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    Range Ponds State Park

    4.7 (12 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 4:30 pm

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    Time for some sun!
    Karac N.

    Love this place. One of the most relaxing places in Maine! We take our kids here basically every other weekend in the summer. Making a 45 minute drive, when there are beaches 10 minutes away, should show how awesome this place is! The kids love it, more than the ocean. The calmness of the water, and the fact that the water tends to be quite a bit warmer definitely adds to the awesomeness. Add in the fact there is still nice squishy sand between your toes, and it's like the beach but on steroids. A lifeguard is present to help keep the kids safe, and even when it is busy, there is still a sense of calm. There are people cooking out, relaxing in the sun, swimming in the warm water... everyone is just having a great time when they are here. Awesome people watching as well, always some kayakers and paddle boarders to watch. The bathrooms and changing rooms are always clean and well maintained. The foot washing stations on the way out are better than any I've seen anywhere else, and the nice wooden walkway is fantastic for after you wash off. Hate those beaches where you wash off then continue to walk through the sand! Head here, but get here early. This place can fill up on the sunny Saturday's, so I suggest being here by 9am. Get your spot and relax the day away. You won't be sad you did!

    Sand, water, trees, kids playing

    No lifeguards here for a Saturday. Some trash on the beach. Kayakers and paddle boarders are getting close to the buoys. The playground is always crowded and the kids push and shove. No parents watch their kids over there.

    Such a gorgeous day!! Range Pond State Park
    Cindi W.

    I had the whole park to myself it seemed. Sparkling autumn day and crisp air. Nice trails and they put up some newer signs. I hiked on both areas of the park. Such a great place the best escape ever in Maine.

    Trails galore!
    ButtAh f.

    This place is truly lovely! It's so close to Portland yet you feel so removed from the urban bustle. We came to picnic and kayak and we happily succeeded. This place is gorgeous and welcoming... Busy but not crowded. Great place to spend a summer afternoon. Definitely recommend this place.

    Range lake with the grandkids.   Above average water quality.   Oh yeah.  88 and humidity. Nice breeze.

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    10 months ago

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    7 years ago

    Crowded! Often no lifeguard. High fees. Water is clean. Bathroom needs to be updated. Best part is it is close to home.

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    Ask the Community - Range Ponds State Park

    Review Highlights - Range Ponds State Park

    Accessible beach with a paved promenade and even has a water wheelchair and dock for access into the pond.

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    Androscoggin Riverlands State Park

    Androscoggin Riverlands State Park

    5.0(1 review)
    17.2 mi

    Maine Trip #1…read more "Something will have gone out of us as a people if we ever let the remaining wilderness be destroyed ... We simply need that wild country available to us, even if we never do more than drive to its edge and look in." ― Wallace Stegner, The Sound of Mountain Water Androscoggin Riverlands State Park (ARSP) first came to my attention while in Maine visiting my family. I had never heard of it before, and when I did some research, I found out why. ARSP opened six years ago, but hardly anyone was using this amazing park. A year ago, they put up more trail signs in order to encourage people to visit, in the hopes that they won't be so nervous about getting lost in the 2,700 acres, 12 miles of river frontage, and 22 miles of trails. History: The Androscoggin River is the 3rd largest river in Maine, and it begins in the mountains of New Hampshire. The Native Americans camped and fished for at least 9,000 years, and they gave the river its name--meaning "plenty of fish." Thanks to riverfront industries, the Androscoggin River became one of the ten most polluted rivers in the country back in the 1960s, but thankfully, the Clean Water Act in 1972 helped water quality improved tremendously. Amenities: * Toilet (outhouse--these things are probably way better than portable toilets. Open-air and wood building makes for no odor. * Large, dirt parking lot * No fee * ATV riding * Canoeing * Cross-country skiing * Fishing * Hiking (trails) * Horseback riding * Hunting (except Sundays) * Kayaking (two water landings) * Off-road biking * Picnicking * Snowmobiling * Snowshoeing * Watchable wildlife * Carry In-Carry Out * Pets welcome (on a leash at all times) * 8 old foundations show the community that existed here before 1927 I had a wonderful time hiking the Homestead Trail. It has several different terrain and lots to see. Unfortunately, I didn't know exactly how far the trail would go, so I turned around. (I now have a trail map and will post it.) At one point, I did lose cell signal so be prepared for that. Make sure you bring bug spray! I didn't see a single soul while I was on my hike, which is wonderful for me. I love the solitude and the "wilderness" at ARSP. I think you will too.

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    Androscoggin Riverlands State Park
    Androscoggin Riverlands State Park - Blue Mud Wasp

    Blue Mud Wasp

    Androscoggin Riverlands State Park - Blue Mud Wasp

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    Blue Mud Wasp

    Mount Apatite

    Mount Apatite

    4.3(3 reviews)
    4.4 mi

    Mount Apatite is unlike many other networks of trails as it offers some really interesting…read moreabandoned quarries. These mining areas used to be rich in apatite and tourmaline, but mostly are abundant in quartz and mica now. You will for sure see families chipping away at boulders and panning in the water for gems and even gold. There was an area where you could crawl into the ground/under the enormous boulders and see a car-sized quartz amidst tree roots. Very, very cool. As was the beach-like/snow-like slag piles and the opportunity to get pretty high on the quarry ledges. I do a lot of hiking/nature walks/trail exploration and my biggest frustration with Mount Apatite is the underwhelming amount of signage. For example, there's no kiosk with a trail map; this wouldn't necessarily be a problem if the trails were properly marked, but they're not and there's only two: blue and red. The blue trail is 99% marked; the red trail is 99% not marked. Despite being seasoned, we still somehow ended up in people's backyards more than once. Just some "Private Property" signs on those dead end trails, or even some wooden signs pointing to the quarries or height of land would be appreciated. Also - the abundance of trash was pretty off-putting. CARRY IN, CARRY OUT. The amount of plastic bottles, Dunkin cups, and food wrappers was astounding. All in all, I probably wouldn't explore this particular spot again, but definitely love that such an expansive, unique spot exists in Auburn.

    Need an adventure that not only takes you past military vehicles, hikes you up a small mountain,…read morebut also gives you a mining experience?? This is the place! With a short walk straight up the main trail you will find numerous dig spots that hold numerous types of rocks including Apatite, Tourmaline, and Quartz. Some of the quarries have filled with water and are speckled with frogs and other creatures. This became a fascination to my friend's son who I had with me as the frogs were in their froglet stage. He spent time counting and recounting how many he could see (we got up to 40), skipping rocks, and walking around the edge to explore. We hit up several dig spots, each one of them was cooler than the previous according to my buddy. There was many "Whoa, Miss Mary, check this one out". We brought garden tools to chip away and dig up our treasures. Our last spot we hit also had a nice view of the Auburn area. On the way down we explored one of the many side trails that many mountain bikers use. I guess I see a reason to coming back soon!

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    Mount Apatite
    Mount Apatite
    Mount Apatite

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    Range Ponds State Park - hiking - Updated August 2026

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