If you love the outdoors and yearn to wander into a pristine and peaceful setting for a few days, you won’t find a better place than Bradford Camps. My journey here was with a best friend who’s father took sons kids here for many years. Fishing was the stated focus, but this place facilitates the best in general camaraderie.
The camp dates back to the 1890’s and sits in remote North Maine timberland. No cell phone coverage, internet, or other distractions to be had. It is possible to drive into Bradford camps (not for the feint of heart), but taking a float plane is the recommended choice and you’ll get to enjoy views of Mt Katahdin as head in.
As was the tradition with our group, we timed our trip to be in May just after ice was out of the lake. Hungry time for the fish as they move to the surface. Speaking of ice, in the winter the camp cuts out block of ice which are stored in sawdust in the ice house. Each day a fresh supply of chipped ice is delivered to your cabin for use in post fishing happy hour – could be my imagination, but never had a better bourbon with ice.
The accommodations at Bradford camp are rustic and perfect. No electricity, wood stove for heat, gas lamps, full bathroom, and porches looking out on the lake. You’ll never sleep better and waking up to the sunrise over the lake is spectacular.
Amongst a list of everything I loved at Bradford Camps, I would have to put the food and eating experience near the top. You eat amongst your group and the small number of others who are visiting (many of whom have been coming back for decades) and each meal we had was homemade and delicious. Each of us brought back fish from the day and either had it cooked for our evening dinner or saved for the next morning breakfast.
Our group about to partake.
Fresh-cooked lake trout reeled in earlier in the day?
And finally, the real Top-O-the-Heap part of the Bradford Camps was the chance to meet the owners – Karen & Igor Sikorsky – and experience the love they have for their camp. They pull you into the spell of the camp and north woods before you’ve barely stepped off the float plan.
I hope my wanderings can bring me back to Bradford Camps sometime down the road. Igor claims there remote lakes with native trout lurking, the float plane is fueled, and new stories to share!
Learn more at: https://bradfordcamps.com/
Find the Good Places 