Maine's Best Lakes

Explore Maine's best lakes for swimming, fishing, kayaking, and camping.

All Lakes

42 lakes across Maine

Jordan Pond

Jordan Pond

Bar Harbor, acadia

A crystal-clear glacial pond in Acadia National Park, 150 feet deep and framed by the twin rounded peaks of The Bubbles. Home to Jordan Pond House and its famous popovers.

the Bubbles Glacial Pond

Moosehead Lake

Moosehead Lake

Greenville, moosehead

Maine's largest lake at 75,000 acres, stretching 40 miles through the North Woods. World-class fishing, the iconic cliffs of Mount Kineo, and some of the best moose watching in the Northeast.

Greenville Fishing Mount Kineo

Sebago Lake

Sebago Lake

Naples, greater-portland

Maine's second-largest lake and its deepest at 316 feet. Crystal-clear water, outstanding landlocked salmon fishing, and a state park with sandy beaches just 40 minutes from Portland.

greater-portland

Swimming Fishing Landlocked Salmon

Androscoggin Lake greater-portland

Androscoggin Lake

Wayne, greater-portland

A warm, shallow 3,826-acre lake straddling Wayne and Leeds. Popular for bass fishing, kayaking, and easy family recreation with four islands to explore.

greater-portland

Bass Fishing Warm Water Family Friendly

Aziscohos Lake

Aziscohos Lake

Wilson's Mills, western-mountains

A remote 6,700-acre reservoir deep in western Maine's logging country, with cold-water trout, landlocked salmon, spectacular fall color, and very few people.

western-mountains

Remote Trout Fishing Fall Foliage

Boyden Lake downeast

Boyden Lake

Perry, downeast

A 1,702-acre Downeast lake near Eastport with quality smallmouth bass, salmon, and the unhurried pace of Washington County.

Perry Smallmouth Bass Washington County

Branch Lake acadia

Branch Lake

Ellsworth, acadia

A pristine 2,942-acre lake in Ellsworth. Exceptionally clean water, strict boat inspections, and a public forest with trails to the shore. Limited access, big reward.

Clean Water Kayaking Fishing

Brassua Lake

Brassua Lake

Rockwood, moosehead

A wild 9,000-acre reservoir near Moosehead Lake. Landlocked salmon, smallmouth bass, moose sightings, and North Woods solitude in the heart of Somerset County.

Landlocked Salmon Remote Moose

Cathance Lake downeast

Cathance Lake

Calais, downeast

A remote 2,905-acre Downeast lake with excellent bass and salmon fishing, dozens of islands, and miles of undeveloped shoreline.

Fishing Bass Salmon

Chesuncook Lake

Chesuncook Lake

Greenville, moosehead

A remote 25,000-acre wilderness lake in the North Woods, home to Maine's last village with no road, accessed by boat or floatplane.

Remote Floatplane Logging History

China Lake

China Lake

China, midcoast

A 3,942-acre warm-water lake split into two basins near Augusta, with some of the best bass fishing in the state and a quiet public beach on the east shore.

Bass Fishing Warm Water Kennebec County

Clearwater Lake western-mountains

Clearwater Lake

Farmington, western-mountains

A pristine 751-acre lake with exceptional water clarity and a 129-foot depth. Loons, brook trout, and quiet paddling in the western foothills.

western-mountains

Industry Farmington Clear Water

Cobbosseecontee Lake

Cobbosseecontee Lake

Winthrop, greater-portland

A 5,543-acre warm-water lake near Augusta with 62 miles of shoreline. Nationally recognized for largemouth bass and northern pike, with islands and coves.

greater-portland

Bass Fishing Northern Pike Winthrop

Cold Stream Pond

Cold Stream Pond

Lincoln, aroostook-katahdin

A 3,628-acre cold water lake near Lincoln with native togue, landlocked salmon, and depths over 100 feet. One of central Maine's best kept secrets.

aroostook-katahdin

Enfield Lake Trout Togue

Cross Lake

Cross Lake

Fort Kent, aroostook-katahdin

A 2,472-acre lake in the Fish River chain of northern Aroostook County. Brook trout, salmon, and remote wilderness far from the crowds.

aroostook-katahdin

Fish River Chain Aroostook County Brook Trout

Daicey Pond

Daicey Pond

Millinocket, aroostook-katahdin

A 35-acre canoe-only pond in Baxter State Park. Iconic Katahdin reflections, rustic cabins, and true wilderness at its finest.

aroostook-katahdin

Baxter State Park Katahdin Canoe

Damariscotta Lake

Damariscotta Lake

Damariscotta, midcoast

A 4,381-acre midcoast lake spanning three towns, known for its family-friendly state park beach, the historic Damariscotta Mills fish ladder, and fishing for bass, salmon, and trout.

