(603) 466-2727
Season Dates:
Full-Service
June 24, 2022 – October 23, 2022
January 12, 2023 – March 11, 2023
June 23, 2023 – October 14, 2023
Self-Service
June 24, 2022 – September 24, 2022
June 23, 2023 – September 23, 2023
Medawisla Lodge and Cabins offers opportunities for hiking, paddling, fly-fishing, canoe camping, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing steps away from your private cabin or bunkhouse accommodations.
Winter guests have access to more than 30 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails around the lodge, plus an additional 80 miles of lodge-to-lodge groomed trails connecting Medawisla to Gorman Chairback and Little Lyford lodge. Located a day’s ski or snowshoe apart, you can travel lodge-to-lodge from Medawisla to West Branch Pond Camp, on to Little Lyford, and finally Gorman Chairback. A shuttle service is available so that your car is waiting for you at the end of your trip and a gear shuttle transports your gear to your next lodge, providing you with the freedom to ski or snowshoe with just a day pack. Complimentary snowshoes are available for use.
For the 2023 winter season we will not be providing linens in any of the cabins or bunkhouses. Please be sure to pack a sleeping bag and/or your own sheets and linens for your stay. Be aware that cabins are heated by wood stoves, but they do get cold
Summer guests can enjoy the waterfront campfire, paddle Second Roach Pond using complimentary kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards. A central roofed pavilion offers a place to gather and a propane grill is available for those taking the self-service option. Bunkhouse beds include a pillow with case and wool blankets. Bunkhouse guests should bring a sleeping bag or linens, and a bath towel.
Cancellation Policies
Learn more about AMC’s cancellation policies for lodging and programs.
Meal Service
Dinner, breakfast, and a trail lunch are included in full-service nightly rates. Beer and wine are available for purchase. For guests taking the self-service option, individual meals may be purchased at the lodge. Breakfast is served family-style at 8 a.m. sharp. Made-to-order trail lunches are available at breakfast.
Dinner is served at 6 p.m. sharp and includes soup or salad, entrée, and dessert. Meals are available “to go” to enjoy at one’s cabin or outside. Please notify AMC Contact Service Center if you have food allergies or other dietary needs.
Self-Service
A self-service option is available Spring through mid-September in the cabins and waterfront bunkhouse that share a central bathhouse. Cabins/bunkhouse include a two burner stove, dorm-style fridge, utensils and service ware. All share a central bathhouse with composting toilets and hot showers. The waterfront roofed pavilion offers a place to gather and has a propane grill available to guests. Individual meals may be purchased upon arrival. All guests are welcome to enjoy the camp’s amenities.
Getting Here
The lodge is accessible by car year-round. Satellite signal and cell phone reception are typically weak and unreliable in the Maine Woods, so we recommend that you do not rely on GPS navigation devices to direct you to the lodge. Download and print our detailed instructions to Medawisla Lodge and Cabins. Roads are gravel and are active logging roads. Logging vehicles have the right of way. Conditions can be rough and low clearance vehicles are not recommended. All wheel drive is recommended during wet, snowy, or icy conditions.
Driving Directions
Download and print our detailed instructions to Medawisla Lodge and Cabins. You can also stop by our Greenville office at 166 Moosehead Lake Rd, Greenville, ME 04441.
The access roads to AMC’s Maine Wilderness Lodges are dirt logging roads subject to the impacts of wet weather conditions, particularly during early spring and late fall. Please note that until road grading occurs in these regions, conditions are rough and may not be passable in cars with low ground clearance. For up-to-date information, please contact AMC Contact Service Center 603-466-2727.
Please note that the access roads are not paved and are subject to washouts and potholes. Roads may not be passable by cars with low clearance. Please limit your speed to 25 mph, and yield to logging trucks. There is no fuel available once you leave the state highways. Call in advance for road conditions during spring, fall, or when storms are expected. Please allow 6.5 hours driving time if driving from the Boston area, 9.5 hours from the greater NYC area.
