By:
Submission
FROM I-95, (N): take Sabattus Exit 86, (L) onto Rte 9 for 1.6 mi to intersection with Rte126; turn (R) for 7.4 mi. Turn (L) onto S Monmouth Rd & travel for 2.7 mi to stop sign at intersection of Cobbossee Road. Turn (R) for 1.8 mi to entrance on your (L) just past the golf course. Follow Norris Point Rd (dirt road) to campground. FROM I-295, (N) take Exit 51 (last exit before toll), turn (L) and travel west. FROM 95 (S) take exit 103 turn (R) & travel west. Drive 6.3 mi on Rte 9/126 to Batchelder's Corner; turn (R) onto Hallowell Rd for 1.9 mi, then (L) at dam onto Hardscrabble Rd for 1.1 mi to campground entrance on your (R) Follow Norris Point Road for 1 mi. FROM I-95, (S): take Exit 103 turn (R) & travel west 2.6 miles on Rte 202 into Manchester.
Entrance people were nice but you have to pay an ADDITIONAL $10 to get through the gate into the campground. They send you an email only days before your arrival with a list of rules and additional fees. Glorified camper/rv/trailer park. If you're not a seasonal you get probably 1/4th the space of a typical site. There were literally tiny houses everywhere with sheds and fenced in yards and it was a bit trashy. Store and other places run by grouchy old women. The beach is unsafe with 3 loaded docks of boats within about 100 feet of the shore. Watch your kids!!! There was also fecal matter, I mean a LOG of fecal matter in the water! If you have to cancel you must do it 30 days ahead of your stay and you only receive 15% back. And only room enough for 1 car (not even!!) Which they don't tell you until the email. You may have a guest but they only have FOUR additional parking spaces OUTSIDE of the campground. So if you have more than 3 people and aren't lucky enough to have a truck that seats more you may not have a place to park. Certainly no room for a long bed or longer truck. Talking with others who were also there they stated it was impossible not to be right on top of each other and in the way of one another. Could reach out and touch other campers. I get that there needs ro be rules and money made, but this felt more like a prison than a friendly campground.
Spent quite a while on their website. I'm too old and in the way for camping with the fan so this may be a happy medium. The old woman in the camper and the kiddies out in the tent! When we visit I will update!
First time staying at a tent site with family. Campground is located in an awesome spot; it was easy and pleasant to unload the boats. Staff that we interacted with were very friendly!
We stayed at LL04, and although a bit small, was still a great experience! The map is helpful, and the bathrooms were extremely nice. Warm showers, trash pick up, all great. Boat docks were adequate.
Our ONLY issue, happened to be during a rainy day, where there was an overwhelming smell of sewage throughout the storm. It seemed to be coming from the cottages/cabins/bathrooms.
We understand this may be out of the owners/staff’s control, but definitely wasn’t a great smell and would like them to know.
Overall, we still would come back, and we enjoyed our stay.
Okay, I wasn't actually going to write this review but figured I might as well..I had a bunch of pictures I deleted them all because I was hesitant..
Here's what I have to say, the birches is on beautiful carbassy lake and has a ton of boat slips which is awesome.. unfortunately the negative is glaring.. The campsites are mostly occupied by seasonal campers and they are on top of each other and when I say on top of each other when I looked out of my camper windows regardless of which one I was looking directly at or into another camper..
The other thing that I would say is that I went toward the end of the season, late September, the bathroom got cleaned once that week, 4 days that week I got to listen to the constant backup alarms of heavy equipment trying to take out the docks which is unfortunate because I wanted a boat which they didn't forewarn me about.. The store was almost never open I guess that's probably due to their closing or getting ready to close for the season..
Another complaint potentially would be that there was equipment everywhere, both along the road and in the campground as well as de.o.piles as you drive in..
Oh, I almost forgot... you have to pay for the ridiculously slow WiFi.. to put it in perspective the DSL I have at camp which is 25 mps is faster.
On the plus side, the people were kind and helpful and the campground was exceptionally quiet.
Awesome campground experience!!! Located on Cobbosseecontee Lake providing GREAT Bass Fishing and other water activities. Camp sites are close to each other, but very quiet and peaceful. Staff was professional, respectful and always trying to please to make your stay a memorable experience. Guests at other camp sites were very friendly, and respectful of each other's privacy. Beach area and two yes two playgrounds occupied the little ones for hours. Strongly recommend staying at Birches Campground.
