Places to walk and take a swim
What makes a spot swimmable is a bit subjective; what one person finds tolerable (muddy, slimy pond bottom with weeds), another person will not! Some of these suggestions are of the “pack your bathing suit just in case” variety.
If you do a search for swimming on my site, you’ll find many more places that I’ve not included in this list but have tagged for swimming.
*See/Swim is a good resource for finding swimming holes.
Southern Maine (Cumberland and York Counties)
- Bob Fay Memorial Park, WATERBORO sights and attractions: parks, swimming spots
pets: yes - Broad Cove Reserve, CUMBERLAND sights and attractions: bays, coves, fields, sandy beaches, swimming spots
pets: Partly - Coffin Pond, BRUNSWICK sights and attractions: lakes, playgrounds, ponds, rivers, swimming spots
pets: yes - Crescent Beach State Park and Kettle Cove, CAPE ELIZABETH sights and attractions: accessible trails, fields, parks, playgrounds, sandy beaches, seashores, swimming spots
pets: yes - Ferry Beach State Park, SACO sights and attractions: accessible trails, parks, ponds, sandy beaches, swimming spots, wetlands
pets: yes - Fort Williams Park, CAPE ELIZABETH sights and attractions: accessible trails, fields, headlands, history, lighthouses, parks, paved trails, playgrounds, ponds, sandy beaches, seashores, swimming spots
pets: yes - Gambo Preserve and Shaw Park, GORHAM sights and attractions: accessible trails, canals, history, information panels, lakes, paved trails, rivers
pets: yes - Indian Cellar Preserve, HOLLIS sights and attractions: rivers, swimming spots
pets: yes - Jagolinzer Preserve, LIMINGTON sights and attractions: rivers, streams, waterfalls
pets: yes - Little Ossipee River Trail, LIMINGTON sights and attractions: rivers
pets: yes - Lowell Preserve and East Windham Conservation Area, WINDHAM sights and attractions: ponds, streams, swimming spots, views
pets: yes - Massabesic Experimental Forest, ALFRED sights and attractions: lakes, swimming spots
pets: yes - Mitchell Field, HARPSWELL sights and attractions: accessible trails, bays, fields, sandy beaches, seashores, swimming spots
pets: yes - Pleasant Point Park, BUXTON sights and attractions: cemeteries, rivers
pets: yes - Presumpscot Falls Park, FALMOUTH sights and attractions: rivers, swimming spots
pets: yes - Rogers Farm Parcel, STANDISH sights and attractions: lakes, sandy beaches, swimming spots
pets: yes - Saint Joseph's College trails, STANDISH sights and attractions: accessible trails, lakes, sandy beaches, swimming spots
pets: yes - Salmon Falls Reserve, LEBANON sights and attractions: rivers, swimming spots, waterfalls
pets: yes - Seapoint, KITTERY sights and attractions: sandy beaches, seashores, swimming spots
pets: yes - Sebago to the Sea Trail, Section I, STANDISH sights and attractions: lakes, sandy beaches, swimming spots
pets: yes - Southpoint Sanctuary, BIDDEFORD sights and attractions: sandy beaches, seashores, swimming spots, wetlands
pets: yes - Spring Point Shoreway, SOUTH PORTLAND sights and attractions: history, lighthouses, monuments, sandy beaches, seashores, swimming spots
pets: yes - Stover's Point Preserve, HARPSWELL sights and attractions: sandy beaches, salt marshes, seashores, swimming spots
pets: yes - Tassel Top Park, RAYMOND sights and attractions: lakes, parks, sandy beaches, swimming spots
pets: yes - Timber Point, BIDDEFORD sights and attractions: accessible trails, fields, sandy beaches, seashores, wetlands
pets: no - UNE river trail to Freddy Beach, BIDDEFORD sights and attractions: rivers, sandy beaches, swimming spots
pets: yes
Midcoast Maine (Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Knox, Waldo Counties)
- Beaver Pond Preserve, WESTPORT ISLAND sights and attractions: lakes, ponds, swimming spots
pets: yes - Birch Point Beach State Park, OWLS HEAD sights and attractions: headlands, parks, sandy beaches, seashores, swimming spots
pets: yes - Bonyun Preserve, WESTPORT ISLAND sights and attractions: coves, history, information panels, rivers, swimming spots, tidal rivers
