Fodor's Expert Review Appalachian Mountain Club Maine Wilderness Lodges
North Woods outside Greenville, Maine, USA Fodor's Choice
In Maine's 100-Mile Wilderness, the Appalachian Mountain Club's 100,000-plus acres includes three historic sporting-camp retreats, each with a woodsy main lodge with a fireplace, sitting area with games and books, and long tables where meals (included in rates) are served family-style. Each retreat has cabins with wood stoves, a bunkhouse (or two), sauna, and a bathhouse with hot showers. Moose are abundant, and hiking, fly-fishing, canoeing, kayaking, standup paddleboarding, biking (mountain, gravel, and fat-tire), birding, trail running, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing are excellent. Naturalist programs are offered periodically in the summer. In winter, about 80 miles of trails—part of AMC's free, public 130-mile interconnected trail system—are groomed. Many guests ski, snowshoe, or fat-tire bike from lodge to lodge.
PROS
- courtesy canoes (some on outlying ponds), kayaks, and standup paddleboards (no boards at Little Lyford)
- Little Lyford and Gorman Chairback are near Gulf Hagas
- Medawisla has some self-service cabins (otherwise lodge rates include meals)
CONS
- winter access only by cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, or snowmobile transport (fee) at Little Lyford and Gorman Chairback, but gear is transported for you
- no waterfront cabins at Little Lyford
- no courtesy bikes
QUICK FACTS
HOTEL INFO
HOTEL DETAILS
Rate Includes: Gorman Chairback and Medawisla closed early March–late June and mid-Oct.–mid-Jan.; Little Lyford closed early March–mid-May and mid-Oct.–mid-Jan., All-Inclusive