We could have stayed all day just admiring the beautiful view, enjoying the sun and the refreshing…read morebreeze. I wish I could live on this pond in the summertime. It really is big enough to be a lake and it goes by a couple of different names. It was quiet with just a few people around. A boat ride around the pond is ideal to fully appreciate the beauty of of the area.

Outdoor enthusiasts- this is your happy place!! I've never seen so many lakes, streams, and remote…read morehiking trails all in one place!! Absolute heaven!! The Rangeley Lakes region is massive and holds six large lakes, as well as hundreds of smaller lakes, ponds, and streams. I started my adventure driving in on the Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway which takes you way up on some ridges with vast sweeping views of the valley that holds gigantic Mooselookmeguntic Lake!! You'll have the opportunity to pull off for photos at Height of Land waypoint and I highly recommend the stop - a great way to start your trip! I based myself out of Rangeley and stayed at the quaint Rangeley Inn & Tavern and it was so perfect! Rangeley is right in the heart of the region and sits between lovely Haley Pond (full of Loons!!) and magnificent Rangeley Lake which has spectacular sunsets and seaplane excursions. Apparently modern day fly fishing was born in this region which doesn't surprise me. This is a sportsman's paradise to be sure! Fishing, hunting, ATVing - all very popular here. As well as hiking and tons of birding! In winter it's all about skiing and snowmobiling. I came to this region in search of moose and explored as much as I could - all the way up to the giant Chain of Ponds pushing up to the Canadian border. And while I didn't find any moose, I still had an amazing adventure and will definitely be back!!

Currently residing in Portland, we are always looking for a new place to easily plop in our canoe &…read morepaddle away during the beautiful summer days. After some online searching, we decided to check out Highland Lake due to the proximity to Portland, boat launch for easy access to the water, and available parking. And what a wonderful decision this was!! When we arrived, there was plenty of parking still available and just a short walk of muscling the canoe to the water. Once we got out onto the lake we saw a variety of water activities: kayaking, fishing, boating, tubing, waterskiing, & jet skiing. Although there were quite a bit of people and activity on the lake, it is definitely large enough to peacefully canoe and still feel immersed in the nature surrounding you.

May the Forest be with You…read more 100-acres of forested land adjacent to Rangeley Lake that was first acquired by the Main Audubon Society back in 1974 before being donated to the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust in 2003. The Good: *Free *1.5-miles of trails that includes some loops *Gorgeous forest and pristine shoreline *Outhouse near the parking area *Leashed dogs ok *Trails are flat and almost no elevation gain, but be wary of the roots. Lots and lots of roots. The Meh: *Trails aren't traditionally marked with signage, but with colored paint on trees. Just follow the dots, á la Pac-Man®, and you'll be fine. Fwiw I walked thru most of the park and only saw red and white dots, but I'd recommend taking a photo of the map before you begin to help. *Small private lot that could fill up fast on busier days, but we pretty much had the place to ourselves. *Not ADA Compliant The Ugly: *Once you make it down to the shore of the lake, you can't really travese the edge of the lake without sinking into the soft ground. I guess if you don't mind wet, muddy feet then go for it. I've been there, done that, and once was enough. :) Conclusion: Fun hike that is low effort with a nice reward.

Profile Lake is a beautiful spot that is designated only for fly fishing (trout). this is also…read morefamous for the old man of the mountain, but that collapsed in 2003. the north side of the lake the "tourist side". That is where the viewing area of the "Old Man of the Mountain" was for years. The viewing area is still there and is accessible from the parking lots of the Cannon Mountain tramway. Unfortunately, the "Old Man" is gone. His visage literally fell off the side of the mountain that he inhabited for millennia.

