parks and preserves
It is important to make time to enjoy the great outdoors in Maine’s Lakes & Mountains. Look at all you can do in the “out of doors” here; it may be hard to choose what to do first. These are wild, serene, ageless places, each as different as the next, with each trail leading to a different ending. Spending time in our state parks and public reserved lands gives meaning to the visionary work of those who made these parks a reality. The success of parks and preserves should be tallied in miles climbed, hiked, peddled, paddled, or swum and not in rows and columns of a spreadsheet.
Our lakeside retreats and mountain enclaves are opportunities to experience this grandeur firsthand. Saddle up for a thrilling ATV ride across an open field, chasing the sunset. Lean in, then pull a monster fish through a hole in the ice. Take a dip again and again (and again) in Webb Lake at Mt. Blue SP, hike to Screw Auger Falls, watch as the kids paddle the breadth of Thompson Lake for the first time, or relax by a quiet lake and sharing a romantic fireside moment.
Whether you choose summertime family fun at Range Pond, challenge yourself to endless miles of off-the-grid hiking, or pack out for a full day of snowmobiling to Grand Falls and back, the Parks, Preserves, and Public Reserved Lands spread out across Maine’s Lakes and mountains offer endless recreation in all four seasons.
NORTHERN FOREST CANOE TRAIL
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.
White Mountain National Forest
Made up of nearly 800,000 acres in western Maine and New Hampshire, with 1,200 miles of hiking trails, 400 miles of snowmobile trails, 23 campgrounds, and ten total alpine and touring ski areas.
STATE PARKS
Androscoggin Riverlands State Park
This 2,675-acre park, nestled along the banks of the Androscoggin River, invites visitors to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors on its trails that wind through lush forests, offering picturesque views of the river. Wildlife enthusiasts will find majestic eagles soaring overhead.
The Androscoggin River is an ideal place for kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. The park also features picnic spots, open fields, and shaded groves making it an ideal getaway right nearby to the cities of Lewiston and Auburn.
Grafton Notch State Park
Stretching across 3,000 acres, the Grafton Notch State Park covers a portion of scenic Route 26 and provides access to the Appalachian Trail, Moose Cave, Spruce Meadow, and Screw Auger Falls. Visitors can enjoy picnicking, bird-watching, hiking, waterfalls, and fishing in Summer, then Nordic Skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling after the snow flies.
Grafton Notch itself is a classic example of a U-shaped valley carved by the glacier during the last ice age.
Mt. Blue State Park
Mt. Blue State Park is Maine’s largest state park, encompassing approximately 8,000 acres in two sections separated by Webb Lake. A campground in the Webb Beach section has 136 wooded sites a short walk from a sandy beach and picnic area.
The centerpiece of the Park, 3,187-foot Mt. Blue, is a popular day-hike. Mountain bikers, equestrians, and ATV riders can experience 25 miles of challenging, multi-use trails. In winter, there is snowmobiling, snowshoeing and Nordic skiing, while families can sled at Center Hill and skate on an outdoor ice rink.
Range Pond State Park
Just a short drive from Lewiston-Auburn, the park welcomes visitors who enjoy the wide sandy beach as they swim, picnic and play. Walks on the two-miles of easy trails comprised of old logging roads and railroad beds are a must.
Most activity centers on the waterfront which is easily accessible because of the smooth, surfaced promenade that parallels the pond for 1000 feet immediately next to the beach. Small boats, canoes, kayaks and windsurf boards dot the water’s surface.
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.
sebago Lake State PArk
One of Maine’s first and, by far, one of the state’s most popular parks is Sebago Lake State Park, set on the lake’s north shore. In addition to extensive recreational day use, the park’s campground is popular with families.
Besides its sandy, swimmable beaches and sheltered wooded areas, the park offers picnic areas and boat launches, paddling, hiking, bicycling, and fishing in warm weather, and Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, and ice fishing during the winter.
Public Reserved Lands
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.
Adventure Respectfully
Our lakes, mountains, and forests are worthy of respect. Whether you’re venturing out into our vast public or private lands or parks, here’s what you can do to conserve the area’s natural resources for all.
other resources
Take Care of the Land
Tread lightly and leave no trace. Keep this place as pristine as you found it.
Where ya headed?
Check if you’ll be on public or private land and if there are any restrictions or fees. Always research your destination ahead of time.
Stick to established trails & roads.
Whether hiking, biking, angling, or ATVing, always stay on a designated trail.
DON’T DAMAGE TREES
To protect the forest, only build fires in approved sites, don’t leave them unattended, and extinguish them thoroughly.
Avoid spreading invasive species.
Don’t transport firewood, brush your boots, and wash and dry your boat before heading to your next adventure.
Avoid peak hours
Plan around peak hours midday to avoid crowds. Have a Plan B in case the parking lot is already full.
No litterbugs allowed
If you pack it in, pack it out, including food waste like apple cores. Bring bags for pet waste.
When nature calls
If you have to go, pick a spot at least 100′ off the trail or away from a body of water, and bury your poop 6″ deep.