Swimming Fishing Alewife

Eagle Lake (Acadia)

Eagle Lake (Acadia)

Bar Harbor, acadia

The largest lake in Acadia National Park at 436 acres, circled by a scenic 6-mile carriage road and open to paddling but not swimming.

easy 6.1 mi acadia

Carriage Roads Paddling bar Harbor

Echo Lake (Acadia) acadia

Echo Lake (Acadia)

Southwest Harbor, acadia

A 237-acre freshwater lake in Acadia National Park with a sandy swimming beach, warm water, and mountain views. No large motorboats.

Swimming Mount Desert Island Freshwater

Embden Pond moosehead

Embden Pond

Solon, moosehead

A 1,543-acre coldwater lake in Somerset County with wild lake trout, stocked salmon, and the kind of quiet that is hard to find on bigger lakes.

Coldwater Lake Trout Salmon

Flagstaff Lake

Flagstaff Lake

Stratton, western-mountains

A 20,300-acre reservoir created when the Dead River was dammed in 1950, flooding two towns. Bigelow Range views, remote island camping, and serious fishing for brook trout and salmon.

western-mountains

Ghost Towns Bigelow Range Fishing

Graham Lake acadia

Graham Lake

Ellsworth, acadia

A 7,865-acre reservoir near Ellsworth with islands, floating heaths, and good bass fishing. Just minutes from Acadia National Park.

Ellsworth Bass Fishing Reservoir

Great Pond (Belgrade Lakes)

Great Pond (Belgrade Lakes)

Belgrade Lakes Village, greater-portland

Largest of the Belgrade Lakes at 8,239 acres. Inspired On Golden Pond, with excellent bass and trout fishing, island-dotted waters, and classic Maine lake culture.

greater-portland

Fishing Bass Fishing on Golden Pond

Kezar Lake western-mountains

Kezar Lake

Lovell, western-mountains

One of Maine's cleanest lakes, 2,665 acres in the foothills of the White Mountains. Deep, clear water, a 9-mile length, and a shoreline that has stayed remarkably undeveloped.

western-mountains

Lovell Swimming Clean Lake

Long Lake western-mountains

Long Lake

Naples, western-mountains

A 5,295-acre lake stretching 11 miles through Bridgton, Naples, and Harrison, connected to Sebago Lake by the historic Songo Lock. Family boating and summer vacations.

western-mountains

Naples Bridgton Harrison

Megunticook Lake midcoast

Megunticook Lake

Camden, midcoast

Knox County's largest lake at 1,328 acres, ringed by Camden Hills with the Maiden Cliff overlook above and Barrett's Cove beach below. Warm water and scenic swimming.

Camden Lincolnville Maiden Cliff

Mooselookmeguntic Lake

Mooselookmeguntic Lake

Rangeley, western-mountains

Second largest Rangeley Lake at 16,300 acres and 139 feet deep. World-class salmon and brook trout fishing, remote forested shoreline, and big-water paddling.

western-mountains

Rangeley Fishing Landlocked Salmon

Nickerson Lake

Nickerson Lake

Houlton, aroostook-katahdin

A quiet 234-acre coldwater gem in Aroostook County. Deep, clean water supporting brook trout, lake trout, and brown trout far from the crowds.

aroostook-katahdin

Brook Trout Lake Trout Coldwater

North Pond greater-portland

North Pond

Smithfield, greater-portland

A 2,115-acre Belgrade chain lake spanning Smithfield, Rome, and Mercer. Bass, pike, and pickerel with less traffic than its famous neighbors.

greater-portland

Belgrade Lakes Bass Fishing Northern Pike

Pennesseewassee Lake (Norway Lake)

Pennesseewassee Lake (Norway Lake)

Norway, western-mountains

A 922-acre lake stretching five miles through Norway, Maine. Sandy beach swimming, good bass and trout fishing, and a scenic setting in the Oxford Hills.

