Hike-in Required
No
Potable water
No
Heated
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Cardigan Lodge is perfect for a weekend getaway or as a base camp for outdoor adventures. The lodge sits at the end of a dirt road on the 1,200-acre Cardigan Reservation, and is run by the Appalachian Mountain Club. The Cardigan Reservation borders state forest and Cardigan State Park, offering over 50 miles of trails for hiking and skiing for all experience levels. This is also the trailhead for the popular Holt Trail route up Mount Cardigan, which involves steep scrambling and is considered one of New England’s more difficult hikes.

The lodge has 13 bunk rooms with two community men's and women's bathrooms, as well as two private rooms with private bathrooms. Cardigan Lodge is open year round, with its full-service season running from late May to mid-October. During full-service season, your stay includes a delicious, family-style dinner and breakfast prepared by the lodge staff, along with provisions such as linens, soap and towels. On warm days, relax on the porch or take a swim in the pond after your hike. If you prefer to be indoors, there’s a large dining room with tables and a comfortable sitting room on the main floor, as well as a small library/game room downstairs.

Mid-October to late May is self-service season, where guests are required to bring their own towels, linens or sleeping bag, and food. The rooms are heated during the winter, hot showers are available, and guests may make full use of the kitchen to cook and store food. All the pots and pans are available all year, so you won’t need to bring your own dishes.

If you prefer to sleep outdoors, Cardigan Lodge also runs a campground on the property, which has walk-in individual and group tent sites, as well as the High Cabin, which requires a backpack to reach. 

Logistics + Planning

Parking Pass

Not Required

Open Year-round

Yes

Price per night

$71-160/night

Pros

Clean. Family friendly. Near trails. Swimming nearby.

Cons

Dirt road. Parking shared with hikers.

Pets allowed

Not Allowed

Managed by

Appalachian Mountain Club

Location

Nearby Lodging + Camping

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