Cabin in the mountains....roaring fireplace....dog sledding adventure.... (Millinocket: vacation home, camps)

[Elcarim]

my idea of the perfect anniversary weekend! Our anniversary is in December, but the month is always so busy for us with two kids' birthdays and Christmas, etc. that we've been trying to take a weekend to celebrate AWAY from the holidays in recent years. I'd like to get back to celebrating our anniversary during the season in which we met and subsequently married. Our honeymoon was spent in a snow covered cabin in the Smokey Mountains. It was magical! I hadn't discovered Maine at that time, so sorry guys! I missed it!!

We've wanted for some time now to enjoy a dog sledding weekend high up in the mountains when we get moved and settled, so I'm thinking about making that our next anniversary trip. How late in the season can you sled? Have you ever been? If so, what is your favorite place to visit - in Maine, of course!

[Northern Maine Land Man]

I was the first ever Maine guide to guide with a sled dog team. There are several now. I took Don Hibbs on his first outing ever with sled dogs. Now he's a guide and his lodge is on Nahmakanta Lake. (Maps 42 and 50 in the DeLorme Atlas.) Look what I started:

Maine Dog Sledding Adventures; Nahmakanta Lake Camps; Millinocket, Maine

There are others, but in my opinion, none better.

[Bydand]

Second that NMLM. Didn't know you were the first, but have heard nothing but GREAT reports back from those who have gone out from Nahmakanta Lakes. Added bonus is that it is a very pretty lake and setting.

[lrfox]

I've never done it, but my family has a place in Bethel which is beautiful and they do dog sledding there ( Welcome to New England Dogsledding and Mahoosuc Guide Service. Master Maine Guides. Canoe, Cultural and Dogsledding Trips. ). It can get a bit touristy at Sunday River and in the village, but If you stay in Newry, Albany, Greenwood, Lockes Mills, or another town close-by you can get pretty remote. Bethel's still beautiful even with the tourists It's a short drive from the White Mountains of New Hampshire, which I know aren't in Maine but they're absolutely stunning. Also, Grafton Notch is pretty. If you could find a cabin around there, you'd probably enjoy it.

I've never been dogsledding, but I've snowmobiled on some of the trails used by the sleds and they're stunning. I think you can sled into March (maybe April further north), as i know you can still snowmobile then, but it really depends on the accumulation of snow which obviously differs from year to year.

My girlfriend's family has a vacation home up near Sugarloaf in Kingfield which is beautiful too. There is dogsledding around there, though I don't know the name of any outfitters who offer it.

I would assume the area around Baxter State Park is the most remote of the Mountainous areas, and it's absolutely beautiful. I've only been twice so I can't offer a ton of info, but I'm sure others can.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

I asked many years ago if I could run a sled dog team through Baxter. They were horrified at the thought.

[Elcarim]

Oh wow! That's really cool, NMLM! That place looks perfect, too! The meal/lodging packages are very reasonable.

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man

I asked many years ago if I could run a sled dog team through Baxter. They were horrified at the thought.

Really? that's a shame. I'd bet that would be absolutely stunning. What was the reasoning behind them saying no?

[Maineah]

I have a friend who books a week at Nahmakanta every spring for fishing.
He loves the place and says the food is excellent too. I guess they don't do much with hunting though.

[AliceT]

Having sled dogs appeals to me.

[Skiah]

Originally Posted by lrfox

Really? that's a shame. I'd bet that would be absolutely stunning. What was the reasoning behind them saying no?

You can't bring dogs in to Baxter. It's a wildlife sanctuary.