Attean Pond, Jackman Area
While I don’t get to spend nearly enough time on it, my favorite Maine lake is Attean Pond near Jackman. I first discovered this wonderful place as a little kid when my parents took my siblings and me there on day trips from our nearby camp on Long Pond. Returning to Attean recently with my own small kids really made me appreciate just how special this lake is. Nestled among the western mountains, there are next to no roads leading to Attean’s shores, which has meant limited development but not limited access to a myriad of recreational activities. Love canoeing or kayaking? Attean is the start (and end!) for the Bow Trip, a rare looping canoe trip that allows folks to experience the headwaters of the Moose River as it begins its long journey, eventually emptying into Moosehead Lake in Rockwood. The 34-mile trip includes stretches of whitewater, rustic tent sites, and plenty of wildlife (including the namesake moose). Hiking more of your thing? Sally Mountain provides stunning views of Attean and the rest of the region. The trailhead can be accessed either by a long walk along railroad tracks, or by paddling across to Sally Beach, a gorgeous, sandy beach campground, well worth spending a night at. Only have a few hours to spare? I especially love Attean’s dozens of islands. A handful of the larger ones have camps on them, but the majority are untouched and ripe for daytrip exploration. It’s a truly special place and well worth a visit!
Lakes of Acadia National Park
With more than 6,000 lakes and ponds in Maine, it’s not easy picking a favorite. So let me describe a group of lakes that are among our favorites: the lakes and ponds located within Acadia National Park. My family loves Echo Lake late in the day during the shoulder seasons and looking down on it from the top of Beech Cliffs. There’s a great swimming spot a mile up the west side of Long Lake, on the trail from the southern end. Swimming in Sargent Pond, between Penobscot Mountain and Sargent Mountain, is great fun. Jordan Pond is lovely from all directions. We enjoy the solitude of Lake Wood, near the top of the island. But perhaps our favorite is The Bowl. There’s nothing quite like taking the Island Explorer to Sieur de Monts, hiking up the Beachcroft Trail to Champlain Mountain, then down the South Ridge Trail, stopping for a swim at The Bowl, then hiking out for a shuttle back from Sand Beach. We’ve done that hike/swim combo many times and will do it many times more. People love the lakes in Maine for recreation, solitude, family memories, and traditions. We haven’t met many that we didn’t at least like, and many compete for “favorites.”
Wilson Lake (also known as Wilson Pond), Wilton
Wilson Lake holds a three-generation legacy for me. It all began when my wife Martha and I moved to Wilton, Maine, with our daughter Emma (age 4) and son Ben (8 months). We soon gravitated to Wilson Lake and swimming, canoeing, and kayaking. As Emma and Ben grew older, they took swimming lessons at Kineowatha Park. The lake and park remained a focus of their energies through their high school years, while Martha and I became involved with our local lake association, Friends of Wilson Lake (FOWL). After Emma and Ben moved on with their adult lives, the lake remained central to their returns home. And with Ben and wife Lauren came the third generation of Livelys enjoying the lake, their daughters/our granddaughters Delphine and Marian. During one visit, we surprised the girls with a “gift” of an island we purchased at a town auction. They were excited, and we quickly got to work naming it. DELphine and MARian soon came up with “DELMAR Island.” This photo shows Delphine (R) and Marian (L) with the sign they created to christen the island, seen behind us. They loved it. After the visit, Delphine went home and told her teacher, “I own an island in Maine!” We treasure the legacy of three generations of wonderful memories on Wilson Lake.
Sebago Lake, Naples
If you had asked me a few years ago about my favorite lake, I would have said Lower Narrows Pond in Winthrop, where I spent many summers as a staff member at Camp Mechuwana. But, for the last few years, since we purchased a pontoon boat in 2022, my husband and I have spent almost all of our summer and fall weekends enjoying Sebago Lake, as well as Brandy Pond and Long Lake in Naples. There is nothing more relaxing than spending time on Sebago. It’s such a large lake that even when there are lots of other people enjoying it, you feel like you have it to yourself. I enjoy watching for wildlife as we head toward Frye Island or over to Nason’s Beach. I find the time I spend on or in the lake to be incredibly relaxing and restorative. Maine’s lakes are a gift that I don’t take for granted. We are lucky to have such clean, accessible lakes in all parts of our state.
Round Pond, Allagash Wilderness Waterway
I make a point to visit Ciss Stream Bridge on Round Pond every time I’m fishing in the Allagash Wilderness Waterway. Whether the fishing is hit or miss, I never pass up the chance to stop there at least once or twice during my stay. Over the years, it has offered more than just fishing—watching eagles dive for fish, spotting moose wading along the shoreline, and even the unforgettable surprise of “Filipe,” the horned pout I caught in 2018. There are always salmon, perch, and, of course, chubs to be caught as well, adding to the experience. I truly love the Allagash and take every opportunity I can to fish and enjoy its beauty. Sharing it with friends makes it even more special, and I hope they come to appreciate—and return to—this remarkable place as much as I do.
