Tips for Camping and Hiking in Northern & Western Maine
Campgrounds can be found in many towns in western Maine, including Canaan, Peru, Fryeburg, and Byron. In northern Maine, campgrounds are located in Millinocket, Houlton, and Greenville, among other towns. Many, but not all, have websites where you can find additional information.
When camping, you should be sure to come prepared with the necessary supplies and equipment. As temperatures can dip into the 40s (fahrenheit) at night even during the summer, it is best to bring warm enough clothing and/or bedding. Thunderstorms are fairly common in Maine, so raincoats and a waterproof tent cover should be brought as well.
There are a number of mountains in Maine where hiking is possible, and you might be able to hike to the summit of a mountain and return to the base during the day, then go to a campground in the evening. Useful items to bring for mountain hiking include a water canteen or bottle, backpack, and shoes or boots with tread in good condition. If you decide to bring a pocket radio, compact binoculars, or a camera, you may want to bring an inexpensive unit which will not be very expensive to replace if accidentally broken. Depending upon the weather and season, it may be important to bring insect repellant spray or sunscreen.
One mountain to consider hiking is Tumbledown Mountain, located in western Maine near Mt. Blue State Park. It is a challenging hike, but has a rather large pond and some small streams near the summit. With appropriate clothing, you can go swimming in it, and some people have been seen fishing there as well. It is also possible to wade in the cold streams. You will definitely want to bring some food and drinks if you hike up this mountain, as it will take a substantial amount of time. Mt. Blue State Park, which is located in the town of Weld, has a campground you can use after the hike.
If you have a cell phone, service will probably be unavailable in some of the less-populated parts of western and northern Maine. You might want to bring quarters and/or a calling card to use if you need to make a call while camping or travelling through these areas.
Some lakeside campgrounds in Maine offer boat rentals, sometimes including canoes, kayaks, and/or small motorboats. Maine state law requires children under the age of 10 to wear lifevests while boating. Be sure to bring a watch or other portable timepiece, as some boat rentals last for a specific number of hours. Bring a waterproof camera (or one which has a waterproof case) so that it won’t be harmed if splashed, especially if you are using oars. There are likely to be opportunities to photograph pleasant scenery, aquatic birds, turtles, and other wildlife.
Following these tips should help you make your hiking and camping in western or northern Maine more enjoyable and problem-free.