Driving Distances & Approximate Winter Drive Times
From Greenville, Maine to AMC Winter Parking Lot – 11 miles, 35 minutes
From Greenville, Maine to West Branch Pond Camps – 28 miles, 1 hour 10 minutes
From Greenville, Maine to Medawisla – 27 miles, 1 hour
From AMC Winter Parking Lot to West Branch Pond Camps – 39 miles, 1 hour 45 minutes AMC Winter Parking Lot to Medawisla – 37 miles, 1 hour 45 minutes
Ski/Snowshoe Distances Between Lodges
Trail conditions are also posted at the trailhead and free paper maps are available. All trails include hills and corners and include varied terrain and conditions and are labeled on the maps as Easy, Intermediate, or Difficult.
Medawisla to West Branch Pond Camps: Lake Trail to Long Ridge Road–8.8 miles; Emmit Brook Trail to Long Ridge Rd–8.2 miles
Medawisla to Little Lyford Pond Lodge & Cabins: Long Ridge Rd to East Side Trail–17.2 miles
A People Shuttle is available ($) part way for those wanting to ski 8-11 miles to Little Lyford Pond Lodge & Cabins but not have to ski the full 17 miles. Call AMC Contact Service Center. Reservations required.
West Branch Pond Camps to Little Lyford Pond Lodge & Cabins: Pleasant River Trail–8.5 miles; East Side Trail–11 miles
From Little Lyford Pond Lodge & Cabins to Gorman Chairback Lodge & Cabins: Lodge to Lodge Trail–6.5 miles; Upper Valley Rd to Deadwater Trail (by warming yurt) to Long Pond Road to Gorman Lodge Trail–7 miles; Upper Valley Rd to KI Road to Gorman Lodge Trail–7.5 miles
Accessibility
Two cabins are ADA accessible. One deluxe cabin has a private bath with shower, propane “wood stove”, and electricity and has meal service included. One cabin has a propane “wood stove”, electricity, shares a central bathhouse and has self service option (seasonal). Cabins are a short walk from the parking area. We are available to help with luggage. Both bunkhouses are ADA accessible and one bunkhouse has a self-service option. The main lodge, dining hall, central bathhouse, and meeting space are ADA accessible. Hardened gravel paths run throughout camp.
Nearby Trails
Shaw Mountain (Easy to Moderate): Even at 6 miles round trip, this hike is relatively flat until you start climbing Shaw Mountain Trail. Start at Medawisla Lodge and take the Emmet brook Trail, a 1.6-mile trail that is suitable for hiking or snowshoeing or cross-country skiing in winter. At the end of the trail, turn right onto Shaw Mountain Cutoff and continue for another 0.4 mile. You can access two of the three summits of Shaw Mountain via the Shaw Mountain Trail in summer as well as in winter with snowshoes. You can also explore Shaw Mountain by cross-country skis in winter on the groomed 1.7-mile (2.7-kilometer Skyline Trail.
North Four and Baker Mountains (Strenuous): This newer trail on the western edge of AMC’s Maine Woods Initiative conservation and recreation land provides views of the surrounding mountains and lakes, as well as glimpses of Katahdin in the distance. Start at the trailhead for Number Four Mountain Trail, following blue blazes as the terrain evolves from relatively flat to steeper grades. At 1.9 miles, you will reach the summit of North Four Mountain—either turn back and retrace your steps or continue on Baker Mountain Trail for an additional 4.8 miles to the summit of Baker Mountain, then turn back and return the way you came.
Site & Trail Maps
Weather
The right clothing and gear are essential in the unpredictable weather of the Northeast’s mountains. Even if it feels like summer in the valleys, it can be cold and winter-like on the high peaks. Be prepared for severe weather regardless of season, dress in layers (including synthetic or wool base and insulating layers, and a windproof/waterproof outer shell), eat high energy foods, and stay hydrated.
Meeting Space & Events
Meeting space accommodating up to 46 people is available in the lower level of the main lodge. AV equipment is available for use. The bright sunny space has a view of the lake and ideal for a business retreat or morning yoga.
Our Commitment to Sustainable Operations
AMC has a long-standing commitment to using its huts, lodges, and sporting camps as models for sustainable operations and environmental stewardship. At Medawisla we have solar panels and a Clivus composting toilet system and offer green tours to teach guest about these practices. We also provide locally sourced meat and compost our food waste.