) 236-0849 Conditions
- Megunticook Cabin (PDF 281KB)—reservation required. Call park.
- Lake St. George State Park, Liberty – (207) 589-4255 Conditions
- Lily Bay State Park, Greenville – (207) 695-2700 Conditions
- Mount Blue State Park, Weld – (207) 585-2261 Conditions
- Sebago Lake State Park, Casco – (207) 693-6231 Conditions
- Call ahead for availability; this is a popular camping area.
- Walk-in access as well as ski and snowshoe.
- Winter Camping is only allowed in the Group Camping area.
Besides Maine state parks and public lands, winter camping is also available at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument.
Walk-in primitive tent sites are available at Upper East Branch and Haskell Deadwater, and walk-in lean-tos are available at Grand Pitch and Lunksoos Mountain.
In the winter, people often ski or snowshoe to Grand Pitch Lean-to or Haskell and Big Spring Brook Huts.
Although all campsites and lean-tos at Katahdin Woods and Waters are available year-round, the only road that remains open to vehicle access in the winter (starting as early as the end of October) is the New River Road. Visitors are only able to drive as far as the parking area just past the north gate by vehicle before they begin their winter activities.
