8 Finest Lakeside Towns in Maine

Maine’s lake nation delivers actual summer-New England calm. The eight lakeside cities under vary from a 40-square-mile working lake (Moosehead at Greenville) to the Belgrade Lakes Region’s interconnected chain of seven lakes, with mountain views, Appalachian Trail entry, and real chilly Maine water in most of them. Rangeley is a four-season mountain-lake city. Bridgton anchors the Sebago area’s arts scene. Naples connects two lakes by a historic canal lock. Whether packing a picnic for Highland Lake in Bridgton or reserving a scenic flight with Naples Seaplane Adventures, these are Maine’s strongest lakefront picks.

Rangeley

Rangeley sits on Rangeley Lake in western Maine, surrounded by six different linked lakes and the Western Maine Mountains. The city works year-round: Saddleback Mountain for snowboarding in winter, the Appalachian Trail for climbing by spring and fall, and Height of the Land alongside Route 17 for the signature lake-and-mountain vista (one of the crucial photographed overlooks in Maine). Warmer months open up fishing (Rangeley is known for its historic landlocked Atlantic salmon and brook trout fishery), boating, and swimming. Moose sightings are widespread round daybreak and nightfall on the again roads. The Black Pearl handles downtown eating with pizza, salads, and seasonal dishes.

Bridgton

Bridgton is the cultural anchor of the Sebago Lakes Region, with Highland Lake operating by city and Long Lake a number of miles away. Highland Lake Beach affords public swimming and picnic area downtown. Holt Pond Preserve on the sting of city covers 400 acres of bathroom ecosystem with boardwalks for birdwatching. The Rufus Porter Museum of Art and Ingenuity focuses on Rufus Porter, the Nineteenth-century itinerant muralist who based Scientific American journal in 1845; a number of of his murals survive on Bridgton-area partitions. Downtown retail covers Bridgton Books (impartial bookseller), J.Decor (wine and residential items), and Corn Shop Trading Co. (fudge and presents).

Belgrade

Belgrade anchors the Belgrade Lakes Region, a sequence of seven linked lakes in central Maine (Great, Long, Messalonskee, North, East, Snow, and McGrath Ponds). The lakes help paddleboarding, kayaking, swimming, and fishing in summer season, and ice fishing, ice skating, and snowmobiling in winter. Hikers have a number of choices close by: French Mountain (a brief family-friendly path to a panoramic summit over Long Pond), Blueberry Hill, and Mount Phillip. For meals, H.J. Blake’s for Goodness Sakes runs seasonally in heat months with lobster rolls, burgers, and hand-cut fries. Hello, Good Pie Co. is the native pie cease.

Sebago

The city of Sebago sits alongside Sebago Lake, Maine’s second-largest lake at 45 sq. miles (Moosehead is the biggest) and one of many deepest lakes within the state at 316 ft. The water is exceptionally clear, Sebago Lake provides Portland’s consuming water with out filtration. Sebago Lake State Park has over 5 miles of trails and one of the crucial well-liked swimming seashores in southern Maine. Sportsman’s Kitchen and Keg or Richards’ Dairy Delight deal with native eating. Tykona II runs sundown cruises on the lake. The Sebago Historical Society and Museum covers native historical past together with Shaker settlement and early tourism.

Harrison

Harrison sits between Long Lake and Crystal Lake in western Maine, incomes its “two-lake village” id. Power boating is well-liked on Long Lake, which connects by way of the Songo River to Sebago Lake. Scribner’s Mill Preservation on the Crooked River preserves a working Nineteenth-century water-powered sawmill the place guests can see 1800s industrial woodworking demonstrations. Deertrees Theater and Cultural Center (constructed 1936) runs over 40 productions yearly, operas, live shows, and tribute exhibits. Millie’s on Main serves regionally sourced sandwiches, salads, and tacos.

Greenville

Greenville sits on the southern tip of Moosehead Lake, Maine’s largest lake at 75,000 acres. The city serves because the gateway to the Moosehead Lake area and to Maine’s 100-Mile Wilderness, the longest stretch of the Appalachian Trail with out street crossings or cities. This is among the finest locations in New England to identify moose (the Greenville space has one of many highest moose densities within the decrease 48). Mount Kineo State Park, on a peninsula jutting into the center of Moosehead, options 700-foot rhyolite cliffs, Native Americans quarried stone right here for instruments going again 9,000 years. The Stress Free Moose Pub handles downtown eating and dwell music. Kamp Kamp downtown sells quirky Maine souvenirs.

Naples

Naples sits on the north finish of Long Lake and the south finish of Brandy Pond within the Sebago Lakes Region, with the historic Songo Lock connecting the 2. Songo Lock has operated since 1830 as a part of the Cumberland and Oxford Canal system and nonetheless features manually. On very clear days, Mount Washington in New Hampshire (85 miles northwest) is seen from Naples’s public viewing station. Dingley’s Wharf rents boats and jet skis; Naples Seaplane Adventures affords brief scenic flights over the lakes. Causeway Walk alongside the waterfront holds outlets and Rick’s Cafe. The Naples Information Center covers seasonal occasions and outfitters.

Winthrop

Winthrop is called after John Winthrop, the primary colonial governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony (1629-1649). The city sits within the Winthrop Lakes Region with 11 our bodies of water in and round its boundaries. Winthrop Town Beach on Maranacook Lake is walkable from the downtown village. Cobbosseecontee Lake (regionally “Cobbossee”) is thought for largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing and the 1908 Ladies Delight Lighthouse, one of many few freshwater lighthouses within the US. Downtown outlets embody Freckle Salvage Company for handmade presents. The Winthrop Arts Festival runs every August. White Duck Brew Pub handles made-from-scratch wings, soups, salads, burgers, and extra.

Eight Lakes, Eight Maine Summers

Each city right here builds round a particular lake or chain: Rangeley round its namesake lake within the western mountains, Bridgton and Naples across the Sebago chain, Belgrade across the Seven Lakes, Sebago Lake itself, Harrison between Long and Crystal, Greenville at Moosehead’s southern tip, and Winthrop amongst 11 linked waters. Summer is the apparent season, however fall foliage rivals any New England state and winter brings ice fishing and snowmobiling.