22mi from Castine · 3 sites · Lodging · Ellsworth, MEArbor Camp is a collection of thoughtfully designed cabins and treehouses set on 30 private acres in the Maine woods offering a secluded forest retreat on the Union River—private and peaceful, yet just minutes from the shops, restaurants, and year-round charm of downtown Ellsworth. Located 30 minutes north of Acadia National Park, it’s an ideal base for exploring the mountains, woods, lakes, and rugged shoreline that define Downeast Maine.
With nearly half a mile of river frontage, a stream, and over a mile of hand-cut walking trails, Arbor Camp’s thirty acres provide ample space to unwind without leaving the grounds. Two cabins and a treehouse sit in an open field with wide views of the river and its passing wildlife. The remaining treehouses are thoughtfully spaced across 25 acres of quiet forest, offering privacy and a sense of deep immersion in the trees. Many enjoy filtered river views through the canopy.
Each season brings its own pleasures: temperate summer days and cool, starlit evenings; fall foliage and crisp air; the stillness of snow-covered woods in winter; and, in spring, a quiet reawakening as color and life return to the forest.
Arbor Camp began in 2022, when three friends came together to build a quiet place in the woods. Thirty acres along the Union River in Ellsworth offered the space—and the inspiration—for something lasting. The project was shaped by Maine’s camp tradition: simple, seasonal dwellings that invite stillness, comfort, and connection to the land.
We followed the path of an old roadbed to guide our layout, preserving as many trees as possible. Cabins and treehouses are spaced for privacy and quiet, and walking trails were cut by hand to follow the natural shape of the land.
Wildlife is part of daily life here. Songbirds call from the canopy. Heron and eagles pass overhead. Deer move through the understory, and turkeys wander the clearings. Mushrooms—chanterelles, black trumpets, and others—rise through the forest floor in season.
From the start, the idea was simple: to create a place that feels good to step into. Each of us brought different experiences—design, building, creative work—but shared a clear vision: spaces that are well made, deeply comfortable, and in tune with their surroundings.
Potable water
Toilets
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