pets: no - Captain William Fitzgerald Conservation Area, BRUNSWICK sights and attractions: accessible trails, barrens, paved trails, ponds, swimming spots
pets: yes - Clark Island Preserve, ST. GEORGE sights and attractions: coves, quarries, sandy beaches, seashores, swimming spots
pets: yes - Connor Mill Trail, UNITY sights and attractions: streams, swimming spots
pets: yes - Cooley Center Pond and McKay Farm Preserves, PHIPPSBURG sights and attractions: art, lakes, wetlands
pets: yes - Crooked Farm and Sproul Preserves, BRISTOL sights and attractions: fields, ponds, swimming spots, wetlands
pets: yes - Dodge Point Public Land, NEWCASTLE sights and attractions: estuaries, rivers, sandy beaches, stony beaches, swimming spots, tidal rivers
pets: yes - Dutch Neck Marine Park, WALDOBORO sights and attractions: rivers, seashores, swimming spots, tidal rivers
pets: yes - Fernald's Neck Preserve, LINCOLNVILLE sights and attractions: lakes, swimming spots, views, wetlands
pets: no - Green Point Wildlife Management Area, DRESDEN sights and attractions: fields, orchards, ponds, rivers, swimming spots
pets: yes - Hidden Valley Nature Center, JEFFERSON sights and attractions: lakes, ponds, trail lodging, wetlands
pets: yes - Monhegan Island Trails, MONHEGAN ISLAND sights and attractions: headlands, sandy beaches, seashores, stony beaches, swimming spots
pets: yes - Monroe Falls, MONROE sights and attractions: swimming spots, waterfalls
pets: yes - Morse Mountain to Seawall Beach, PHIPPSBURG sights and attractions: sandy beaches, salt marshes, seashores
pets: no - Ormsby Sanctuary at Merrymeeting Park, BRUNSWICK sights and attractions: accessible trails, fields, history, information panels, parks, ravines, rivers, swimming spots, wetlands
pets: yes - Pemaquid Pond Preserve, BREMEN sights and attractions: ponds, swimming spots
pets: yes - Peters Pond Preserve, WALDOBORO sights and attractions: ponds, swimming spots, wetlands
pets: yes - Porter Preserve and Roberts Wharf, BOOTHBAY sights and attractions: bays, coves, rivers, seashores, stony beaches, swimming spots, tidal rivers
pets: yes - Reid State Park, GEORGETOWN sights and attractions: parks, sandy beaches, salt marshes, seashores
pets: yes - Salt Pond Blueberry Barrens, BLUE HILL sights and attractions: barrens, swimming spots, views
pets: yes - Sandy Point Beach, STOCKTON SPRINGS sights and attractions: accessible trails, sandy beaches, seashores, wetlands
pets: yes - Sewall Woods Preserve, BATH sights and attractions: rivers, swimming spots
pets: yes - Sprague Pond Trail, PHIPPSBURG sights and attractions: swimming spots
pets: no - St. Clair Trail, NORTHPORT sights and attractions: lakes, swimming spots
pets: yes - Swan Island, RICHMOND sights and attractions: accessible trails, cemeteries, fields, history, islands, rivers, stone foundations, swimming spots, towers
pets: no - Swan Lake State Park, SWANVILLE sights and attractions: lakes, parks, sandy beaches, swimming spots
pets: yes - Town Beach, ISLESBORO sights and attractions: coves, sandy beaches, seashores
pets: yes - Wildes Road Wildlife Management Area, BOWDOINHAM sights and attractions: estuaries, farms, fields, rivers, swimming spots, tidal rivers
pets: yes
Central Maine (Androscoggin and Kennebec Counties)
- Camp Gustin Conservation Area, SABATTUS sights and attractions: accessible trails, lakes, ponds, streams, swimming spots, wetlands
pets: yes - Cobbosseecontee Lake Island Trails, WINTHROP sights and attractions: islands, sandy beaches, swimming spots
pets: yes - Cummings Preserve, GORHAM sights and attractions: canals, rivers, swimming spots
pets: yes - Gott Pasture Preserve, WAYNE sights and attractions: lakes, swimming spots
pets: no - Hallowell Reservoir, HALLOWELL sights and attractions: ponds, sandy beaches, swimming spots
pets: yes - Hebron Academy Trails, HEBRON sights and attractions: lakes, orchards, wetlands
pets: yes - McGaffey Mountain's “A” Trail, “B” Trail, Homestead Trail, Long Pond Trail, ROME sights and attractions: accessible trails, swimming spots, views
