Just completed the 100 Mile Wilderness over a 12 day period with two friends who have been doing…read moretrips with me for 25 years now. Was very happy to have stumbled upon Phil's 100 Mile Wilderness for a whole host of reasons. First, Phil made it simple and easy and gave us peace of mind. Knowing we would be entering a 100 mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail with no stores or simple exit routes meant we had to be 100% on everything and Phil helped make that happen for us. It started with a stay in a private cabin so we could get a good night's sleep before getting dropped off at Able Bridge. We had hot showers, fresh towels, free sodas, and a nice tour of everything else available to us. Early the next morning, we had coffee and then was off to our drop off location. Two stop options for food, last minute items we may need and bathroom breaks were helpful. At the drop off, Phil told us he knows all the entry/exit points along the trail so if someone rolled an ankle or got sick, he's would be there to help. Just text him and he would give instructions. Only thing one needs to know is that Verizon works in most areas while AT&T worked hardly anywhere. We never needed Phil's help and completed our North to South trip without a hitch but we felt confident that had we needed help, Phil would be there for us. It gave us a comfortable feeling. Food drops were key and this was another area where Phil did a stellar job. We had a choice of one or two food drop areas. We chose two and at each, we resupplied, emptied our garbage, left unneeded items, grabbed complementary sodas and continued on our way. When we got back in town, we stayed one more night - enjoyed the clean, hot showers and a restful night in a real bed before driving home. If you want to hike the 100 Mile Wilderness, I highly recommend Phil's company. He's more than a businessman - more like a friend in Maine. The prices are very reasonable too. Remember to buy a map from Phil and have him mark it up for you with all the best (unlisted) camping spots so you don't have to get stuck in a high use area where you lose that feeling of being away from everyone. We just loved his secret spots - all with access to water.

I visited Phil's, for the first time, in May. Stayed for a couple days to do a check out hike for…read moremy upcoming trip through the 100MW. On that trip I was the only guest. Phil gave me a tour of his place and provided some valuable tips. Coffee was ready in the morning - I appreciated the company (from both Phil and Woody). Used the grill that evening and spent time reading in the "community center". I felt totally at home and had a chance to destress from life. My sister and I returned at the end of June for our hike. Cabin was ready when we arrived. Phil was as engaging as ever. He dropped us at Abol Bridge in the morning. Unfortunately my sister fell and tore her ACL on the hike. Phil provided instructions for how to get her out and even, personally hiked in to look for us. After she got off trail, he helped me plan a two day solo hike. Really awesome place! I now think of Phil as a friend. I'd highly recommend.

Had a fantastic time at Peaks Kenny with the fam in June. Small park with a nice lake. Well…read moremaintained and very attentive Park Rangers. So much so that we got a knock on our camper door only minutes past quiet hours started telling us to turn the movie we were watching down. We visited Bissell Brothers Three Rivers both days we camped, which is sadly not something we'll ever be able to do again. It was about 20 minutes up the road. We also ate at the Quarry in Monson during our stay. Very very windy roads, be careful of wildlife at night.

Lovely state park campground. Not a bad site in the place. Pick one on the outer side of the road…read morefor more privacy. Really nice shower house. Short walk to the beach at Sebec Lake where there's also a playground. We also hiked the birch mountain ledges trail in the park, which was a nice walk. Nothing too difficult but a lot of roots. Our 4yo did it with no issues. Maybe longer than the posted 2.3 miles.

My friend and I tried the evening moose tour in which you are driven to a beautiful 'pond' as they…read morecall it and get into 3 person canoes (two paddling, one in the middle) hoping to see moose. Their venue is closer to Bangor than some of the other outfitters that do this, however, the ride to get to the pond is at least an hour. You ride in a van and some of the roads are bumpy. The guide narrates a little, but I feel he could have done more. The home base is nice and they sell souvenirs, coffee, and snacks. They have a bathroom building with changing areas. There was lots of water on the ground there, so I wonder why it wasn't moped. Once you get into the van, there is no bathroom area (unless there is a porta potty that I missed. The scenery by the water was very beautiful and peaceful and even though no moose were spotted, it was still a very nice experience. The price was fair and there was always someone that answered the phone when we called to ask questions. Overall a great experience.

The van was full and the people in the last two rows were bounced around uncomfortably and were…read moreunable to see anything for four hours. The two exceptions were when the van stopped and we all got out. The only good seat was in the front passenger spot. At one point two Jeeps were behind our tour van for a long time, the guide made a comment about how they were being impatient, needed to respect the tour bus, and didn't let them pass us by pulling over. She kept them behind us for quite about 1/2 hour. When we finally spotted a moose 2.5 hours in and she pulled over, the two vehicles revved their engines and sped past, scaring the one moose we saw the entire time back into the woods. So we saw a moose running into the woods. The people at the back of the van saw it's butt... As we headed back to the tour lodge, another moose crossed the road in front of us, it took about 4 strides across the street... so, did we see moose? Technically, yes... was it what we signed up for and paid $74, and a four hour ride for? No! So their 89% moose spotting rate includes this... if you're thinking you want to see moose in water, munching away and you have an almost 90% chance that's not really an accurate take on this. Also, our tour guide Natalie was very nice, however she did not know much more than the average Joe- me... she wasn't particularly engaging and didn't have information that didn't pop up on any Google search, as a matter of fact, she didn't necessarily know info that did pop up on a google search... she did give us tasty brownies and water. I was able to capture scenery photos, no moose photos though

We stayed here in early November and it was just wonderful. Brand new cabins with everything you…read moreneed. And they couldn't be anymore trailside. Owners are the best. very accommodating and very friendly You won't be disappointed.

