Sabao Lake Campground

For Mainers who long for a truly authentic, back-to-nature camping experience, where the sounds of loons replace city noise and the vastness of the forest surrounds you, Sabao Lake Campground in Cherryfield offers an ideal retreat. Situated on the serene Lower Sabao Lake, this campground embodies the rugged beauty and tranquility that makes Maine's wilderness so unique. It’s a place where you can genuinely unplug, enjoy the simple pleasures of the outdoors, and create lasting memories by the water or around a crackling campfire.

Sabao Lake Campground is part of the Downeast Wilderness Experience, focusing on providing a rustic yet rewarding camping adventure. It’s designed for those who appreciate natural settings over extensive amenities, offering a chance to truly immerse oneself in the Maine landscape. With opportunities for swimming, boating, and excellent fishing, it’s a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. The campground's location on a peninsula, where the West Branch of the Machias River leaves Lower Sabao Lake, offers a unique and picturesque setting, complete with a beautiful wrap-around sand beach that is particularly gentle for small children, as the water progressively deepens.

While the charm of Sabao Lake Campground lies in its wild character, it's worth noting that its rustic nature means some aspects are more rugged than a highly developed resort. Past visitors highlight the natural growth on access roads and the typical presence of dead limbs from towering pine trees, a common characteristic of deep woods camping. Reviews also indicate that the atmosphere can vary, and while traditionally a family campground, visitors should be prepared for a less strict enforcement of rules compared to more commercial sites. However, for those who prioritize the sheer natural beauty, excellent fishing, swimming, and ATV riding opportunities, Sabao Lake remains a cherished spot for experiencing Maine "the way it used to be."

Location and Accessibility

Sabao Lake Campground is nestled deep within the natural beauty of Downeast Maine, located on an Unnamed Road in Cherryfield, ME 04622, USA. This placement puts it squarely in Township 35, Hancock County, making it a remote yet accessible gem for those with a spirit of adventure. Lower Sabao Lake itself covers 755 acres, providing ample space for water-based activities and a sense of expansive wilderness.

Accessing Sabao Lake Campground involves navigating dirt and gravel roads, which are characteristic of many remote Maine camping destinations. These roads, while providing a true wilderness feel, can be rough in spots, with potential potholes and washouts. For those towing campers or RVs, caution is advised due to overgrown trees and limbs that may scrape the sides of larger vehicles. This adds to the adventure and ensures that the campground maintains its secluded atmosphere, deterring casual visitors and preserving the peaceful environment for those who truly seek it. Being part of the Sunrise Trail System, the campground also offers extensive access for ATV and mountain bike riding, connecting it to over 800 miles of approved trails, opening up vast areas for exploration and day trips to nearby natural wonders.

Services Offered

• 20 Campsites: Sabao Lake Campground offers a total of 20 campsites, providing a relatively intimate camping experience compared to larger commercial campgrounds. These sites are a mix of waterfront locations and those nestled deeper into the woods.
• Tent and RV Sites: The campground accommodates both tent and RV camping. However, it's important to note that these are rustic sites, and full hook-ups for electricity or water are generally not available directly at each site, aligning with a more traditional, off-grid camping experience.
• Outhouses: Basic restroom facilities are provided in the form of outhouses, fitting the remote and rugged nature of the campground.
• Fire Rings and Picnic Tables: Each campsite is equipped with a fire ring for campfires and cooking, along with a picnic table for outdoor dining and gathering.
• Boat Launch: A convenient boat launch is available at the campsite, allowing for easy access to Lower Sabao Lake for boating, canoeing, and kayaking.
• ATV Trail Access: Directly located on the Sunrise Trail System, offering extensive opportunities for ATV and mountain bike riding on over 800 miles of approved trails.
• No Drinking Water: Visitors should be aware that potable drinking water is not provided at the campsite, so campers must bring their own supply.

