ME
Lake beach
Echo Lake Beach (Acadia NP)
Mount Desert, Maine
Acadia NP's freshwater swim beach on the southwest side of Mount Desert Island. Seasonal lifeguard, park fee.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offSwim possible
Refine guidesME
Filters
Guides in Maine
Showing 72 of 612 guides.
MEQuarryThe Ledges
MILLINOCKET, Maine
Flooded granite quarry near Millinocket, Maine. Cold deep water with rough, unmanaged entry.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offSwim possible
MEPondTumbledown Pond (mountain)
Weld, Maine
Alpine-feeling mountain pond on the saddle of Tumbledown Mountain in Weld, Maine. Strenuous hike-in cold swim.
Walk: shortTrail: hardParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3
MEBlockRumford Falls
Rumford, Maine
A major Androscoggin River waterfall through downtown Rumford, Oxford County, Maine.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offNot recommended
MEPunchbowlScrew Auger Falls (Gulf Hagas)
T7 R9 NWP, Maine
Gulf Hagas Screw Auger Falls: slot-canyon chute on the West Branch Pleasant River in T7 R9 NWP, Piscataquis County.
Walk: shortTrail: hardParking: roadside / pull-offWading / shallow
METieredSwift River Falls
Roxbury, Maine
Tiered drop on the Swift River in Roxbury, Maine. Roadside scenic stop along the Route 17 corridor.
Walk: shortTrail: moderateParking: roadside / pull-offNot recommended
MEPlungeMoxie Falls
Moxie Gore, Maine
A roughly 90-foot single-drop waterfall on Moxie Stream in Moxie Gore near The Forks, Somerset County, Maine.
Walk: shortTrail: easyParking: trailheadNot recommended
MEMulti StepGulf Hagas
Bowdoin College Grant East, Maine
Maine's classic slate gorge on the West Branch Pleasant River in the KI Jo-Mary country. 8-mile AT-linked loop.
Walk: shortTrail: hardParking: roadside / pull-offNot recommended
MEPunchbowlRattlesnake Pool
Lovell, Maine
A deep clear plunge pool below Rattlesnake Flume in Lovell, Oxford County, Maine, near Evans Notch.
Walk: shortTrail: moderateParking: roadside / pull-offSwim possible
MEMulti StepStep Falls
Newry, Maine
Multi-tiered cascade and ledge pools on Wight Brook in Newry, Maine. Short walk from a preserve lot off Route 26.
Walk: shortTrail: easyParking: roadside / pull-offSwim possible
METieredCoos Canyon
Byron, Maine
A short gorge on the Swift River in Byron, Maine, on Route 17. Pools, low jumps, and a classic rest-area swim and gold-panning stop.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offSwim possible
MEMulti StepDunn Falls
Andover, Maine
A tall multi-tier waterfall on the West Branch of the Ellis River in Andover, Maine. AT access from East B Hill Road.
Walk: shortTrail: moderateParking: roadside / pull-offWading / shallow
MECascadeGrand Falls
Township 3, Maine
Lesser-known Maine Highlands cascade in the Wellington / Kingsbury area of Piscataquis County, Maine.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offNot recommended
MEMulti StepSmalls Falls
South of Rangeley, Maine
Tiered Sandy River roadside waterfall south of Rangeley on Route 4, Township E, western Maine.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offSwim possible
MEPunchbowlFrenchman's Hole
Bethel, Maine
Classic Bull Branch swim hole off Sunday River Road north of Bethel, Maine, with deep pool, ledge, and cliff jumps.
Walk: shortTrail: easyParking: roadside / pull-offSwim possible
MEPunchbowlScrew Auger Falls (Grafton Notch)
Newry, Maine
Grafton Notch State Park's polished slot-rock waterfall on the Bear River in Newry, Maine. Route 26 roadside.
Walk: shortTrail: easyParking: roadside / pull-offSwim possible
MEPlungeAngel Falls
Township D, Maine
A tall narrow drop on Mountain Brook in Township D, reached by an unpaved approach west of Houghton / Rangeley.
Walk: mediumTrail: moderateParking: roadside / pull-offWading / shallow
MEHorsetailHouston Brook Falls
Pleasant Ridge, Maine
A short-trail horsetail waterfall off Route 201 near Bingham, in Pleasant Ridge Plantation.
Walk: shortTrail: easyParking: roadside / pull-offSwim possibleAllagash Lake
Allagash Lake region, Maine
A remote paddle-only wilderness lake inside the Allagash Wilderness Waterway.
