Maine’s Most Beautiful Free Campsite Part 1 - Rocky Lake

We introduce you to one of the most beautiful campsites we have found in Maine. Peaceful and quiet. All alone. Private boat launch to river and lake access. And it is free. It doesn’t get any better than this.

[@snakebite6x6x6]

I live about 20 miles north of Rocky Lake... there are plenty of lakes up here where you could spend all day and never see another person.... :) Washington County gets overlooked a lot compared to the more visited mid and southern coastlines.... people are missing out. Oh, and the water is tea colored due to the tannins from decaying vegetation in the many bogs that surround some of the lakes up here. I'm glad you enjoyed your time here.

[@VanLifeByTheRiver]

You are so lucky to live in such a beautiful area. We absolutely loved our time in Maine especially in the areas that you mentioned. Thank you for letting us know why the water looked the way it did. I would love to have a small house next to a Maine lake or pond that we could paddle our kayaks on anytime we wanted to and enjoy the wildlife. In the mean time, we will have to settle on visiting whenever we can as we continue our travels. Thanks for watching and thank you again for the info!

[@kathydurr266]

Great video

[@VanLifeByTheRiver]

Thank you Kathy. Really glad you enjoyed it. Our "silly little videos" (as I call them) are a labor of love that were incredibly fun to make. I miss making them. We are still out and about just as much as ever, but not documenting our travels at the moment. The "one year project" was completed at 18 months and we packed our recording gear away. However, who knows what the future may bring if decide to dust off that equipment again. Appreciate you watching! Take care!

[@downeastprimitiveskills7688]

I paddle this spot often, I would be more concerned with the leaches than the snapping turtle, the tea color is due to tannins in the water that leach from the bog area, very common in most of the local water ways, its always fun to find a clear river lake or pond. I drink this tannin colored water often but boil it first, I hope to paddle up the Northern Inlets some time this summer.

[@mrmomb]

That is such a beautiful Hidden Gem campsite.

[@angb5825]

So beautiful

[@massholeTurk]

What a spot! Beautiful!😊

[@VanLifeByTheRiver]

Yes, it was one of our favorites. Check out our “Site 125” episode if you really want to see someplace special. Thank you for watching!

[@stevensmall9398]

Those look like vapors from Oldtown Canoe. I worked at Oldtown from 2009 to 2014. Not sure if im right. This looks like a beautiful spot to camp out. I grew up an hour north from Bangor in a small town called Brownville. Now I live in Lewiston. I miss the woods. Thnxs for sharing.

[@VanLifeByTheRiver]

Those are Oldtown Loon 106’s. Maybe they were derived from the Vapor design. They are very fine kayaks. Very stable and the most comfortable seat I have ever experienced in a kayak. We love them! This spot was a special place to us. Our travels in Maine are some of our most memorable. Absolutely beautiful state. Great people too! Thank you for watching!

[@themaineiac207]

Love Brownville. Beautiful little old town.

[@stevensmall9398]

@@themaineiac207 yup my old stomping grounds. I still visit quite often where three of my kids and other family lives around milo, brownville.

[@themaineiac207]

@@stevensmall9398 absolutely love K.I. And Gulf Hagas up there.

[@stevensmall9398]

@@themaineiac207 Yes sir alot of good fishing up in ki, Joe Mary. Just going up there riding around never disappoints.

[@devingiguere4996]

Trying to figure out camping with my 13 y o as an adult who's had NO fun...I'm scoping out anything I can find for free campsites and info. Ty for sharing.

[@VanLifeByTheRiver]

Thank you for watching. I think that it is awesome that you are spending time together out there in nature. If you live in Maine, there is tons of amazing campsites waiting for you both.

[@harryfatcat]

The coloring in the water is tannin from decaying leaves. Nice spot!

[@VanLifeByTheRiver]

Excellent info! Thank you!

[@Wheresthejoint]

I camp at the other side of the lake. There is so many camping sites. Me and my family have been camping every weekend since April. I live here so I know where they are all at.

[@Wheresthejoint]

There's many so sites that are not on a map

[@VanLifeByTheRiver]

That is good to know. I was curious what was over that way. Rocky Lake is a beautiful spot. You are lucky to live in such an amazingly beautiful state. Thanks for the info!

[@vanlifevibes9241]

You want to send me some coordinates I’m heading to Maine in a couple weeks. Would love to stay around here in my Van.

[@VanLifeByTheRiver]

@@vanlifevibes9241 (44.8583023, -67.4388024) There you go. Let us know how it went. You may have trouble driving your van up the road that leads to the campsite from the boat ramp. That is unless you have a four wheel drive and/or higher clearance. Just be careful to avoid damage and you should be fine. There are other sites around the lake that are more easily accessed. If you are in the area, check out our video, “Site 125” for one of the most spectacular sites in a Maine state park, Cobscook. The tidal flows are unbelievable.

[@BrianClunie]

Awesome location, I just subscribed!

[@VanLifeByTheRiver]

Alright Brian! Will let you know the exact location of this in the next video. Thanks for subscribing!