pets: yes - Perkins Woods, WAYNE sights and attractions: lakes, mature forests, stony beaches, swimming spots
pets: yes - Philbrick Trails, SKOWHEGAN sights and attractions: rivers, sandy beaches, stony beaches, swimming spots
pets: yes - Range Pond State Park, POLAND sights and attractions: accessible trails, lakes, parks, sandy beaches
pets: yes - Round Top Mountain, ROME sights and attractions: small mountains, views
pets: yes - Spectacle Pond at the Alonzo H. Garcelon Wildlife Management Area, VASSALBORO sights and attractions: lakes, swimming spots
pets: yes - Wakefield Wildlife Sanctuary, WEST GARDINER sights and attractions: ponds, streams, swimming spots, trail lodging
pets: yes - Weston Woods and Waters, MADISON sights and attractions: rivers, swimming spots
pets: yes
Western Maine (Mostly Oxford and Franklin Counties)
- Bald and Speckled Mountains, PERU AND WOODSTOCK sights and attractions: lakes, open summits, small mountains, swimming spots, traverses
pets: yes - Blueberry Mountain and Rattlesnake Pool, WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST sights and attractions: open summits, swimming spots, views, waterfalls
pets: yes - Bonney Point Trail, RANGELEY sights and attractions: coves, lakes, swimming spots
pets: yes - Brownfield Bog, BROWNFIELD sights and attractions: rivers, views, wetlands
pets: yes - Burnt Mountain, CARRABASSETT VALLEY sights and attractions: big mountains, open summits, streams, swimming spots, views
pets: yes - Cascade Stream Gorge, SANDY RIVER PLANTATION sights and attractions: gorges, streams, swimming spots, waterfalls
pets: yes - Cupsuptic Lake Trail, RANGELEY sights and attractions: lakes, swimming spots, wetlands
pets: yes - Forest Legacy Trail, ADAMSTOWN sights and attractions: lakes, moss gardens, swimming spots, views
pets: yes - Forest Pond, CANTON sights and attractions: lakes, ponds, swimming spots
pets: yes - Four Ponds Trail (on the AT), RANGELEY PLANTATION sights and attractions: lakes
pets: yes - Grafton Loop Trail, East Side, GRAFTON NOTCH STATE PARK sights and attractions: big mountains, cliffs, open summits, parks, streams, swimming spots, traverses, views, waterfalls
pets: yes - Hatchery Brook Preserve, RANGELEY sights and attractions: lakes, sandy beaches, swimming spots, wetlands
pets: yes - Howard Pond Overlook, HANOVER sights and attractions: small mountains, swimming spots, views
pets: yes - Hunter Cove Uplands, RANGELEY sights and attractions: lakes, swimming spots
pets: yes - Kineowatha Park, WILTON sights and attractions: lakes, parks, playgrounds, sandy beaches, swimming spots
pets: yes - Lake Pennesseewassee Park, NORWAY sights and attractions: lakes, playgrounds, sandy beaches, swimming spots
pets: yes - Little Bigelow, DEAD RIVER TOWNSHIP sights and attractions: big mountains, lakes, open summits, swimming spots, traverses, views
pets: yes - Mt. Blue State Park Campground Trails, WELD sights and attractions: lakes, parks, streams, swimming spots
pets: yes - Poplar Stream Falls, CARRABASSETT VALLEY sights and attractions: waterfalls
pets: yes - Rangeley Lake State Park Trails, RANGELEY AND RANGELEY PLANTATION sights and attractions: lakes, swimming spots
pets: yes - Smalls Falls and Chandler Mill Stream Falls, TOWNSHIP E sights and attractions: streams, swimming spots, waterfalls
pets: yes - Step Falls Preserve, plus other Grafton Notch waterfalls, NEWRY, GRAFTON NOTCH STATE PARK sights and attractions: swimming spots, views, waterfalls
pets: yes - Stevens Brook Trail, BRIDGTON sights and attractions: parks, streams, swimming spots, urban trails
pets: yes - Students Island, RICHARDSONTOWN TOWNSHIP sights and attractions: islands, sandy beaches, swimming spots
pets: yes - The Roost, WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST sights and attractions: rivers, views
pets: yes - Walrath Woods, STRONG sights and attractions: rivers, swimming spots
pets: yes - West Mountain Falls, CARRABASSETT VALLEY sights and attractions: rivers, swimming spots, waterfalls
pets: yes
