Source: https://top-list.co/top-best-lakes-to-visit-in-maine-v1331.html
- Jordan Pond
- Moosehead Lake
- Flagstaff Lake
- Sebago Lake
- Rangeley Lake
- Echo Lake
- Webb Lake
- Cobbosseecontee Lake
- Millinocket Lake
- China Lake
- Megunticook Lake
- Long Lake
- Damariscotta Lake
- Mooselookmeguntic Lake
Jordan Pond
Jordan Pond is one of the most magnificent bodies of water in the entire state, while not being the largest. The 75-hectare pond has a 5.8-kilometer shoreline and is situated in Acadia National Park. Those looking for numerous excellent photo opportunities will love this lake. Carriage riders gathered at the first Jordan Pond House in the late 1800s to partake in afternoon tea and popovers straight from the oven. The Jordan Pond, one of the park’s classic sights, was visible from tables on the lawn where visitors were seated.
Penobscot Mountain encircles it, giving some lovely scenery. With a depth of 46 meters, this lake is the deepest in Maine and is home to a wide variety of plants and animals.
Jordan Pond can only be observed from the trail that circles it; it cannot be entered. Jordan House, a well-known residence on its beachfront, also offers lunch, supper, and tea service. Following that, you can take part in other activities on the park-like sightseeing excursions, which include puffin cruises, sunset cruises, and tours of the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse.
Location: Hancock County, Maine
Photo: wikipedia
Photo: nps.gov
Moosehead Lake
Moosehead Lake, the largest lake in Maine, is also the largest alpine lake in the entire eastern United States, is one of the best lakes to visit in Maine. Over 80 islands may be found in the 30,534-hectare lake, which is home to Mount Kineo, which rises 200 meters above the water.
The lake is named after the abundant moose population in the vicinity, where there are three times as many moose as people, making it the perfect place for sightings. However, people should avoid getting too close to the moose, since they are enormous and aggressive when irritated or trying to protect a young. When looking at it from a bird’s-eye view the lake also happens to resemble moose antlers.
Over 640 kilometers of the Moosehead Lake’s shores are dotted with cities and parks. It’s a terrific location for enjoying the natural scenery, boating, and other water sports. If you don’t have a boat of your own, the area also offers boat rentals. You can stay in a variety of places, including motels, campgrounds, and rental cabins.
Location: Northwest Piscataquis, Maine
Photo: nrcm.org
Photo: newengland
Flagstaff Lake
Flagstaff Lake, an 8,200-hectare lake surrounded by the Bigelow Mountain Range, is not only stunning but also well-liked by adventure enthusiasts. This includes hikers, as a portion of the 235-kilometer shoreline of the lake is home to the Appalachian Trail.
Six boat launches, numerous campsites, and holiday cabins may be found at Flagstaff Lake. Additionally, it is a section of the 1,190-kilometer Northern Forest Canoe Trail, a famed waterway that passes through Quebec, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, and Maine.
Kayaking, canoeing, and salmon and trout fishing are all excellent on this tiny lake. Additionally, there are lots of campgrounds and rental cabins. The lake’s easternmost point is where the Long Falls Dam, which was built to augment it and create a reservoir, is located.
Location: Somerset & Franklin Counties, Maine
Photo: mainesnorthwesternmountains
Sebago Lake
Sebago Lake, the second-largest lake in Maine, with 169 kilometers of shoreline and is located close to the state’s southernmost point. Frye Island, a seasonal island with numerous waterfront residences, is located in the lake. Due to its natural beauty and available recreational opportunities, the 12,348-hectare lake is a well-liked tourist destination. At the lake, you may go sailing, swimming, camping, and fishing, to name a few activities. This is one of the best locations for photography since the trees are frequently mirrored in the still river, even though the majority of the state delivers stunning autumn color during the season.
Along the lake’s northern coast, Sebago Lake State Park has some excellent camping opportunities. Two beaches, a boat ramp, and a hiking trail are further features of the park.
People interested in getting a wider perspective of the lake and the surrounding area might want to explore a float-plane adventure. Aerial tours of the lake region are provided by Naples Seaplane Adventures and Mast Cove Seaplane Base.
Location: Cumberland County, Maine
Photo: bostonmagazine
Photo: mainetrailfinder
Rangeley Lake
There are six lakes in the Rangeley Lakes region of Maine, including Rangeley Lake. Several streams feed the 2,550-hectare lake, and the water eventually exits at the northwest corner and flows into the Atlantic Ocean. A little distance away, Angel Falls offers a straightforward one-mile roundtrip hike with cascades that drop 90 feet and occasionally resemble an angel’s wing.
Weather-wise, Rangeley is a great place to spend any time of year. Wild lupines that bloom in the spring color the mountain sides in the area, while the summer is devoted to simple outdoor recreation like hiking, swimming, fishing, and boating. For a lovely lake trip and to watch loons and bald eagles, you can rent motorboats, kayaks, and canoes. Nearly 900 acres can be explored at Rangeley Lake State Park, where swimming, boating, and camping are all well-liked activities. Additionally, there are several hiking paths, and Saddleback Mountain is traversed by a portion of the Appalachian Trail.
