Sebago Lake is the lake that Portland drinks. Literally.
Sebago Lake
Swim at Sebago Lake State Park
On summer weekends, be there when the gate opens at 9 AM.
- Depth
- 316 feet, the deepest lake in Maine
- Size
- 28,771 acres, the second largest in Maine
- From Portland
- About 45 minutes on Route 302
- State park day use
- $8 non-resident adults, $6 Maine residents
Sebago supplies Greater Portland’s drinking water, which is why the water is so clean and building along the shore is (mostly) limited. It is also the warmest large swimming lake in southern Maine. When July heats up Portland, half the city drives 45 minutes northwest to swim here.
There is room for everyone. The lake spreads across four towns, with enough coves, points and islands to soak up the summer crowds. On a July Tuesday you can still find a cove with nothing but loon calls and a distant boat motor.
Warmest swimming Peak season
Late July and AugustSurface water reaches 70 to 75°F. On sunny weekends, reach the state park by 9 AM.
Tassel Top gate staffed
Memorial Day to Labor DayRaymond's town beach charges admission at the gatehouse in season.
Songo Lock open
May 1 to October 15Daily, 9 AM to 6 PM. Passage is $7.50 per boat each way.
Salmon near the surface Peak season
May, then September and OctoberTroll streamer flies or small spoons. In summer the salmon go deep.
Smallmouth bass
June to SeptemberFish the coves, the islands and the rocky shoreline.
Swimming
Sebago has one big state park beach, a town beach in Raymond and a few small local spots. Tap a pin for its photo and page.
Sebago Lake State Park Beach
Sebago Lake State Park has the best public beach on the lake. Period. It is a long crescent of clean sand on the north shore, with a gradual entry that suits kids, lifeguards on the main beach in peak summer, bathhouses, and picnic tables under tall pines. You can see your feet in 4 feet of water.
The beach faces south, so it gets sun all day. The sandy bottom runs about 50 yards out before it slowly drops off. Surface water peaks at 70 to 75°F in late July and August, which is downright tropical for Maine.
Kids 5 to 11 pay $1, and children under 5 and Maine seniors 65+ get in free (current fee schedule).
- Day use
- $8 non-resident adults, $6 Maine residents
- Hours
- 9 AM to sunset
The catch: the lot fills. On sunny summer weekends the gate closes to new cars by late morning, and rangers then let one car in for each car that leaves. Arrive at noon and you might wait 30 to 60 minutes. Be there when the gate opens at 9 AM.
The Witch Cove section of the park (the campground side) has a smaller, less-known swim area. It never hits capacity, and the water is just as clean. Ask at the gate about day-use access.
- Adults
- $7, or $5 for Raymond residents
- Kids 3 to 12 and seniors
- $2 to $4
- Gatehouse staffed
- Memorial Day to Labor Day
Tassel Top Beach
Tassel Top Beach is a town-run beach on Sebago’s east shore in Raymond, with over 900 feet of sand. It is smaller than the state park beach but less crowded, with a snack shack and a pavilion (current rates and hours).
The view across the lake toward the White Mountains is excellent.
Other Swimming Access
Most other spots are smaller and less developed:
- Standish Town Beach: a small sandy area on the western shore. Locals-only feel, limited parking.
- Raymond Beach: sand and gravel on Jordan Bay, popular with Raymond families.
- Frye Island: an island town reached by ferry from Raymond Cape. It has a beach, but access is mostly for residents and guests.
Boating
10+ milesof open water from south to north
Sebago is a major boating lake. Nearly 29,000 acres leaves room for everything from sailboats to wakeboard boats to fishing rigs.
The rules are relaxed compared with some heavily managed Maine lakes: motorboats, waterskiing, tubing and wakeboarding are all allowed.
Boat Launches
| Launch | Location | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Park Launch | Casco (North Shore) | Paved ramp | Best maintained; trailered launch capped at $10/vehicle |
| Raymond Cape Launch | Raymond | Paved ramp | Town-operated, good access to Jordan Bay |
| Standish Town Ramp | Standish | Gravel ramp | Free, smaller, less congested |
| Sebago Basin | Windham | Marina + ramp | Full-service marina, fuel, rentals |
| Point Sebago | Casco | Marina + ramp | Resort marina, public launch available |
Fuel: at Sebago Basin Marina (Windham) and Point Sebago (Casco). Fill up before you head for the far parts of the lake.