Walk: mediumTrail: easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3Annabessacook Lake (public access)
Monmouth / Winthrop area, Maine
A warm central-Maine lake between Monmouth and Winthrop; small town landings, quiet dip rather than a beach day.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3Aroostook State Park
Presque Isle, Maine
Maine's first state park, with a small sandy swim beach on Echo Lake below Quaggy Jo Mountain in Presque Isle.
Walk: mediumTrail: easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3Aziscohos Lake
Parkertown / Lincoln area, Maine
A large cold reservoir on the Magalloway in Lincoln Plantation, in western Maine's Rangeley country.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3Babb's Bridge swimming hole (Presumpscot)
Gorham / Windham, Maine
An informal Presumpscot River swimming hole downstream of Babb's Bridge on the Gorham / Windham line.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offSwim possibleBarker Pond (Waterford)
Waterford, Maine
A quiet Waterford pond in the hill country east of Bethel; informal swim access, not a developed beach.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3Barrett's Cove (Megunticook Lake)
Camden, Maine
Camden's free town beach on Megunticook Lake, with a sandy entry, picnic tables, and Mount Battie views.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offSwim possibleBaskahegan Lake
Brookton / Wesley area, Maine
A large quiet Downeast interior lake in the Brookton / Wesley area of Washington County.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3Blueberry Ridge Pools
Lovell, Maine
Ledge pools associated with the Blueberry Ridge Trail in the Cold River / Evans Notch country; stored town value needs field verification on which state line the pools sit.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offSwim possibleBonne Eagle Pond (Hollis)
Hollis, Maine
The Saco River impoundment above the Bonny Eagle dam in Hollis / Buxton, in York County west of Portland.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3Boyden Lake (Perry)
Perry, Maine
A large freshwater lake in Perry, in Washington County near the Canadian border. Informal swims and paddling.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3Brassua Lake (public boat access)
Somerset County, Maine
A large Moosehead-country lake west of Rockwood; public boat access with informal swim off the launch.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3Bristol Dam
DAMARISCOTTA, Maine
The low dam and historic alewife fish ladder at Damariscotta Mills; a spring wildlife spectacle, not a true swim hole.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offBryant Pond (Woodstock area)
Woodstock / Greenwood, Maine
A small village pond with a public town beach in Bryant Pond (Woodstock and Greenwood), in Maine's Oxford Hills.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3Bunganut Pond / Limerick area ponds
Limerick, Maine
A York County pond in Limerick and the wider small-pond network of southern Maine; casual summer swim and paddle.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3Charles Pond
Phippsburg, Maine
A small freshwater pond in Phippsburg, Maine, on the Midcoast peninsula between the Kennebec and New Meadows River.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offSwim possibleChina Lake State Park (China)
China, Maine
Public access on China Lake in the town of China, Maine. Small town-level swim area; there is no formal state park here.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialSwim possibleCobbosseecontee Lake (public landings)
Manchester / Litchfield area, Maine
Public boat-launch accesses on Cobbosseecontee Lake across Manchester, Monmouth, Winthrop, and Litchfield.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3Crescent Beach State Park
Cape Elizabeth, Maine
A mile-long crescent-shaped sand beach in Cape Elizabeth, south of Portland. Family-friendly state park with a bathhouse and picnic grounds.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialSwim possibleCross Lake (Saint John Valley)
Fort Kent / Saint John VIC, Maine
A large Fish River chain lake in Aroostook County's Saint John Valley, with state boat-launch access near Fort Kent.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3Crystal Lake (Harrison)
Harrison, Maine
Harrison's town-beach lake in Cumberland County's Sebago / Long Lake country. Small family swim area and boat launch.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3Cutler Coast Public Reserved Land
Cutler, Maine
A 12,234-acre Bold Coast public preserve in Cutler, with 10 miles of coastal hiking on the Bay of Fundy.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offSwim possibleDamariscotta Lake (public access points)
Jefferson / Nobleboro area, Maine
Small public and town-level shoreline access points on Damariscotta Lake across Jefferson, Nobleboro, and Newcastle.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3Damariscotta Lake State Park
Jefferson, Maine
A sandy freshwater swim beach at the north end of Damariscotta Lake in Jefferson, Maine.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offSwim possibleDonnell Pond Public Reserved Land
Sullivan, Maine
State-managed reserved land in Sullivan with Schoodic Beach and Redman's Beach on Donnell Pond, reached by short hikes.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offSwim possibleDrews Lake (Hodgdon area)
Hodgdon, Maine
A southern Aroostook lake off the I-95 corridor near Houlton. Public boat landing, quiet camp-lined shoreline.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3Eagle Lake (Aroostook town / lake)
Eagle Lake, Maine