Fall rushes in with gorgeous color, especially if you go along the 35-mile Rangeley Lakes National Scenic Byway, which passes through small towns and mountains and has The Height of Land, one of Maine’s most breathtaking sights.
Rangeley’s winters are very beautiful. Yankee magazine rated Rangeley as one of the top winter communities in New England, and it is simple to understand why. With an average annual snowfall of 200 inches or more, the area offers a wide range of snow-related activities, including some of the greatest cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling in the state. The Rangeley Lakes area is a great place to go on a peaceful trip. 55km of quiet, well-maintained trails for fat-tire biking, snowshoeing, and Nordic skiing are available at the Rangeley Lakes Trail Center. For all these reasons, Rangeley Lake deserves to be one of the best lakes to visit in Maine.
Location: Franklin County, Maine
Photo: visitmaine
Photo: mostbeautifullakes
Echo Lake
Echo Lake, often referred to as Crotched Pond, is one of the nicest lakes in Maine to visit and is located in Acadia National Park. You can swim there and enjoy stunning views of Beech Mountain while relaxing on the beach area. A kayak or canoe can be brought along if you want to explore the waters.
The lake in Maine has some of the clearest water, which makes it feel even more pleasant on a hot day. Although it’s fantastic for canoeing and kayaking, you can also just sit by the shore and unwind. It is accessible from morning to dusk.
There are many locations to go hiking in the vicinity because the lake is situated in Acadia National Park. The paths’ degrees of difficulty range from extremely easy to challenging. Furthermore, the area around Echo Lake and Acadia National Park is plenty of places to eat and explore.
Location: In the towns of Fayette, Mount Vernon and Readfield, Maine
Photo: onlyinyourstate
Webb Lake
Despite being a small lake, Webb Lake is breathtakingly gorgeous, with Mount Blue and other peaks serving as its backdrop. Outdoor enthusiasts frequently visit the 868-hectare lake. Just over four and a half miles long, the lake is a wonderful place to unwind and spend time with loved ones. You may even bring your fishing gear and cast a few lines to catch some smallmouth bass and landlocked salmon.
Near Webb Lake, there are numerous food and hotel options. The lake’s major attraction is Mount Blue State Park, a leisure area that is located along the lake’s western side. Camping, hiking, water skiing, riding horses, and swimming are all possible nearby.
There is a boat launch in the park’s day-use area for those who don’t want to spend the night. Cross-country skiing, ATVing, and snowmobiling are all available in the winter at the park, which is accessible all year. There is also Dummer’s Beach, which offers facilities like showers and restrooms, a boat launch, and a variety of kid-friendly activities.
Photo: newenglandwithlove
Photo; tripadvisor
Cobbosseecontee Lake
Make sure to include Cobbosseecontee Lake in your schedule while planning your vacation to explore the best lakes to visit in Maine. Cobbosseecontee Lake, which is 2,243 hectares and is nine miles long with 62 miles of shoreline, is the largest lake in the Winthrop Lakes Region. It is renowned throughout the nation as one of the top lakes for bass fishing, and some of the biggest largemouth basses in the nation have been caught here.
There are several places to go swimming and fishing, and you may use two boat launching facilities. If you enjoy being on the water, you have plenty of options. Beautiful Cobbosseecontee Lake is well-known for its coves, inlets, and islands. The fact that Cobbosseecontee Lake is home to the Ladies Delight Lighthouse is one of the lake’s coolest features. Although it isn’t accessible to the general public, you can see it if you take a boat out to Ladies Delight Island. It’s a fantastic location to visit while out on a boat on Cobbosseecontee Lake.
Along the lake’s 100-kilometer shoreline, there are a variety of campgrounds for those who want to spend the night. A lakefront cabin, cottage, or house is an option for guests who desire a little bit more comfort.
Location: Kennebec County, Maine
Millinocket Lake
Maillinocket Lake has 1,100-hectare, is situated north of Mount Katahdin in central Maine. It has a stunning backdrop as a result, which is a major lure for tourists.
Even at the height of summer, there is little boat traffic, which adds to the lake’s tranquility and makes it a wonderful place to go kayaking and canoeing. The lake’s two isolated sandy beaches on the northeast shore are a noteworthy aspect. These locations are perfect for swimming and seaside picnics because they can only be reached by boat.
In addition to being beautiful, Millinocket Lake is a great place to go fishing because there are lots of fallfish, landlocked salmon, brook trout, yellow perch, and white sucker there. The lake is also home to a large number of other fish species. The smaller Little Millinocket Lake is near the western end of the larger main Millinocket Lake, which is actually divided into two lakes. Although there are always places to set up a tent, the lakes are mostly surrounded by forest with very little development.