[@gohst777]

What a beautiful place Thank you for sharing And what do you have there for a set up for your kayaks on the back of your van I like that Oh nice rig btw

[@VanLifeByTheRiver]

Thank you! We have an episode specifically about the kayak holder. We give you all the details. Check it out!

[@Daoistify]

Sorry dudes, I hate to tell you the reality of the Maine woods. The mosquitoes, black flies, no see ums, deer and horse flies can drive most to the insane asylum. My family have been fishing and camping in the backwoods of Northern Maine for generations. The reason it is so unpopulated is that the trillions of bugs keep most away.

[@VanLifeByTheRiver]

Yes, we had heard the bugs could be very bad and we came prepared for the worse. Fortunately, the summer we were there was a drier year and the mosquitoes were very little. We went through a brief black fly period but then they went away. So, overall, it was not so bad. But there is no telling which years will be better than others. Definitely good that you mentioned about the bugs because people need to be prepared.

[@mainelybuds8543]

Ben's 100 for the win.

[@stevenroberts970]

Im not botherd about mosquitoes its leeches that im so concerned about you know wot i seen them the first time here in England today n i been all over western Europe n o never seen it tol today in my backyard eugh

[@MisfitsFiendClub138]

​@@mainelybuds8543 UR right! 💯👌

[@MisfitsFiendClub138]

So glad you enjoy and respect nature. Specifically the snapping turtle. On a different KZbin channel the guy was fishing from a kayak. He went up to a big snapping turtle that was sleeping on a partially submerged dead tree. He poked the turtle's shell with the end of his paddle, turtle was startled and lunged into the water. That foolish stunt annoyed me so much I unsubscribed immediately and never watched another one of his videos. Really enjoyed your video, you have a new subscriber 💚🐢👌

[@VanLifeByTheRiver]

Sorry for the late reply. We have extreme reverence for the animals, the trees, heck, even the rocks out there in nature. You can say that it is our church, our spiritual connection with God's creation. To intentionally harass or harm an animal is beyond our capabilities. But we don't begrudge those folks who hunt and fish for sport and to put food on the table. Thank you for subscribing. You will find this channel digs way below the surface and is extremely sensitive and touching. It's a sneak peek into the mind of a high functioning autistic person who sees the world in his own way. It may seem normal on the surface but there is a tremendous amount of veiled symbolism going on rapid fire. It takes a keen eye to pick it out and we hear from those folks frequently. Those who know...know. Welcome to the channel.

[@seanmarean]

It looks like you have what I think is one of those cellular booster antennas on your van. Can you tell me the make and model of that hardware? I would love that info because I've been thinking about something to help me connect better in remote places!

[@seanmarean]

Ah I see on part 2 that you showed us the booster antenna, looks like you attached it to a telescoping pole for extra height. Good thinking!

[@VanLifeByTheRiver]

Hi there! That is a WeBoost Drive X with an omnidirectional antenna. I did not purchase WeBoost's most powerful booster because the separation between the outside and inside antenna is minimal due to the short length of the van. Most folks who complain that their cell booster does not work properly don't have proper separation. Either that or they are not in good enough cell service to boost the signal in the first place. Our cell booster worked very well coast to coast on ATT's network. But we now have Starlink and we utilize our cell booster very little now. Starlink has worked out extremely well for us for data and wifi calls using our iPhones. That fiberglass telescoping pole is designed for people who fly streamers or similar things above their RV's. You see them alot in the desert like at Quartzsite. If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask. Thank you for watching!

[@seanmarean]

@@VanLifeByTheRiver Thank you so much for such a thorough explanation!

[@stevenroberts970]

I dnt think bringing an rv is at all camping. That place looks lovely maybe its really il go there whats the best way to get there if you have an pathological hatred of motor vehicles is there an airport at Greenville or is it far cheaper to hitch hike?

[@VanLifeByTheRiver]

You could very well have a good point about the “camping” if using an RV. Interesting thought there. If you didn’t want to drive a vehicle, then arriving via airline into Bangor and bicycling with all your gear is an option. That could be quite a nice adventure. We have come across several travelers riding their bicycles across the USA and beyond. As far as hitchhiking, I don’t have a clue whether that works any more. Seems that our society has become much less trusting of others which is unfortunate. Either way, if you make it to this campsite, you are going to have a good time. Thank you for watching! Safe travels!

[@stevenroberts970]

@@VanLifeByTheRiver i wouldnt like a bicicle that means its not far to walk there wots seventy miles two days its all a trekking holiday anyway the trails n that i wouldave thought theres a trail i should check out ordnance survey its im scared of busy roads is the thing i just dnt want the stress thsts why i said hitching but its where they're going its popular a cardboard sign mite do it

[@kenmasteren]

Steven, the northern terminus of the famous Appalachian trail is mt. Katahdin , just west of Millinocket. Why not take that renowned hike, from Georgia or anywhere along the trail, depending on how much time you have.

[@stevenroberts970]

@@kenmasteren are there leeches there ?

[@MDIguy]

Hope you checked for ticks. That part of Maine is infested!