Sebago can build dangerous waves in strong wind, with over 10 miles of fetch from south to north. Summer afternoon thunderstorms bring sudden high wind and lightning. Check the marine forecast, carry safety gear, and get off the water when storms build. The water is cold enough to cause hypothermia, even in summer, if you are in it for long.
Boat Rentals
No boat? Marinas and outfitters around the lake rent boats and boards by the hour or the day.
- $200 to $400 Pontoon boat Full day, peak season Fishing boats rent by the hour or day too.
- $30 to $50 Kayak or paddleboard Half day Stick to the coves, or paddle the calm Songo River.
The Songo River
The Songo River links Sebago to Long Lake to the north, and paddling it is one of the best lazy days in the region. The river is narrow, winding and sheltered from the wind, the opposite of open Sebago: overhanging trees, lily pads, turtles on logs and kingfishers diving for minnows. It is a 3-mile paddle each way.
The highlight is the Songo Lock, first built in 1830 for the Cumberland and Oxford Canal. It is the canal’s last remaining lock, and it still works. The lockkeeper runs it by hand.
You paddle in, the gates close behind you, the water level changes, and the gates ahead open. It is living history, and kids love the engineering (current hours and fees).
- Open
- May 1 to October 15, 9 AM to 6 PM daily
- Passage
- $7.50 per boat each way, $15 round trip
Paddle upstream from Sebago into the lock for the full experience, then continue into Long Lake or turn around.
Rent a kayak or canoe at the state park for a half-day trip. The river stays calm even when the open lake is too rough to paddle. The round trip from the state park to the lock is about 6 miles and takes 3 to 4 hours at an easy pace.
Fishing
Sebago is where landlocked Atlantic salmon were first identified as a distinct population, in the 1800s. The salmon are still here, along with lake trout (togue), smallmouth bass and brown trout.
What to Target
- Landlocked salmon: the signature fish, averaging 16 to 20 inches. Best in May and in September and October, when they are near the surface. Troll streamer flies or small spoons. In summer they go deep.
- Lake trout (togue): a strong population in the deep basins. Fish them shallow in spring and fall, or 80 to 150 feet down with downriggers in summer. Fish over 10 pounds are possible.
- Smallmouth bass: excellent in the coves, around the islands and along rocky shoreline, June through September, on lures or live bait. They fight hard.
- Brown trout: stocked now and then. Less common, but sometimes caught while trolling.
Fishing Regulations
Sebago has special rules to protect its salmon and lake trout. Check the current MDIFW rules for bag limits, size minimums and bait limits before you fish, and carry a Maine fishing license. For depth, month-by-month water temperatures, current bag limits and every launch, see our full Sebago Lake profile.
Sebago in winter
Sebago is open to ice fishing for lake trout (togue) and landlocked salmon, but salmon caught through the ice must go back, and parts of the lake are off limits. These rules come from the IF&W special fishing laws for 2026.
- Season Sebago is a South Zone lake, so it is open to ice fishing January 1 to December 31 under the general law.
- Salmon and trout go back Release all landlocked salmon and trout (other than lake trout) caught through the ice right away, without taking them out of the water.
- Lake trout No bag limit and no minimum length for togue under 26 inches. Only one may be 26 inches or longer.
- Closed areas No fishing within 100 feet of White's Bridge. Near the Portland Water District intakes in Standish, 3,000 feet is no-trespassing, and out to 2 miles no motor vehicles may go on the ice (snowmobiles and ATVs may).
- Ice-out It varies a lot. The state's ice-out list shows Sebago clearing April 4 in 2026, and in some recent winters the big open lake did not freeze well at all.
- Derby The 2027 Sebago Lake Ice Fishing Derby is set for February 13 and 14, 2027, on lakes across Cumberland County.
