Dead River Public Reserved Land

When newly commissioned colonel Benedict Arnold plotted the route for an invasion of Canada in 1775, he used central Maine’s Dead River. Today, however, the only invaders to this popular river region are whitewater rafters, canoers and kayakers. Comprised of several miles of shore along Flagstaff Lake and the first miles of the Dead River as it leaves the lake, Dead River Public Reserved Land encompasses more than 4,700 acres. Year-round activities range from camping, fishing, boating, swimming, canoeing, and horseback riding to snowmobiling, off-road biking, and even ATV riding. In fact, for those seeking Maine ATV trails, Dead River is the place to come; there are a plethora of trails to explore.

Whatever your favorite outdoor activity, Dead River Public Reserved Land provides a spot to set up camp and kick back after the day’s excitement. The lake campsites are accessible by boat only, but the Big Eddy campground on the river welcomes all comers. With fishing so popular, there’s no question what most visitors will be grilling come suppertime.

Situated several miles northeast of the 35,000-acre Bigelow Preserve (through which passes a stretch of the Appalachian Trail), this public land is overseen by the Bigelow Mountain Range, so the Dead River area offers spectacular scenery as well as endless outdoor fun. Whether you’re packing snowshoes, paddles, or ATV helmet, don’t forget to tuck in the camera, too.

Latitude: 45.233
Longitude: -70.198