Features / Highlights

• Beautiful Wrap-Around Sand Beach: A significant highlight of Sabao Lake Campground is its expansive and beautiful sand beach. This feature is particularly excellent for swimming, with a gentle grade into the water, making it safe and enjoyable for small children.
• Excellent Fishing Opportunities: Lower Sabao Lake is a warm-water game fish lake, home to a variety of species including squaretail brook trout, white perch, yellow perch, chain pickerel, and smelt. It offers abundant fishing opportunities for anglers.
• Prime ATV and Mountain Biking Access: Being on the Sunrise Trail System, the campground is a perfect base for those who enjoy exploring extensive trail networks on ATVs or mountain bikes, with hundreds of miles of approved trails.
• Towering Pine Canopy: All campsites are shaded by a magnificent canopy of towering pine trees, providing a classic Maine forest atmosphere and natural shade.
• Quiet and Solitude: The remote location and rustic nature of the campground ensure a peaceful and quiet environment, ideal for disconnecting from the everyday hustle and enjoying the sounds of nature, such as loon calls and wildlife.
• Wildlife Viewing: The secluded setting offers excellent opportunities for wildlife watching, with possibilities of spotting moose along the shorelines and eagles soaring overhead.
• Scenic Lake Views: Many campsites are waterfront or within a minute's walk to the beach, offering stunning views of Lower Sabao Lake.
• Canoeing and Kayaking: The calm waters of the lake are perfect for paddling, allowing campers to explore the shoreline and nearby waterways.

Promotions or Special Offers

Given the rustic and more independently managed nature of Sabao Lake Campground, traditional commercial "promotions" such as discounts for specific periods or group rates in the conventional sense are not typically advertised. Instead, the value proposition lies in its inherently affordable pricing and the unique wilderness experience it offers. Based on public data from similar remote Maine campgrounds, pricing is usually structured in a straightforward manner:

Nightly Rates: Sabao Lake Campground typically charges a flat nightly rate for campsites. For example, similar remote campsites in Maine have been known to charge around $20 for the first night and $10 for subsequent nights. There might be a slightly higher rate for prime weekend nights (e.g., $45 for a Friday/Saturday stay).

Affordable Wilderness Access: The fundamental "offer" of Sabao Lake Campground is the opportunity to experience prime Maine wilderness, complete with lake access and trail systems, at a very reasonable cost compared to more amenity-rich or private campgrounds.

Seasonal Availability: Camping season for such remote locations in Maine usually runs from late spring through early fall, and pricing typically remains consistent throughout this period. It is always advisable to confirm the exact rates and any potential minimum stay requirements directly with the campground management before planning your trip.

It's important to remember that the focus here is on providing an accessible, authentic outdoor experience rather than elaborate discount programs. The value is in the undisturbed natural setting and the activities it enables.

Contact Information

To learn more about Sabao Lake Campground, inquire about current rates, check availability, or plan your rustic Maine camping adventure, it is best to contact the campground management directly. Due to its remote nature, there might not be a large central booking system, so personal contact is key.

Address: Unnamed Rd, Cherryfield, ME 04622, USA

While a direct phone number for Sabao Lake Campground specifically isn't widely published, it is managed as part of the Downeast Wilderness Experience (DWE) group of campgrounds. Therefore, it is recommended to contact DWE for reservations and information about Sabao Lake Campground. Their general contact information is often associated with the area:

Phone: (207) 598-CAMP or (207) 598-2267

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 101, Cherryfield, Maine 04622

It is always a good practice to call ahead, especially given the remote location and the need to understand access roads and site availability, particularly if you are bringing a larger RV or camper.

Conclusion: Why this place is suitable for locals

For Maine residents, Sabao Lake Campground offers an authentic and accessible slice of the wild, a true embodiment of the state’s rugged charm. It’s particularly suitable for locals who appreciate the less manicured, more natural camping environment. Unlike highly developed resorts, Sabao Lake provides an opportunity to disconnect and immerse oneself in genuine wilderness, which is often what Mainers seek when they head out to camp. The beautiful sand beach and the progressively deepening waters make it an ideal spot for families with children who love to swim, offering a safer and more natural alternative to chlorinated pools.

The strong emphasis on activities like fishing, boating, and extensive ATV riding directly aligns with popular Maine pastimes. With its location on the Sunrise Trail System, local ATV enthusiasts have unparalleled access to hundreds of miles of trails, making it a perfect base for exploration. While some reviews point to a relaxed enforcement of rules and the rustic nature of the access roads, for many Mainers, these are not deterrents but rather characteristics of a genuine, unpretentious camping experience. They understand that a truly wild setting comes with its own set of conditions, like overgrown paths and falling pine limbs, and often prefer it that way. Sabao Lake is a place where you can create your own fun, enjoy the natural beauty without distractions, and truly live the Maine outdoor lifestyle, making it a cherished spot for those who call this state home and value its wild heart.

Sabao Lake Campground

Unnamed Rd, Cherryfield, ME 04622, USA