Living in the Northeast and looking for a little adventure without getting on a plane? Look into booking a stay at remote a cabin in the heart of a 100 mile wilderness area in north-central Maine…its closed this winter due to COVID but this place is too special not share and start making plans. Little Lyford Lodge & Cabins has been operating for over 140 years, first as a logging camp and now as a sporting camp and operates on the largest contiguous forest in the United States (10.4 million acres). Its a four season operation but obviously we are most interested in their off-grid but comfortable winter retreat options. Not sure if there’s elevation worthy of bringing your touring setup but cross-country opportunities are abundant as well as snowshoeing and fat-tire biking. Place looks badass. LEARN MORE HERE.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Rooms

Little Lyford Lodge & Cabins offers a spectacular location “off the grid” on 66,000 acres of forestland permanently conserved by AMC. The lodge is drive-in during the summer and fall, and accessible by ski, snowshoe, or dogsled in winter.

Accommodations include ten private cabins sleeping 1-5 guests, with a combination of double, queen and bunk beds. Each single room cabin has a porch, woodstove, and gas lamps for year-round use, as well as cold running water in during the summer and fall. Guests bring their own sleeping bags or linens; blankets and pillows are provided.

The Lyford bunkhouse can accommodate 14 guests in bunkbeds in a room with gas lights, wood stove and screened-in porch. Guests bring their own sleeping bags or linens; blankets and pillows are provided.

The central bathhouse, conveniently located near the main lodge, has composting toilets and hot showers year-round. A co-ed wood-heated sauna is located at the bathhouse and is available in the wintertime.

Little Lyford welcomes well-behaved dogs. The to stay in their owners’ cabin for a $10/night fee (fee excludes service dogs). Maximum of 2 dogs per cabin.

Check in/out

Check in: 3:00pm

Check out: 11:00am

Accessibility

Little Lyford Lodge offers one ADA accessible cabin in addition to the bathhouse, sauna and main lodge. There are grassy and hardened gravel paths throughout camp.

Meal Service

Dinner, breakfast and a trail lunch are included in your nightly rate. Coffee, tea and cocoa are available throughout the day. You may wish to bring your own snack items. Guests are permitted to bring their own beer and wine to enjoy with dinner.

Breakfast: Served family-style at 8:00 AM sharp

Lunch: Made-to-order trail lunches are available at breakfast

Dinner: Served family-style at 6:00 PM sharp; includes soup, salad, entrée, and dessert

Please notify AMC Reservations if you have food allergies or any other dietary needs.

Other Features

Guests can enjoy our comfortable lodge with fireplace and deck year-round. Our friendly staff is always available to assist you with trip planning, weather reports, and trail information.

In summer, complimentary canoes and kayaks are available for guest use at nearby Little Lyford Ponds and at several remote ponds, accessible by car.

Fly fishing instruction is available by prior arrangement and fly rods with reels are available to rent at the lodge. Please request when making your reservation.

In winter, enjoy complimentary use of snowshoes and ski from your cabin door onto our extensive groomed trail network. Ski to Gulf Hagas, the Appalachian Trail, or over to Gorman Chairback Lodge. Located a day’s ski or snowshoe apart, ski lodge to lodge from Medawisla to West Branch Pond Camp to Little Lyford to Gorman Chairback. A shuttle service is available so that your car is waiting for you at the end of your trip. The lodge-to-lodge trail network is groomed and offers full day adventures replete with magnificent views and moose tracks. A gear shuttle is available to bring your gear into/out of the lodge as well as for those skiing lodge-to-lodge.

Getting There

The lodge is located in the KI Jo-Mary Forest which is a multi-use forest which owned by a consortium of landowners. The roads are gated and from May through October. Access is managed and fees collected by North Maine Woods. Access through the checkpoints (Hedgehog and Katahdin Ironworks) is limited to hours of operation (6 AM to 9 PM) and is strictly enforced. Please check the North Maine Woods website additional information.

Access fees are included in Gorman Chairback and Little Lyford lodging rates. Please bring a copy of your AMC reservation confirmation letter to show at the gatehouse.

Vehicle types (RV sizes and types, motorcycles, etc.) are restricted or prohibited. Click here for KI Jo-Mary Rules and Regulations.

Driving directions.

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.

Pets

Dogs are welcome year-round at Little Lyford in many of the cabins. There is an additional fee per dog per night, and a maximum of two dogs per cabin.

Please notify the Contact Service Center if you plan to bring your dog.