flagstaff & Rangeley lakes
The beauty and abundant recreational offerings are a real treat for those who find their way to the Rangeley and Flagstaff Lakes area. Both are an oasis for those who love to paddle, camp, hike, explore, and most of all fish! World-renowned for trout and salmon, anglers of all skill levels will doubtless enjoy their time here. Paddlers can complete a leg (or two) of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail. Rangeley Lake State Park offers easy access to nearby ATV trails, challenging hikes, and epic climbing. In winter, the area becomes a playground for ice fishing and snowmobiling.
Visiting sightseers have equally matched options for taking in unending scenic beauty. From the Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway, make time to stop at Height of Land and Mooselookmeguntic. Visit the Oquossoc Log Church and marvel at the mesmerizing 54-foot drop of Smalls Falls as you go.
Flagstaff Lake is another spectacular year-round playground for outdoor hedonists. In summer, hiking trails lead to panoramic views, while wintertime transforms the lake into a hub for ice fishing and Nordic skiing. Starting in Kingfield, the Maine High Peaks Scenic Byway passes historic towns, rushing rivers, Flagstaff Lake, countless captivating mountain peaks, the villages of Eustis and Stratton, the Sugarloaf Mountain Resort, Flagstaff Lake, and the Bigelow Preserve.
must visit spots
Height of Land
The Height of Land scenic overlook offers breathtaking unspoiled vistas along the Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway. This spot is considered one of the most impressive overlooks in New England, with broad views of the Richardson Lakes, the White Mountains, and Mooselookmeguntic.
The verdant tree-lined lake landscape offers the perfect setting to stop and breathe the fresh mountain air, stretch your legs, and capture that postcard-perfect picture.
Rangeley Lake State Park
Rangeley Lake State Park covers nearly 900 acres deep in Maine’s Western Mountains. Nature enthusiasts enjoy hiking, picnicking, camping, wildlife observation, photography, and winter sports. Meanwhile, sport anglers know that the lake’s pristine waters are home to a world-renowned population of landlocked salmon and trout. The park also gives easy access to ATV riding and snowmobiling, and the campground has a spectacular view of Saddleback Mountain.
Northern Forest Canoe Trail - Sections 8 & 9
Sections 8 and 9 of this storied 740-mile water trail comprise a 91-mile paddle through the region. The first leg is a 37-mile section from the Lake Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge, through the Richardson Lakes, famed Mooselookmeguntic, and into Rangeley Lake. Section 9 follows the South Branch of the Dead River across Flagstaff Lake, a serpentine-shaped hydroelectric impoundment, ending at Grand Falls.
the areas lakes, ponds and waterways
Ways to Adventure
On the Water
Paddling
Paddling is an exceptional way to explore, whether you canoe, kayak, or paddleboard. Regardless of your skill level, there are various ways to grow your passion for paddling in the region.
On the Water
Fishing
An endless supply of cold, swift-running streams and rivers, and nearly every pond or lake offers up a fishing challenge, whether summer or winter, from the shore, in waders, on a boat, or through a hole in the ice.
On the Water
Beaches
Maine’s Lakes and Mountains overflows with freshwater beaches in state and local parks, campgrounds or town lakes. Enjoy the easy refreshment of a dip in crystal-clear lakes set like jewels amid lush green forests.
On the Water
Canoe Trips
Canoers will discover adventure, solitude, and camaraderie on western Maine’s waterways. Plus, they’ll experience the joy of dipping a paddle in a clear pond that reflects the sky, clouds, and mountains.
On the Water
Boating
The region’s hundreds of lakes and ponds offer myriad freshwater experiences, whether a casual jaunt aboard a pontoon boat to view wildlife, a scenic lake cruise, or the high-speed excitement of water skiing.
Nature and Wildlife
Moose Spotting
You can spot moose throughout most of Maine, but their population is most significant in more secluded areas, including much of Maine’s Lakes and Mountains.
Nature and Wildlife
birding
The forests, fields, and wetlands of Maine’s Lakes and Mountains are the ideal setting to experience the thrill of birdwatching. Many highly coveted species can be found in the area’s boreal forests, including woodpeckers and Bicknell’s Thrush.
Plan Your Trip
Maine’s Lakes and Mountains offers a variety of resources to help you plan your next visit, including an annual visitor’s guide, stand alone map, and the new Adventure Guide App.
Visitor's Guide
Our Free Visitor's Guide will help inspire your next adventure along our mountain trails, lakes, scenic byways, bustling towns and more.
Map of the Region
Companion to the Visitor Guide, our dual-sided planning map will help you find your way to adventure in every season throughout the region.
Adventure Guide App
The App will point the way to all kinds of adventures, experiences and destinations in Maine’s Lakes and Mountains with GPS location maps and alerts.