Here's the thing - I don't consider myself a fisherman but I do like fishing. I love being out on…read morethe water and enjoying nature. I love the feeling of that first bite and the thrill of fighting a big fish. What I don't like is the pressure that can come with some guided trips; to always catch more, bigger, better. Don't get me wrong, Megan will put you on fish and she is always up for intense, technical trips if that's what you are looking for. However, she is also up for more casual fishing and is forever patient. Under her guidance I caught my first fish on the fly and got to explore some of the prettiest country Maine has to offer. I would highly recommend booking a trip with Megan. No matter what your fishing style is, she can take you on a great adventure!

If I could give Megan Hess 10 stars I would. Her enthusiasm and skills are not be denied and a…read moreday of fishing with Megan is memorable. Can't wait for a spring trip for Bass Robin G Hudson NH

Zach with Wild Ferns Guide Service delivered an incredible Maine fishing trip friendly,…read moreknowledgeable, and fully dedicated to making it memorable. We caught our limit of landlocked salmon and even landed 18-19 inch smallmouth bass, all while learning valuable techniques and using top notch gear. Beyond the fishing, Zach went above and beyond with great food, a trip to Boon's Island, and genuine hospitality. As a veteran, I deeply appreciate his generosity and commitment this was one of the best guided trips I've ever had. He also has a badass personality. We were completely laughing 75 percent of the trip. He randomly paused got up and said " we are about to get bit I've felt this before" and he wasn't wrong from that point we were pulling in hogs 30 seconds in! My therapist suggested getting out doors into fishing and hunting because I'm up here in Maine. Fishing has completely changed my life and I want to thank Zach for being a complete badass and heck yea!

We had a great morning of Fishing on Upper Cold Stream Ponds - landed 4 good sized togue and hooked…read moreonto 4 or 5 others. Our guide Zach was easygoing and friendly and was very knowledgeable about fishing this lake. I would recommend Wild Ferns Guide Service to anyone interested in catching togue or salmon in the Lincoln Maine area!

This is such a cute little park with picnic tables overlooking the river next to the covered…read morebridge! There are three concrete picnic tables, two that are covered, and one that has a hibachi grill next to it. There are also a few parking spots, so it's a very convenient location. There are no facilities or trash cans, so it's all carry-in carry-out. We enjoyed our picnic lunch and took our dogs on a brief walk! It was great!

I feel the need to preface all of my nature reviews with this: being 90% forested and having around…read more3500 miles of coastline, Maine (and NH) has a tremendous amount of spaces, walkways, paths, and trails of all kinds and of all levels. There's something for everyone. What I'm reviewing is how a spot compares to similar outdoor spots in my personal opinion. Being in nature - and remembering to carry in, carry out - is always five stars! :) Parking? Yes (limited). Loop trail? Yes (mostly) Well marked signs? Ehhhhh... (more on that below). Element of surprise? Yes. Gulf Hagas is considered "The Grand Canyon of Maine" (and "The Grand Canyon of The East"). It's a slate gorge with waterfalls, enormous rock walls, and very deep valleys. It's towards the end of the Appalachian Trail (if you're northbound, that is) and there's a really great plaque on a rock at the beginning of the hike by ridge runner Ron Curtis: "Gulf Hagas is an unknown area to many folks, and it belongs to everyone. Everyone should see it to foster the feelings of protecting an everlasting wild place." It is absolutely breathtaking, but it is NOT an easy hike. Parts of the terrain - despite having a trail to walk on - are so wild and primitive that you really, really need to pay attention to your footing (wear sturdy shoes!!! as they say time and time again: "​​Do not underestimate the difficulty of hiking the Appalachian Trail."). When you arrive, you'll need to pay a fee at Katahdin Iron Works (they will also give you a map with points of interest, like the Hermitage and Screw Auger Falls); for two of us it was $22 - they only take checks or cash. After driving over a very small bridge, and down a rough logging road, you have two parking options. We were encouraged by the man at KIW to start at the closer one. This puts you at the West Branch of the Pleasant River - you will need to ford this. It's about 150 feet wide; the water can be deep, and rush quickly, depending on the season. When we came in early August, the water was slow and came up to around our mid-shin/bottom-knee. There were loads of walking sticks waiting for folks to use to help them cross (TAKE ONE, the rocks under the water can be slippery) and there was a ranger waiting on the other side. A pair of young women had recently gotten lost on the AT nearby, so the ranger was there to talk to us/remind us about the difficulty of the trail system ahead. We stuck to the Rim Trail, made it about 1/2 way (Buttermilk Falls) before connecting to the much easier Pleasant River Tote Road to return. If you love hiking *and* you love Maine *and* you love adventure *and* you like a challenge *and* you've got proper gear and a reliable car... this is a must do at least once in your life!

Why are there not a ton of 5 star reviews about this spot!!! It is amazingggg, I went with my…read moredaughter on a warm summer day. You do have to cross a river but it was shallow and we wore water shoes. The hike to the 1st falls was amazing we spent a lot of time there and swam. I believe it is call screw auger falls. This is a hidden gem do not miss it!