Maine's Best Lakes
Explore Maine's best lakes for swimming, fishing, kayaking, and camping.
Featured Lakes
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.
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.
LAKE 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.
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
All Lakes
42 lakes across Maine
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.
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.
Boyden Lake
Perry, downeast
A 1,702-acre Downeast lake near Eastport with quality smallmouth bass, salmon, and the unhurried pace of Washington County.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
LAKE 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
LAKE 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.
LAKE 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.