Location: Byron, Oxford County Description: Coos Canyon is a roadside park carved out of the Swift River. Erosion has chiseled steep cliffs on both sides of the river. There are pools to swim in, flat rocks to sit on while you sift for gold, 15-foot cliffs to jump from, smooth rocks to slide down. The Read More
Swimming
Do you have a favorite summer swimming hole? A place that you like to spend warm summer days in Maine? Here are some great spots to visit for a swim with your family and friends to enjoy Maine's clean, refreshing waters.
Halifax Island
Chosen By: Emmie Theberge, Outreach Director Location: Outer Englishman Bay, Jonesport, Washington County Description: Halifax Island is an outer island in the Roque Archipelago in Englishman Bay. This publicly owned island is part of the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It’s also along the Maine Island Read More
Jamies Pond Wildlife Management Area
Chosen By: Emmie Theberge, Outreach Director Location: Hallowell, Kennebec County Description: Jamies Pond Wildlife Management Area is publicly owned and managed by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. This 840-acre property was originally purchased with help from the Land for Maine’s Future program. Jamies Pond is open for a variety of public uses, Read More
Long Island
Chosen By: Toby Kilgore, Grants Manager Location: Casco Bay, Cumberland County Description: Long Island is located in Casco Bay, accessible by private boat, water taxi, or a 45-minute ferry ride from Portland. It was first settled in the 1700s and was part of the City of Portland until it became a town in 1993. Long Read More
Penobscot Mountain—Sargent Mountain hike, with swim at Sargent Pond
Chosen By: Pete Didisheim, Senior Director of Advocacy Location: Acadia National Park, Hancock County Description: To hike the Penobscot Mountain—Sargent Mountain loop, go to the Jordan Pond House and walk behind the building, to the left, to find the trailhead marker. The trail winds through woods, over streams, crosses the famous carriage roads, and includes Read More
Smalls Falls
Chosen By: Beth Comeau, Communications Manager Location: Madrid, Franklin County Description: A 54-foot waterfall on the Sandy River Activities: Swimming, hiking, photography, picnicking Favorite season to visit: Early fall Why it’s special: This waterfall is beautiful! You can hike up to the top, swim in the fresh, clean water at the bottom of the falls, Read More
Tunk Lake Area, including Donnell Pond and Spring River Lake
Tunk Lake Area, including Donnell Pond and Spring River Lake Location: In and around Township 10 SD, 12 miles east of Ellsworth, Hancock County Description: The Donnell Pond Public Reserved Land unit includes mountains, pristine lakes, and remote ponds all spread out over 14,000 acres in eastern Maine. There are sites for camping along the pond’s beaches, Read More
Pocomoonshine Lake
A Land for Maine’s Future program grant helped the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife acquire land alongside the Town of Princeton’s boat launch on Pocomoonshine Lake. The increased lake frontage will allow for parking and a turnaround at this popular sport fishing site, and will create safer opportunities for swimming (situated farther from Read More
Rangeley Lakes Region
The Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) program has helped to conserve three recreational gems in the Rangeley Lakes region. An LMF grant enabled Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust to purchase Bald Mountain from International Paper. The Trust subsequently transferred this 1,873-acre tract to the Bureau of Parks and Lands for management as the Bald Mountain Public Reserve. A Read More
