Late Winter Getaways in Maine’s Wilderness Lodges

Days are longer and the temperatures warmer, but there’s still plenty of snow on the ground in Northern Maine — perfect for family travelers looking for a late winter outdoor getaway. Maine’s wilderness lodges and cabins offer cozy bases for couples or entire families to spend a long weekend snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling or even ice fishing.

Northern Outdoors, north of Skowhegan, sits alongside the Kennebec River in the center of the state’s 14,000-mile snowmobile trail network. The main lodge features rustic rooms and even offers private cabins for families — along with an onsite pub and brewery. Guests can rent snowmobiles and take guided snowmobile tours through the Maine wilderness.

Even farther north, in Jackman, the log-built Sky Lodge sits right on snowmobile trails with access to cross-country ski and snowshoe trails on its 150 acres of wilderness lands. In addition to lodge rooms and cabins, Sky Lodge also consists of full-sized rental homes for family groups.

On Millinocket Lake near Maine’s highest mountain, Katahdin, the New England Outdoor Center offers rental cabins and access to snowmobile trails, ice fishing and cross-country skiing.

Three Appalachian Mountain Club lodges east of Moosehead Lake are favorites of people wanting to explore the winter woods on cross-country skis or snowshoes. Trails surround Gorman Chairback, Little Lyford and Medawisla lodges, and each features a common area for dining and meeting other outdoor enthusiasts. There’s no better place for winter stargazing: The region is designated as New England’s first International Dark Sky Park.