Upside Town Small…read moreTown m, with a population of ±1,200, located in western Maine, not too far from New Hampshire. It's known for its gigantic (±10sq. miles [±6,300-acres]) lake and is renowned worldwide for its outdoor activities that range from skiing and snow shoeing to sport fishing and all manner of boating activities. The Good: *It sits midway between the equator and the north pole! I mean, not technically, but close enough for gubmint werk. *Free street parking *Lots of options for dining and shopping, and I will say we didn't have a bad meal here. *Locals are friendly. *Lots of smallish hiking places but with amazing views and/or waterfalls. *The lake itself is stunning. *Clean, fresh mountain air *Be sure to checkout the biweekly farmers market. *Cell signal was very not bad for an out in the sticks kinda place. *The drive up here is pretty epic, as well. The Meh: *State Park closes during the winter months so check their website for schedules. We *were* supposed to be arriving during one of their part days to be open, but I guess they ended up closing early for the season to get some maintenance done. We were annoyed but we understood. The Ugly: *The Town itself is very seasonal, as well. With some businesses not open in the winter. Conclusion: Amazing place to visit if you're a avid nature lover and it doesn't hurt that it can also satisfy your inner foodie, as well.

Rangeley is a wonderful little town and is the heart of the Rangeley Lakes region - which is 99%…read moreforest and water lol. Rangeley has a population of around 1500 but expands to around 10,000 during heavy tourist season. It was established in the mid-1800s and is a great place to base yourself out of when exploring the region. For such a small town, there are a surprising variety and number of restaurants and shops - a brew co, weekly farmers market (seasonal I'm sure), a historical society and museum, a movie theater, as well as a fly fishing shop with guide service. This is, apparently, the birthplace of fly fishing after all! Massive Rangeley Lake sits right in town with a lovely park - the sunsets are dramatist and beautiful- and they have water planes landing and taking off right on the lake! I visited during the early fall and it was pretty crowded but not too crazy - I'm sure it gets overrun. Summer is for playing on the water and winter is for skiing. There are so many hiking trails nearby, and ATVs are a big deal here too so there are lots of those trails. Everyone I interacted with was super friendly and so happy to chat -all the food is great. The lakes are breathtaking. I stayed at the Rangeley Inn & Tavern with lovely Haley Pond right behind it and heard the haunting Loons and got my first glimpses of them right from my patio! I loved my time in Rangeley and hope to visit again someday - an outdoor lovers paradise!

Had a fantastic time at Peaks Kenny with the fam in June. Small park with a nice lake. Well…read moremaintained and very attentive Park Rangers. So much so that we got a knock on our camper door only minutes past quiet hours started telling us to turn the movie we were watching down. We visited Bissell Brothers Three Rivers both days we camped, which is sadly not something we'll ever be able to do again. It was about 20 minutes up the road. We also ate at the Quarry in Monson during our stay. Very very windy roads, be careful of wildlife at night.

Lovely state park campground. Not a bad site in the place. Pick one on the outer side of the road…read morefor more privacy. Really nice shower house. Short walk to the beach at Sebec Lake where there's also a playground. We also hiked the birch mountain ledges trail in the park, which was a nice walk. Nothing too difficult but a lot of roots. Our 4yo did it with no issues. Maybe longer than the posted 2.3 miles.

Prong pond is around 10 minutes outside of Greenville, it's a picturesque little pond. We enjoy…read moretaking a few family photos and enjoying God's creation as well just listen to nature. Not a ton of room since your on a boat launch, but worth a drive and a few minutes of your time, who knows maybe you will even see a moose.

We stayed at Whisperwood over the summer and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The owners were more than…read morehelpful and thought of every thing. Our cabin was clean and tidy. The lake is just serene. The boat we rented was a black lund, clean and ran perfectly. The food was plentiful and delicious and wait staff were very courteous. We can't wait to go back. We just booked again!

The place was clean and food was good,staff friendly. The mattress in our cabin (Lake…read moreView)desperately needed to be replaced. Cost per day for renting a small fishing boat were high considering the condition of the boats. Fishing boat fleet could use an upgrade to modern equipment (trolling motors ,seats etc)

We were in the are to go white-water rafting and our guide recommended stopping by Moxie Falls …read more It was a fairly easy hike; the near-peak foliage was gorgeous; and reaching the falls was one of those "perfect moments" in life!

If you are in the area, definitely stop by! It's a ~20 minute walk from the parking lot (free) and…read morenot a bad walk at that. Mostly flat with a couple of hardwood steps at the end. Well-maintained trail. The waterfall was beautiful from all 3 platforms, which provided various angles of the waterfall. If I went back, I'd bring a swimsuit next time- there were a couple families taking a refreshing dip in certain areas at the falls.