A large St. John Valley lake in northern Aroostook with a town waterfront park and state boat landings.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3East End Beach (Portland)
Portland, Maine
A small Casco Bay city beach at the foot of Portland's Eastern Promenade, with boat launch and waterfront park.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialSwim possibleEast Grand Lake (public landings)
Danforth / Weston area, Maine
An international-border lake in eastern Maine with Weston and Danforth public boat landings and a small town beach.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3East Musquash Lake
Topsfield, Maine
A quiet Washington County lake in Topsfield, east-interior Maine. Small boat landing, very limited beach access.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3East Pond (East Newport)
East Newport, Maine
A Sebasticook chain pond near East Newport with a public boat landing. Warms in late summer; shallow weedy edges.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3Emerald Pool
Lovell, Maine
A small clear pool in the Evans Notch corridor near Lovell, Maine and Chatham, New Hampshire. Cold, shallow, slick ledge.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offSwim possibleFlagstaff Lake (shoreline access)
Stratton / Eustis area, Maine
A large Dead River impoundment at the foot of the Bigelows, with boat-landing access near Stratton and Eustis.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3Forest Lake (Alfred)
Alfred, Maine
A small York County town lake in Alfred, southern Maine. Town beach plus a small boat launch.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3Fort Foster Park
Kittery, Maine
An 88-acre Kittery town park on Gerrish Island with rocky beaches, tidal pools, and old fort batteries. Seasonal gate fee.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialSwim possibleGardner Lake (Whiting)
Whiting, Maine
A cold coastal-plain lake in Whiting, Washington County, Maine. Public landing, paddles and short swims near the put-in.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3Goose Rocks Beach
Kennebunkport, Maine
Three-mile sand beach in Kennebunkport, Maine, with cold Atlantic water and a paid beach-permit system in season.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialWading / shallowGreat East Lake (Acton / Shapleigh)
Acton / Shapleigh, Maine
Deep, cold border lake between Maine and New Hampshire in Acton / Shapleigh. Public landings, small beach pockets.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3Great Pond (Belgrade)
Belgrade / Rome area, Maine
Largest of the Belgrade Lakes, 8,500+ acres between Belgrade and Rome in Kennebec County. Public landings, busy summer lake.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3Hawkes Preserve (Presumpscot River)
Gorham, Maine
A Presumpscot Land Trust preserve in Gorham with a short trail to river access on the Presumpscot.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offWading / shallowHebron Pond (Hebron)
Monson, Maine
A small Maine pond with informal local access; source town and coordinates disagree, so confirm on the ground.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3Highland Lake (Bridgton)
Bridgton, Maine
A mid-sized Bridgton lake with town beach and campground access, in the Sebago region.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3Jasper Beach
Machiasport, Maine
Machiasport's famous wave-rounded cobble beach on the Downeast coast.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offSwim possibleJunior Lake (Princeton area landings)
Princeton / Woodland, Maine
A large Downeast lake near Princeton / Woodland, accessed by informal landings in Washington County.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3Keoka Lake (Waterford)
Waterford, Maine
Small western-foothills lake in Waterford with a town landing and informal shoreline swim use.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3Kettle Cove
Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Small town-managed cove beach in Cape Elizabeth, next to Crescent Beach State Park on Casco Bay.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialSwim possibleKezar Lake (Lovell)
Lovell, Maine
Long clear Oxford County lake in Lovell with limited public swim access; most shoreline is private.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3Kineo public beach (Rockwood)
Rockwood, Maine
Small Rockwood town-access beach on Moosehead Lake, across from Mount Kineo. Cold water and minimal amenities.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offWading / shallowLake George Regional Park (Canal Lake)
Naples, Maine
Two-town Lake George Regional Park between Canaan and Skowhegan, with east-side and west-side swim beaches.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialSwim possibleLake St. George State Park
Liberty, Maine
Small state-park sand beach on Lake St. George in Liberty, Waldo County.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offSwim possibleLakewood
BAR HARBOR, Maine
Small freshwater pond on Mount Desert Island in Bar Harbor; not the Richardson Lakes Lakewood camps.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offSwim possibleLaverriere Park (Presumpscot)
Westbrook, Maine
Westbrook city park on the Presumpscot River, with mown lawn and informal river access.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offSwim possibleLeigh's Mill Pond
SOUTH BERWICK, Maine
Small South Berwick pond along the Salmon Falls River corridor in York County.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offSwim possibleLily Bay State Park (Moosehead Lake)
Beaver Cove, Maine
Maine state park on the east shore of Moosehead Lake in Beaver Cove, with a small sand beach and campgrounds.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offSwim possible