South Twin Lake, Millinocket
Kezar Lake, Lovell
Sebec Lake, Dover-Foxcroft, Bowerbank, Sebec Village, & Willimantic
Although I have many fond memories of times spent at family camps on Boyd Lake and Bonny Eagle, my heart belongs to Sebec Lake. My mom and her siblings grew up in Brownville, so I’ve been familiar with that area for years. An aunt and uncle had a seasonal log home on Sebec Lake; as a kid, catching bullfrogs with their dog, Lady, was a favorite past time. Fast forward to the fall of 1994, when my husband and I were there to celebrate our anniversary. On our final boat ride for the season, we came upon a piece of property for sale. In a secluded cove. With a westerly view of Borestone Mountain. And stunning sunsets. I’m sure our memories are much like those of anyone who spends time on their favorite lake or pond: boating, tubing, swimming, kayaking, fishing, reading in the hammock, and treasuring the various wildlife sightings. But what’s special about Sebec Lake? Its shorelines are shared by four towns: Dover Foxcroft, Bowerbank, Sebec Village, and Willimantic. Massive rocks randomly left behind by the glaciers. Peaks Kenny State Park. A “White Castle”—not a burger joint, but a real castle, built in 1893. Ice caves. Our own Titanic: the 1887 steamship The Marion, sunk in Buck’s Cove. Most of all? So many memories, founded in love and gratitude.
Range Pond, Poland
Range Pond holds a special place in my life. Growing up in Androscoggin County, it was somewhere we returned to again and again, especially on hot summer days. It remains the site of our family reunion each July. When my children were young, travel was not always within reach, but spending time outdoors was always important. Maine made that possible. Each year, we purchased a State Park Pass and set out to explore, and Range Pond State Park continued to be one of our favorite destinations. In those early years, after long days of work and school, we would pack Italian sandwiches and snacks for a picnic by the water. The kids would play in the lake until dusk, stretching every last moment out of the day. We wandered the nearby trails, shared our first kayaking adventure, and kept a steady watch for eagles and other wildlife. Range Pond is more than a place on the map for me; it’s a collection of memories, rooted in simple moments and the quiet beauty of Maine’s outdoors.
Narrows Pond, Winthrop
Nestled in between Annabessacook and Cobbosseecontee Lakes, Narrows Pond is a quiet and peaceful spot for any nature lover. The pond, separated into Upper and Lower by a narrow causeway, may be smaller than the neighboring lakes, but in my opinion, matches their natural beauty in stride. Growing up, my friend and I, often with other friends, would head over to the boat landing from his grandmother’s house at least once a week during the summer. We were there so often we managed to manicure ourselves a rockpile so that we could play what we termed “The ball game,” a more competitive (and often much rougher) version of catch. We would often take our kayaks out and paddle around both ponds, crossing underneath the road through a small tunnel near the boat landing. To the chagrin of any arachnophobes, there was a sizable population of large spiders living in that tunnel. They would hang from their webs, mere inches from us as we passed through. The lakes often felt special because we often had our spot all to ourselves. Despite friends growing up and moving away, we’ll always have the memories we made at the Narrows.
Moosehead Lake, Greenville, Beaver Cove, Rockwood, Shirley, & Monson
We’ve camped at Lily Bay State Park every summer since we were born, and it’s one of our favorite places to visit. It’s also really special because our mom and grandparents love it here, too. Some of our favorite memories include Louis learning how to swim for the first time and Leon falling out of our canoe for the first time (we scooped him back up!). And we have both earned our Junior Ranger badges from the State Park. There is so much to do, and every visit feels like a new adventure. We like to canoe out to the little islands in the lake, where we can swim, fish, and explore. We always see a lot of wildlife at Moosehead: deer, loons, ducks, and moose, of course. Last year, a moose walked through the campground right near our campsite! The lake looks like a moose’s head, and there are many islands in the lake. The water is cold but refreshing, especially on hot days. Near our campsite, there are often lily pads, and we can hear the loons at night. We also love going into Greenville for ice cream and to visit the Moosehead Marine Museum. It’s really fun to ride the Kate boat out on the lake. There are fun kids’ activities on board, and they even let us steer the big wheel, which made us feel like real captains. Another fun way to explore Moosehead is staying at The Birches in Rockwood or taking the water taxi over to Kineo, where the cliffs are huge and there’s a lot more to explore. We’ve even come here in the winter to go skiing and watch ski planes land right on the frozen lake. No matter the season, Moosehead Lake is full of fun, family, and adventure, which is why we all love it so much.
