Camping

This 1,203-acre lake offers some of the best family-friendly camping in Franklin County. The campground is located in a very scenic area surrounded by the northern mountains and extensive tracts of Wild Forest state land. Meacham Lake can accommodate all types of camping units from small tents to large recreational vehicles. The west side of the campgrounds offers a more primitive experience, with walk-in sites for adventurous campers.

In addition to the 223 campsites, you'll enjoy amenities such as hot showers, flush toilets, a trailer dump station, a recycling center, a boat launch, a picnic area, two picnic shelters, a sand beach with a bathhouse, boat and canoe rentals, firewood and ice sales, and a playground.

Boating

Power boats, rowboats, and canoes are all allowed.

Rowboat and canoe rentals are available. A new boat launch is located within the campground on the eastern shore of Meacham Lake. The boat launch has a concrete ramp with floating docks designed for use by people with disabilities. There are 21 parking spaces for vehicles and boat trailers, including one parking space reserved for people with disabilities.

The old boat launch located outside the campground along Meacham Road in the northwestern corner of the lake remains open for the launching of canoe, kayaks, and other car top boats free of charge. The parking area has 15 spaces for cars with trailers, including one accessible trailer spot, and 6 vehicle only spaces.

Wheelchair accessible

The new boat launch on the eastern shore has a concrete ramp with floating docks designed for use by people with wheelchairs.

Fishing

Meacham Lake is a managed body of water covering 1,185 acres and reaching a depth of 80 feet. It is stocked yearly with 2,000-3,000 splake and brown trout. It's also home to some impressive bass, pike, and perch. The south end is weedy and good for pike, while the eastern half, between Roaring and Winnebago Brooks, is where to look for smallmouth bass. The northern shore is home to Meacham Lake Campground, with a boat launch

Fish Species

Splake, northern pike, smallmouth bass, brown trout, lake whitefish, brown bullhead, rainbow smelt, fallfish, yellow perch, and pumpkinseed.

Access

Within Meacham Lake State Campground: Route 30, 23.3 miles south of Malone. The shallow beach launch is open all year. Parking for 50 cars and trailers. There is a cartop launch at the outlet at the Route 30 bridge, 0.2 miles from the intersection of Route 458. There is unmarked access on the right. Limited shoreline fishing from the boat launch area and within the campground. Look for bullhead, bass, and trout. Day-use fees if you put in within the state campground.

Special Regulations

Trout season: All year, any size, with a limit of five.

Landlocked salmon season: All year, 15-inch minimum length with a limit of three.

Be sure to purchase a fishing license.

Ice fishing

Also look for splake that run 2-4 pounds. The special ice fishing regulations are:Trout: All year, any size, 5 daily limit.

Landlocked salmon: All year, 15" minimum, 3 daily limit.

Swimming

There is a family-friendly sand beach and playground.

Hiking

The trailhead to Debar Mountain is located right inside the Meacham Lake campgrounds. This is a beginner to intermediate hike.

Birding

The large lake and its marshy edges can hold species like Common and Hooded Merganser, American Bittern, and Ring-necked Duck. Birders can also hike along the trails in the state campground where a wide variety of warblers and other songbirds can be found. Boreal pockets of habitat can contain species like Gray Jays.

A camping trip may offer serenading Barred Owls during the night and Broad-winged Hawks, Bald Eagles, and Sharp-shinned Hawks during the day.

Wheelchair accessible

The new boat launch on the eastern shore has a concrete ramp with floating docks designed for wheelchair users.