[@VanLifeByTheRiver]

We checked but didn’t have any ticks the whole season. Must have been a light season last year.

[@sreykimsear]

Hello, I am asking about the camper van. Where did you get it ? I have a family of 4 with 2 dogs. It is super challenging fitting every one in a minivan and camp gear.

[@VanLifeByTheRiver]

The van is a 2007 Roadtrek 190 Popular 4x4. I purchased the van at an RV dealer in Yuma, AZ when the van had 4,000 miles on it. It was basically brand new with the protective film still on the mirrors. All I knew about it’s past was that it was a repo from California. No damage, just absolutely pristine in every way. I paid half of what it cost new. I have no idea why the dealership sold it to me so cheaply. There was a legal sized sheet of paper written with names and phone numbers of a waiting list for the van if I didn’t take it. The dealership held the van for me for a month with a $500 refundable deposit until I could come look at it. Crazy story for sure. The Roadtrek 190 Versatile model has 4 seats and the two front seats can turn into beds. My first Roadtrek was a 190 Versatile. I found the bed in the back to be too short for me. I am 6’ 1”. So you could technically get your family in a Versatile but it will be cramped. If the kids like to sleep in a tent, then it would work just fine. The rear couch of the 190 Popular does have two seat belts so the four of you could legally travel that way. If you can, get a rare 4x4 Roadtrek. That opens up a lot of extra possibilities for your adventures. Class B vans are going for very high prices these days so be ready to fork out some serious cash.

[@sreykimsear]

@@VanLifeByTheRiver thank you so much for your reply. My girls are and 9 and I am just under 5 ft and my husband is 5'8"...My dogs are medium..they are if a mix of Siberian Husky and German Shepherd. I think we can do it. I would not get a brand new one. I prefer used so I don't have to pay full price. I will search around. Thanks again.

[@melindametten9602]

Oooo where is this, we live in Maine!

[@VanLifeByTheRiver]

Hi Melinda! Watch Part 2 and at the end we show you exactly where this campsite is. Better yet, we show you how to locate many more just like it. Since you live in Maine, watch our episode called “Site 125” which was filmed at Cobscook State Park. That was an insanely beautiful campsite although it is not free. Site 125 is my most favorite episode as it was filmed and presented to you in MY own personal style; quiet, peaceful and full of heart and soul. Thank you for watching!

[@luciend1739]

Born an raised I'm the 207

[@user-maxim_79]

Guy went weekend camping and brought the entire bass pro shops and Cabela's store with em...yeah that's camping.

[@VanLifeByTheRiver]

In reality, it's a little more involved than just camping for us. We live full time on the road, in that van. This isn't some weekend trip. This particular circling of the United States lasted 1 1/2 years. It was an amazing experience. Thank you for watching! Sorry about the late reply. I just saw it.

[@chadryan1445]

Do you have gps coordinates ?

[@VanLifeByTheRiver]

Chad, at about 02;20 of our “Leaving Rocky Lake...” episode, you can see our dash cam gps coordinates. That is the location of the dirt road that leads to the boat launch and campsite at Rocky Lake. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

[@connermccloud2530]

How was the wifi cell reception there?

[@VanLifeByTheRiver]

Weak. With our cell booster and the antenna 20 feet up, we got decent data on AT&T.

[@SD-pi9co]

Hey bro could you message me? I want to find out more about how you haul those kayaks!

[@VanLifeByTheRiver]

I can. Watch our episode we made specifically about our kayak carrier. It is extremely detailed. Let me know if you have any questions after you watch it.

[@SD-pi9co]

@@VanLifeByTheRiver Thanks, you have my dream setup. Did you convert your van to 4x4 or is that factory? I’m running a 2000 Chevy long bed pickup, 4x4 with rooftop tent and camper shell. You’ll get stuck pulling a trailer some places I go and I like the freedom of 4 wheels. Have 2 kayaks I slap on but isn’t a great solution for hauling my beloved Hobies.

[@VanLifeByTheRiver]

@@SD-pi9co we love this van. It is nearly perfect for what we do. It is a 2007 Roadtrek 190P. The Quigley conversion is done after the van is built by Roadtrek. They drive the van to Quigley and have the conversion before delivering to the customer. Although rare, 4x4 Roadtreks on the Chevy chassis can be found for sale used and in very good shape. I honestly believe that it is the best kept secret in van life. Tough as nails, extremely capable and luxury on the inside. Check out our other videos where we do modifications to the van to make it even better for full time traveling. The front and rear bumpers are from Aluminess and I had those installed myself. I love Hobie kayaks as we have had two and they were awesome, especially when you want to film while kayaking. If you go vertical, you will need the shortest Hobie, of course. Anything much over 10-11 feet is too long for vertical.

[@SD-pi9co]

@@VanLifeByTheRiver Both of our kayaks are 12'. Right now I have some basic cross bars that fit over my camper shell but I use those to hold my rooftop tent and awning. We pile the kayaks on top of the tent which means we have to unload them every time we setup camp. I think I am going to build my own ladder rack that goes over the cab and stash them up there.