Location: Piscataquis County, Maine
Photo: explorenewengland
China Lake
The state capital of Maine, Augusta, is only about 20 miles northwest of China Lake. This naturally occurring freshwater glacial lake is located in the geographic region of the Kennebec and Moose River Valleys in Kennebec County, southwest Maine. China Lake is a body of water with an asymmetrical shape and two distinct basins, the West Basin and the East Basin. A little channel runs between them.
People who wish to spend a vacation in New England could picture the region’s rolling meadows, luxuriant green trees, small-town farmsteads, and grazing animals. The region surrounding China Lake actually fits that idyllic vision fairly well. Although there are many chain hotels and motels in this tranquil rural area, renting a cottage or a cabin for a holiday is the best option. Most of these rental properties are distinctive, individually owned, and lovingly maintained by locals who love living in Maine and wouldn’t consider living anyplace else.
China Lake is well located for tourists who want to visit a beautiful lake that isn’t too far off the beaten path because it is a fantastic place for water recreation and outdoor visual splendor.
Although neither section of the lake has swimming beaches, both sections have public launches, making it a very popular place for power boating and kayaking. Causeway Road in China Village serves as the east basin entry, while Vassalboro’s Route 32 serves as the west basin access.
The east basin’s maximum depth is 50 feet, therefore warmer water species can be found there. Landlocked salmon, brown and lake trout, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and other species are frequently caught in the deeper waters of the West basin.
Photo: lakelubbers
Photo: maineanencyclopedia
Megunticook Lake
Megunticook Lake is a freshwater option for swimmers and kayakers in Camden that is close to the ocean. Barrett’s Cove Public Beach is a town-owned area that is free to visitors and is located in Camden Hills State Park at the foot of Mount Battie’s 800-foot Maiden Cliffs.
There are restrooms, picnic tables, a playground, and shallow roped areas for small children and a diving float further offshore at the beach. Kayaks can be launched from the shore, the public boat ramp a short distance up Route 52, or the public ramp off Route 105 on the other side of the lake.
The Fernald’s Neck Preserve, which almost resembles an island and protrudes into the middle of the lake, offers simple walking routes that lead to enormous rocks that were deposited by retreating glaciers and probably scraped off Maiden Cliffs.
Location: Knox County, Maine
Photo: onthewaterinmaine
Long Lake
Long Lake is an 11-mile-long body of water that was originally accessible from Portland port by a canal. Like many of the lakes in New England, Long Lake was created by retreating glaciers. At Songo Lock, a canal lock still exists, and it currently regulates the water level to stop spring runoff floods.
From the Songo River causeway, which has benches and a bike path, you can see the lake and the mountains beyond it. Consider taking a floatplane tour with Naples Seaplane Adventures or a journey on the Songo River Queen paddleboat for additional perspectives of Long Lake.
The Songo River Queen, a reproduction of the Mississippi River paddle wheelers, cruises up one coast, crosses the lake, and then returns down the opposite shore, so the landscape is continuously changing. Look for Drew’s Castle on the boat; Long Lake serves as the backdrop for Stephen King’s suspense novel The Mist.
Location: Naples, Maine
Photo: planetware
Photo: pixels
Damariscotta Lake
Despite being so close to the busy coastal highway, Damariscotta Lake is a pleasantly tranquil place to enjoy kayaking, sailing, or fishing. It is a long lake that is divided into three portions and extends 13 miles from Jefferson to Damariscotta. Because of how clean the waters are, regular visibility is at least ten feet.
Damariscotta Lake State Park, which spans 19 acres at the northern end and has a lengthy sandy beach with a moderate drop into a similarly lengthy region of shallow water, is located there. This makes it a favorite among families, as do the lifeguards who are on duty here. A modest children’s play area, picnic tables with grills (some in forest settings), and lakefront pathways round out the park’s amenities.
With landlocked salmon, smallmouth and largemouth bass, brown and rainbow trout, hornpout, and numerous more species, including a strong alewife run, the fishing is fantastic. On the Spectacle Islands of the lake, you can also camp.
Location: Lincoln County, Maine
Photo: thecommononline
Mooselookmeguntic Lake
Mooselookmeguntic Lake, a massive lake of 25.47 square miles and located on the western edge of Maine near the New Hampshire border, is a portion of the Androscoggin watershed. It is the biggest lake in the Rangely chain (Rangeley, Mooselookmeguntic, and Upper and Lower Richardson Lakes).
The wilderness area known as Mooselookmeguntic is well-known for its brown trout and salmon fishing. It has two islands, Student Island and Toothaker Island, both of which are owned and run as wilderness sport camps by the Steven Phillips Memorial Trust. It is a true outdoor enthusiast’s paradise.
In the Western Shore Preserve, on other islands and along the shore of Lake Mooselookmeguntuc, The Trust offers other campsites. There is no electricity or running water at these wilderness campsites. The Trust does provide canoe rentals, but both these and campsites must be reserved in advance.
A portage from Mooselookmeguntic to Upper and Lower Richardson Lake with a take-out at Richardson Arm is an additional option for exploring this vast wilderness and body of water.
Location: Franklin County and Oxford County, Maine
Photo: bethelhistorical
