Outdoor Activities at NEOC: Exploring the Highlands with New England Outdoor Center

The New England Outdoor Center, or NEOC, is an awesome destination for enjoying the outdoors of the Maine Highlands. We’ve shared before about staying in the beautiful cabins here on the shores of Millinocket Lake, but there are tons of activities as well! We’ve got a great plan for visiting NEOC and putting together a great long weekend in the Millinocket area.

It doesn’t take much to convince me to make the drive up to Millinocket since it’s so pretty, but in case you’re just not sure what there is to do when you get there, all of the fun outdoor activities at NEOC will definitely inspire you. If you have any questions about the things to do at NEOC or need additional help making an itinerary for exploring the Highlands of Maine, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan a fun adventure!

Why Visit NEOC for Outdoor Activities?

You just can’t go wrong with a place that is setup to help you experience the outdoors in all the ways. NEOC is set directly on Millinocket Lake and is all about the outdoor adventures. Whether you’re staying at NEOC or you’re visiting for the day (maybe you’re camping at Baxter State Park) you can start your day with any number of activities all based from here. You can even stick around and have lunch and dinner at the two restaurants too.

For me, I really enjoyed the kayaking from NEOC. The shores of Millinocket Lake are beautiful with crystal clear waters and interesting things to see. Paddling from the NEOC boat launch, you can navigate through boulders, around small islands, check out the coves and watch for wildlife. It’s the perfect Maine kayaking destination. If kayaking and canoeing isn’t your thing, maybe you’re more up for mountain biking.

NEOC is a part of the Katahdin Area Trail System with lots of well maintained biking routes. You can bring your own mountain bikes or rent them from the office at Knife’s Edge Brewing. Both regular mountain bikes and fat-tire bikes are great on the KAT and there are maps with trail ratings to help you have a great ride.

Another fun and beautiful thing to do when you’re at the New England Outdoor Center is the wildlife tour. Being so close to Baxter State Park, the Millinocket area is known for its moose and eagle population. From NEOC you can do either a boat or a van tour to look for wildlife. It’s never guaranteed that you’ll see a moose (because they’re wild) but it’s a fun experience and a beautiful way to enjoy the lake and views of Mount Katahdin. Visiting can really be a choose-your-own-adventure of activities.

Tips for Planning a Outdoor Adventure Trip to NEOC

I recommend spending a few nights at the New England Outdoor Center if you can. That will provide you the chance to enjoy the many things to do directly here at NEOC and give you time to explore Baxter State Park. In the summer it’s so nice up here, with the warm breezes and the views of Mount Katahdin that you’ll feel like you never want to leave. In fall, the autumn colors are awesome and you still have all the wonderful activities.

You need a few days to really enjoy all the great things to do. If you’re coming up just for the day, bring your gear or rent it; it’s up to you. You can easily have a full morning of outdoor activities, then have lunch at Knife’s Edge Brewing, have an afternoon exploring on foot or bike or boat, and then have dinner at River Drivers restaurant. It’s an awesome day trip or vacation destination. When it comes to planning your time, the kayaking and biking is pretty flexible, but if you’re planning on going whitewater rafting (yep, that’s a summer option too!) or one of the wildlife tours, you should book it in advance. Whitewater trips specifically book up and if you’re hoping to raft the Penobscot River or Dead River, you need to reserve your spot.

For wildlife tours, either by boat or van, they will be dependent on what sort of wildlife is around. Moose tours happen in mid-spring and through fall, but not really in the summertime because the moose are further in and higher up (check out Greenville for moose tours also). What’s wonderful though in summer and fall is the boat tour to look for loons and eagles. I love birds so enjoyed being out on a pontoon boat cruising the lake, birdwatching and just enjoying the views of Mount Katahdin. You’ll figure out which activities or tours are right for you and the season you’re visiting.

Outdoor Gear for Activities at NEOC

What I love about visiting NEOC is that we can arrive with just ourselves and our sense of adventure and they provide the rest. When you rent mountain bikes, they’ll provide the helmet too, and if you’re paddling they’ve got the life jackets. You only need to worry about bringing your own gear if you’re not planning on renting from NEOC or if you’re particular about your accessories (one of my kids ALWAYS brings his own helmet).

Since I’m all about looking for wildlife, whether I’m kayaking or hiking, I always bring my camera gear with me. You never know when you’re going to spot a moose, black bear, bald eagle or an owl, so you need to be ready. If you’re doing a wildlife tour you for sure want to bring a good camera and/or binoculars. The guides/boat captains are professionals and will get you as close to wildlife as is safe, but you’ll still be a distance away typically.

