Seven Sites Under the Pines
Crocker Pond is the smallest and most secluded of the White Mountain National Forest campgrounds on the Maine side of the forest, with just seven sites set under a towering white pine forest on the shore of the pond. It sits in Albany Township east of Evans Notch, reached by a dead-end gravel road, so it has the feel of a private hideout rather than a roadside campground. If you want quiet, this is the spot in the area to find it.
Do not confuse it with Crocker Mountain over in the Carrabassett Valley; this is a low, gentle pond, not a peak. The pond itself is small and calm, ringed by big pines, with a launch for non-motorized boats. It is the kind of place where you paddle a canoe at dusk, cook over the fire, and listen to the loons. The seven-site count means it fills fast on summer weekends, which is part of why people who know it guard it closely.
The Campground
All seven sites are first-come, first-served. There are no reservations at Crocker Pond, so your strategy is simply to arrive early, especially on summer Fridays. The sites are tucked into the pines a short walk from the water, with the usual fire ring and picnic table at each. A small boat launch lets you put in a canoe, kayak, or other non-motorized craft for a quiet paddle.
Like the rest of the national forest land here, the campground has no cell service. Plan to be unplugged.
Sites & Amenities
The amenities are simple and well kept: vault toilets, potable water on site, picnic tables, and fire rings, plus the non-motorized boat launch on the pond. There are no showers and no hookups. Campsite fees run about $18 per night, the lowest of the Maine-side national forest campgrounds, and Senior and Access pass holders get 50 percent off. Dogs are welcome on a leash.
Campsite mosquito-free zone
Because every site is first-come and there are only seven of them, treat a summer-weekend trip here as a gamble and have a backup ready. The reservable sites at Cold River and the nearby Evans Notch campgrounds are your fallback if Crocker is full when you roll in.
Getting There
Crocker Pond is reached from West Bethel. Turn onto Flat Road, across from the post office on Route 2, and follow it about 5.8 miles to a half-mile dirt road that drops to the campground. The final gravel road is narrow, which keeps big rigs out and the place quiet. From Portland it is roughly two and a quarter hours; from Bangor about three hours.
The access road is unpaved and the last half mile is rough dirt. It is fine for most vehicles in summer and fall but can be slow going, and it is not a place for large trailers. Drive it slowly and avoid it in wet conditions.
When to Visit
Spring
Opens mid-May. The access road can be soft early, and black flies peak from mid-May into June.
Summer
Warm days, quiet paddling, and loons on the pond. Arrive early on weekends since sites are first-come only.
Fall
Pines stay green while the hardwoods turn around the pond. Cool nights and few bugs. Closes mid-October.
Winter
Closed for the season. The gravel access road is not maintained in winter.
Summer for the paddling and fall for the quiet. Midweek is the surest way to land one of the seven sites.
Packing List
Crocker Pond Campground Trip
- Tent and ground tarp
- Sleeping bag for cool nights
- Camp stove and fuel (no store)
- Headlamp and spare batteries
- Bug spray or a repeller for black-fly season
- Canoe or kayak for the pond (non-motorized only)
- Cash or card for self-pay fees
- Downloaded maps (no cell service)
FAQ
Can you reserve Crocker Pond Campground?
No. All seven sites are first-come, first-served. Arrive early, especially on summer weekends.
How big is the campground?
Just seven sites under a white pine forest on Crocker Pond, which makes it the smallest and most secluded of the Maine-side national forest campgrounds.
Can I bring a boat?
Yes, a non-motorized boat. There is a launch on the pond for canoes and kayaks. Motorboats are not allowed.
What is the road in like?
Gravel, with the last half mile on rough dirt. It is passable for most vehicles in summer but not suited to large trailers.
Are there bathrooms and water?
Yes, vault toilets and potable water on site. There are no showers or hookups.
Crocker Pond is one of four campgrounds in this corner of the national forest. See Hastings, Cold River, and Basin, or the overview at Evans Notch Campgrounds.
