Pre-trip: Medawisla Lodge & Cabins
While you'll spend the first night at Medawisla, park your car at the Winter Parking Lot. This way, your car will be there at the end of the journey, and you won’t need to backtrack.
Our partners at Northwoods Outfitters are available to shuttle you from the Winter Parking Lot to Medawisla Lodge. Reservations for this service are required and should be made through the AMC Contact Service Center at least two weeks prior. The meeting location for car shuttles is Northwoods Outfitters in Greenville. The shuttle will follow you to the Winter Parking Lot, then drive you to Medawisla.
Now it’s time to discover what AMC hospitality is all about. Once you’ve checked in, spend some time in the lodge and enjoy a delicious dinner cooked by our staff. You’ll be offered a form to fill out with your preferences for the next day’s trail lunch.
On the walk back to your cabin, take a moment to look at the sky. AMC’s Maine Woods are a certified International Dark Sky Park, the first in New England. That means the area has world-class stargazing, and AMC takes special efforts to protect the night sky from light pollution and educate the public.
Day 1: Medawisla to Little Lyford Lodge & Cabins (17 miles)
The main path for all your travels will be the Lodge-to-Lodge trail. Beginning near Medawisla this trail connects each AMC camp. You can access the trail from Medawisla parking lot along the Emmit Brook Trail or Smithtown Road. For the final miles of the trip, the Lodge-to-Lodge Trail changes names to the Pleasant River Trail. The East Side Road is also a common option.
Note that the final 1.4 miles to Little Lyford, whether you take the Pleasant River Trail or East Side Road, are rated as “intermediate.” For a slightly longer way that’s entirely on “easy,” you can loop around the Little Lyford Ponds on the Brook Trail and Upper Valley Road.
The big mileage total may seem intimidating, but the journey is almost entirely on flat, groomed trails. The miles will fly by. If you do want to break up the trip, you can the spend the night at West Branch Pond Camps. These cabins aren’t operated by AMC but offer convenient, on-trail lodging.
Day 2: Little Lyford to Gorman Chairback Lodge & Cabins (6.5 miles)
After a big first day, you’ll have an opportunity to catch your breath and relax. Sleep in a little and enjoy breakfast at Little Lyford Lodge. When you’re ready, grab your trail lunch and strap on your skis! The most direct route from Little Lyford to Goman Chairback is via the Lodge-to-Lodge Trail. Portions of this trail are rated “Intermediate.”
Skiers in search of an additional adventure can detour to the head of Gulf Hagas, the “Grand Canyon of Maine.” In the summer, a series of waterfalls cut through this deep gorge. In the winter, frozen waters offer a whole new kind of beauty. You can see Gulf Hagas on the Head of the Gulf Trail, accessible from the Lodge-to-Lodge Trail. The Head of the Gulf Trail is ungroomed, so be sure to ask our staff about current conditions before attempting.
Day 3: Gorman Chairback Lodge to the Winter Parking Lot (6.7 miles)
- Direct route: Take the Lower Gorman Lodge Trail north and, after a short half mile on Long Pond Road, continue onto the Upper Gorman Lodge Trail. Turn left when you reach the KI Road and take that all the way to the Winter Parking Lot.
- Scenic route: This trip is slightly longer (about 8 miles) but offers extended skiing next to Long Pond. Follow the Long Pond Trail along its namesake until you reach an intersection with Long Pond Road and Trout Brook Trail. Take Trout Brook Trail to the KI Road. From there it’s a short ski to the parking lot.