Another thing to consider when you’re visiting the New England Outdoor Center is its location up in the Highlands of Maine. Even though the weather can be absolutely beautiful, it can also be stormy and unpredictable with systems moving along the Appalachians or coming inland from the coast. Be ready for rain and mud and be hopeful for sunshine and blue skies. I bring my Xtra Tuff rubber boots just in case, and I find that I usually end up hiking in them.

Stargazing at the New England Outdoor Center

So much of Maine is blessed with dark sky space, and I hope it stays that way, but the night sky over Millinocket Lake and Mount Katahdin is really something. Stargazing is one of the best activities at NEOC, and what makes it extra special is when you also get a show from the Aurora Borealis. Yes!! The New England Outdoor Center is far enough north and far enough away from the lights of Bangor and Augusta that the Northern Lights can really put on a show here.

What makes stargazing one of the best outdoor things to do at NEOC is the lakefront areas that have completely unobstructed views of both the mountain (Katahdin) and the night sky. Some of the most beautiful nighttime photographs I’ve ever gotten have been from here. My favorite Aurora Borealis photos I’ve ever captured were done here at NEOC. Stargazing is something special here and you need to make sure you don’t miss the stars!

Check out the NEOC night sky webcam here!

Dining and Food Options at NEOC

For anyone coming to NEOC and staying overnight in one of the cabins, you’ll have a little more to bring as you’ll have a kitchen for preparing your own meals or packing a picnic for your time out exploring the wilderness. If you’re staying on site, you will need to at minimum bring the stuff for your breakfast as the restaurants are only open for lunch and dinner. There is a Hanaford grocery store 15 minutes away in Millinocket, so either stop before you arrive or you can drive back out to the store once you’re done with the things you want to do for the day.

For dining, Knife Edge Brewing is located up the hill from the main lodge area, in the same building as the bike rentals. They have an awesome woodfire pizza menu and do some wonderful fresh salads. And of course beer and cider are available. River Drivers is the restaurant in the main lodge at NEOC and it’s really quite good. Beautiful dishes and a full bar make it a nice place for dinner anyhow, and then add it to the end of a long, fun day of outdoor activities and it’s a winner. River Drivers also has a great patio looking out at Millinocket Lake.

More Things to Know about NEOC: Events and Weddings

If I weren’t already married I would absolutely plan a bit of a destination wedding at the event center here at NEOC. Up on the hill above the cabins and outdoor center, the NEOC event space looks out across Millinocket Lake at Mount Katahdin. There are full facilities to be able to throw quite the party or corporate event, including a wonderful law and ample space to accommodate up to 140 guests in the main building, and then if you need more space they can even do beautiful tents to accommodate up to 300 people. What a cool place to get to do a wedding or big event!

Getting to NEOC in Millinocket, Maine

The New England Outdoor Center is in the middle of the eastern Highlands. From Bangor it’s about 2 hours, from Bar Harbor about 3.5 hours and from Portland around 4 hours driving. As you head up into the hills approaching Millinocket you’ll lose cell service in a few spots. I recommend downloading offline maps of the area, including Baxter State Park, before you start your drive. Once you make it to NEOC, you’ll have three different areas you may be heading: Mountain Biking hub, Millinocket Lake (the lodge) or the Penobscot Outdoor Center area (for paddling). They’re all very close to one another, but double check where you should be heading just to save a few minutes. People are pretty chill though, so if you cut it close for a scheduled tour or rental, they’ll understand. Be sure to call the office if you’re going to be late though.

More Things to do in the Highlands of Maine

The Highlands of Maine stretch from Bangor and sprawl to the north and west following the rise of the Appalachians. There are lots of small towns and state parks, and some of the most beautiful sights in Maine. I know that most people think of coastal Maine and its lighthouses when they think of what they’ll see when they come for a visit, but the Highlands are really the playground of Mainers. This region is why Maine is called “Vacationland” and you’ll see why when you come for a visit.

And you cannot forget that the Highlands is an epic winter playground too, with destinations like Sunday River, Saddleback and Sugarloaf. In winter you’ve got downhill and Nordic skiing, and in summer it’s all about hiking and fishing. During fall this is where you come for leaf peeping and to look for moose and other Maine wildlife.

Here are some great ideas for ways to enjoy the Highlands of Maine.

Where to Stay in the Highlands

Depending on the season you’re visiting the Highlands, you will have different options for where to stay. If you’re planning on climbing Mount Katahdin or doing a portion of the Appalachian Trail, Millinocket is a great place to be based. For other Appalachian Trail launch points you can find fun places to stay in Eustace, the Carrabassett Valley, and Rangely. Another amazing summertime destination is Greenville and Moosehead Lake.

For skiing you can stay in Newry or Hanover (for Sunday River), Rangely or Phillips (for Saddleback), or Carrabassett Valley for Sugarloaf. You’ll find lots of cross country / Nordic skiing all over, but the Katahdin Area Trails are great for it!