Check the ice before you walk out (IF&W says to stay off ice under 4 inches thick), and see our ice fishing gear guide for traps, augers and shelters.
Nearby Hikes
Sebago Lake is in the Greater Portland region, so good hiking is close by.
- Pleasant Mountain (Ledges Trail) About 25 minutes from the state park · 3.6 mi round trip The best hike near Sebago: a moderate climb to the 2,006-foot summit, with open ledge views of Sebago, the White Mountains and the surrounding lakes.
- Douglas Mountain In Sebago A short, easy hike (1.5 miles round trip) to a stone observation tower with views of Sebago Lake and the foothills. Great for young kids.
- Bradbury Mountain Pownal · about 30 minutes from Sebago A 20-minute summit hike in Bradbury Mountain State Park, with views of Casco Bay and the western foothills. An easy first summit for kids.
Streaked Mountain is a fourth choice: a bare granite summit with wide views, about 1.5 miles round trip, near Buckfield and about 40 minutes from Sebago.
Day Trip from Portland
Sebago is one of the best day trips from Portland: about 45 minutes on Route 302 through Windham and Raymond. Here is a full day.
- 9 AM: Beach Reach Sebago Lake State Park before the lot fills. Swim, sunbathe, build sandcastles.
- 11 AM: Paddle to the lock Rent a kayak or canoe and paddle the Songo River to the lock. Eat a packed lunch on the water.
- 2 PM: Swim or hike Head back to the beach, or drive to Pleasant Mountain for a late hike with lake views.
- Evening: Dinner Stop in Bridgton or Naples on the way back. Both sit at the north end of the lake region, with lake-view restaurants.
Pick your crowd. The Naples Causeway is the social scene on summer weekends, with ice cream shops, boat traffic and people-watching.
For the opposite feel, head to the quieter Standish side of the lake.
- Busy side
- Naples Causeway on Route 302
- Quiet side
- Standish, more residential
Camping
Sebago Lake State Park has about 250 campsites in two areas:
- Naples Area: quieter and more wooded, a bit farther from the beach. Better for peace and privacy.
- Witch Cove Area: closer to the beach and boat launch, more family-oriented and social, with some waterfront sites.
Summer weekends book months ahead for July and August; midweek is usually easier. Reserve through CampWithME.com, the state system, which posts current season dates. Private campgrounds line Route 302 and the shores of Long Lake around Naples and Bridgton.
Practical Information
200,000+people served by the Portland Water District, which draws on Sebago
Water quality: Sebago is one of only a handful of US surface water supplies that meet the EPA’s filtration avoidance criteria. In plain English: it is very clean.
Water level: the Portland Water District manages it. Expect high water in spring and low water in late summer and fall, and more exposed shoreline and shallows in low years.
Boat inspections: Maine requires courtesy boat inspections to stop invasive aquatic species. Inspectors work the major launches in peak season, and the 5 to 10 minute check is mandatory. Clean, drain and dry your boat before you launch.
How warm does Sebago Lake get?
Surface temperatures reach 70-75°F in late July and August, which is comfortable for extended swimming. The deeper water stays much colder, below 50°F below 40 feet even in summer. Sebago is one of the warmer large lakes in Maine for swimming.
Can you drink the water from Sebago Lake?
Sebago Lake is Portland's drinking water supply and the water quality is excellent. However, you should not drink untreated lake water directly, use proper filtration or treatment to remove potential bacteria and parasites.
Is Sebago Lake good for kayaking?
Yes, but with caveats. The open lake can build large waves in strong winds. The best kayaking is in the coves, along the sheltered shoreline, and especially on the Songo River, which is calm and protected. Morning paddles on the open lake are best, winds typically pick up in the afternoon.
How far is Sebago Lake from Portland?
About 45 minutes by car. Take Route 302 west through Windham. The state park entrance is in Casco.
Do I need a boat inspection at Sebago Lake?
Yes. Maine law requires courtesy boat inspections at public launches to prevent invasive species. Inspectors check boats at major Sebago launches during peak season. Clean, drain, and dry your boat and trailer before arriving to speed up the process.