Mt. Chase Lodge

A classic Maine getaway in the Katahdin region offering great food and great access

This year marks the 10^th anniversary of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. Managed by the National Park Service, the roughly 80,000 acres of, yes, woods and waters, is well worth a visit. But camping infrastructure in the park is scant – just a few sites are available for reservation via Recreation.gov.

Enter Mt. Chase Lodge, located in Shin Pond Village, just north of Patten, Maine, and roughly 10 miles from the Monument’s northern entrance. (FWIW, you’re forgiven if you have no idea where Shin Pond Village, or Patten, are. Hint, they’re not near Acadia.)

Mike and Lindsay Downing took over Mt. Chase Lodge from Linday’s parents in 2016, the same year the monument was designated, making 2026 a great year to visit both destinations. The talented duo met at the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Gorman Chairback Lodge and Cabins (stay tuned for a write up on these great places to stay), where Lindsay was a guide and Mike was the restaurant manager. Farther back in their history, they worked at some of the West’s most iconic national-park-adjacent lodges, so they’ve learned a thing or two about how to treat guests keen on coupling adventure with good food and soft beds.

My wife and I visited Mt. Chase Lodge over Valentine’s Day weekend in 2026. Full disclosure, I was “on assignment” for Down East but I paid for the two nights and the fantastic dinner with my very own money.

Located directly on the shores of Lower Shin Pond, the lodge boasts what all Maine lodges should: gorgeous water views, quaint cabins, a stunning dining-slash-public area, and, of course, two friendly dogs.

With easy access to both Katahdin Woods and Waters and the north gate of Baxter State Park, Mt. Chase Lodge is a great choice for folks interested in exploring two of Maine’s most iconic public spaces. But the fun isn’t limited to those twin destinations.

Peavy Brook Outdoor Center, located just up the road in Patten, boasts five+ miles of hiking and biking trails with more to come (the Lindsays also manage a rental house co-located at Peavey Brook, which is great for large groups, families, or even small corporate events). The Seboeis Riverside Trail, a 7-mile trail along the Seboeis River is just up the road and the world-class Penobscot River Trail system is only a 45-minute drive south.

Mike and Lindsay expanded the dining room in 2024, complete with a full wall of windows looking out over Lower Shin Pond. They offer dinners most nights and breakfasts and bagged lunches during the summer season. For our Valentine’s dinner, we enjoyed scallops, pesto pasta, green beans, and a decadent chocolate cupcake. Not to humble brag, but we like good food and this was good. Really good. Maine beers, cocktails, and a nice selection of wines made the night that much more enjoyable.

Our small cabin was pet-friendly (huzzah!), heated by a powerful wood stove, and had its own bathroom. The bed was soft and comfortable (the dog was a BIG fan), and the basic kitchen amenities (microwave oven, two-burner electric hot plate, coffee maker, pots, pans, plates, silverware) allowed us to cook what we needed for breakfast, lunch, and the one dinner we didn’t eat at the lodge.

Cell service is blessedly sparse in this corner of Maine, but the lodge offers WIFI. We happily camped out on the couch near the lovely stone fireplace and watched the Winter Olympics after our day of cross-country skiing in Katahdin Woods and Waters.

The lodge is busy year-round (well, maybe not so busy in April). Winter sees snowmobilers and skiers who come for the snow. Late spring and summer lure anglers, hikers, and families looking for a wilderness-lite experience. Fall brings leaf peepers and dark sky fans – Katahdin Woods and Waters is a designated Dark Sky Sanctuary, and it turns out seeing a night sky full of stars is something many folks who don’t live in Maine don’t get to do very often. Dinner is open to the public with advanced reservations, so if you’re in this corner of Maine and want a good dinner, book a table.

While Mt. Chase Lodge costs more (a lot more) than a night of camping, we had no regrets about throwing down some cheddar for the weekend. Staff called me a couple of days before our arrival to check on dinner reservations, answer any questions we had, and otherwise set us up for success. We found the fire blazing and a Mt. Chase Lodge gift mug and welcome bag in our cabin upon arrival. Our dog loved their dogs. The adjacent ski trail was a short but sweet quick hit steps from the cabin door. Short drives to Katahdin Woods and Waters and the Sebois River Trail made for easy and fulfilling day adventures. A weekend can’t get much better.

Learn more and book your stay at mtchaselodge.com.