western-mountains

Norway Maine Swimming Fishing

Pushaw Lake

Pushaw Lake

Bangor, aroostook-katahdin

A 5,056-acre warmwater lake just north of Bangor. Known for trophy northern pike, largemouth bass, and a relaxed, local atmosphere.

aroostook-katahdin

Bass Fishing Northern Pike Warm Water

Rangeley Lake

Rangeley Lake

Rangeley, western-mountains

A 6,000-acre lake at 1,518 feet in the western mountains. Known for landlocked salmon, brook trout, and sweeping views of the surrounding peaks.

western-mountains

Fishing Landlocked Salmon Brook Trout

Schoodic Lake

Schoodic Lake

Brownville, moosehead

A 7,021-acre lake in Maine's North Woods with 188 feet of depth, outstanding togue fishing, and the kind of quiet that bigger lakes lost years ago.

Togue Fishing Large Lake Remote

Thompson Lake western-mountains

Thompson Lake

Oxford, western-mountains

A 4,419-acre spring-fed lake in the top 5% of Maine's cleanest. Sandy beaches, landlocked salmon, togue, and crystal-clear water.

western-mountains

Oxford Landlocked Salmon Lake Trout

Toddy Pond downeast

Toddy Pond

Bucksport, downeast

A 2,408-acre Downeast lake stretching 10 miles through four towns. Salmon, togue, and bass in deep, cold water near Blue Hill.

Surry Orland Blue Hill

Togus Pond greater-portland

Togus Pond

Augusta, greater-portland

A 648-acre warm water pond minutes from Augusta. Brown trout, bass, and pickerel in the shadow of Maine's capital city.

greater-portland

Augusta Brown Trout Smallmouth Bass

Tunk Lake

Tunk Lake

Cherryfield, downeast

A remote 2,072-acre lake in Downeast Maine with deep, clear water and outstanding coldwater fishing. Surrounded by state-protected wilderness.

Remote Lake Fishing Lake Trout

Umbagog Lake western-mountains

Umbagog Lake

Errol, NH, western-mountains

A 7,850-acre wilderness lake straddling the Maine-New Hampshire border. National Wildlife Refuge, moose, nesting loons, and remote paddling.

western-mountains

Wildlife Refuge Moose Loons

Unity Pond midcoast

Unity Pond

Unity, midcoast

Waldo County's largest lake at 2,528 acres. Bass, pike, and pickerel in the heart of rural Maine, minutes from MOFGA's Common Ground Fair.

Lake Winnecook Bass Fishing Northern Pike

Webb Lake

Webb Lake

Weld, western-mountains

Mountain lake in Mount Blue State Park with a sandy beach, excellent trout fishing, and panoramic views of Mount Blue.

western-mountains

Weld Mount Blue State Park Swimming

Wilson Lake

Wilson Lake

Wilton, western-mountains

A 560-acre lake adjacent to downtown Wilton with a sandy town beach, warm-water swimming, and views of Mount Blue on the horizon.

western-mountains

Town Beach Swimming Fishing

Wyman Lake moosehead

Wyman Lake

Bingham, moosehead

A 3,146-acre reservoir on the Kennebec River along Route 201. Deep water, wooded hills, and the scenic Old Canada Road in Somerset County.

Moscow Kennebec River Route 201

What to Do at Maine Lakes

🏊

Swimming

Sandy beaches and clear water at dozens of Maine lakes.

🎣

Fishing

Landlocked salmon, brook trout, and bass in lakes statewide.

🛶

Kayaking

Calm paddling on protected coves and island-dotted lakes.

🏕️

Lakeside Camping

Pitch a tent steps from the water at waterfront campgrounds.

Maine Lake Facts

6,000+ Lakes and Ponds

316 ft Deepest (Sebago)

120 mi² Largest (Moosehead)

32,000 mi Miles of Shoreline

Maine Lake Day Kit

Gear for swimming, paddling, and lakeside days across Maine.

KEEN Newport H2 Sandal $145

Rocky beaches & river crossings

Sea to Summit Lightweight Dry Bag 8L $20

Packable gear protection

JOTO Waterproof Phone Pouch $8

Lake & beach phone protection

Sun Bum SPF 50 Sunscreen $16

Beach & lake days

PackTowl Personal $25

Quick-dry travel towel

Stohlquist Edge PFD $80

Kayaking & canoeing

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