Northern Maine (Somerset, Penobscot, Piscataquis and Aroostook counties)
- Blackcap Mountain and Fitts Pond, EDDINGTON sights and attractions: lakes, small mountains, swimming spots
pets: yes - Dobsis Narrows Trail, LAKEVILLE sights and attractions: lakes, swimming spots
pets: yes - Fields Pond Audubon Center, HOLDEN sights and attractions: fields, lakes, ponds, ravines, swimming spots
pets: no - Gould's Landing trail, ORONO sights and attractions: lakes, swimming spots, wetlands
pets: yes - Houston Brook Falls, BINGHAM sights and attractions: streams, swimming spots, waterfalls
pets: yes - Katahdin Stream Falls, BAXTER STATE PARK sights and attractions: swimming spots, waterfalls
pets: no - Kidney Pond Trails, BAXTER STATE PARK sights and attractions: lakes, parks
pets: no - Lake George Regional Park, CANAAN sights and attractions: lakes, parks, sandy beaches, swimming spots
pets: yes - Little Moose Mountain, LITTLE MOOSE PUBLIC LAND (NEAR GREENVILLE) sights and attractions: lakes, ponds, sandy beaches, small mountains, swimming spots, traverses, views, waterfalls
pets: yes - Little Wilson Falls, ELLIOTSVILLE PLANTATION sights and attractions: streams, swimming spots, waterfalls
pets: yes - Oosoola Park, NORRIDGEWOCK sights and attractions: parks, rivers, swimming spots
pets: yes - Peaks-Kenny State Park, DOVER-FOXCROFT sights and attractions: art, bumps, lakes, parks, sandy beaches, swimming spots
pets: yes - Pierce Pond Stream Falls and Gorge, CARRYING PLACE TOWNSHIP, BOWTOWN TOWNSHIP sights and attractions: streams, swimming spots, waterfalls
pets: yes - Pleasant Lake Preserve, STETSON sights and attractions: lakes, swimming spots, wetlands
pets: yes - Quaggy Jo Mountain, Aroostook State Park, AROOSTOOK STATE PARK sights and attractions: lakes, open summits, small mountains, swimming spots, views
pets: yes - Sally Mountain, ATTEAN TOWNSHIP sights and attractions: open summits, sandy beaches, small mountains, swimming spots, views
pets: yes - Shore Trail, CARRYING PLACE TOWN TOWNSHIP sights and attractions: lakes, sandy beaches, swimming spots
pets: yes - South Branch Pond Campground trails, BAXTER STATE PARK sights and attractions: lakes, parks, swimming spots, waterfalls
pets: no - Trout Brook Farm Campground Trails, BAXTER STATE PARK sights and attractions: lakes, parks, small mountains, swimming spots, views
pets: no - Woodchuck Hill, EDDINGTON sights and attractions: lakes, small mountains, swimming spots, views
pets: yes
Downeast (Hancock and Washington counties)
- Baker Hill and Long Ledges, SULLIVAN sights and attractions: lakes, quarries, swimming spots, views
pets: yes - Barred Island Preserve, DEER ISLE sights and attractions: bays, coves, moss gardens, sandy beaches, seashores, swimming spots
pets: no - Bloomfield Park, LAMOINE sights and attractions: lakes, swimming spots
pets: yes - Bog Brook Cove, CUTLER, TRESCOTT sights and attractions: bumps, ponds, seashores, stony beaches, views
pets: yes - Branch Lake Public Forest, ELLSWORTH sights and attractions: lakes, swimming spots
pets: yes - Carter Nature Preserve, Furth Wildlife and Talalay Nature Sanctuaries, SURRY sights and attractions: bays, stony beaches, swimming spots
pets: Partly - Craig Brook Fish Hatchery, ORLAND sights and attractions: lakes, sandy beaches, swimming spots
pets: yes - Dawn Marie Beach Path, GRAND LAKE STREAM sights and attractions: lakes, sandy beaches, swimming spots
pets: yes - Donnell Pond Public Reserved Land, NEAR SULLIVAN AND FRANKLIN sights and attractions: lakes, open summits, sandy beaches, small mountains, views
pets: yes - Edgar M. Tennis Preserve, DEER ISLE sights and attractions: bays, coves, fields, sandy beaches, seashores, stone foundations, swimming spots
pets: yes - Great Pond Mountain and Dead River, ORLAND sights and attractions: lakes, open summits, swimming spots, views
pets: yes - Great South Bay, LUBEC sights and attractions: coves, fields, seashores
pets: yes - Grotto Hill, OTIS sights and attractions: caves, lakes, swimming spots, wetlands
pets: yes - Harriman Point, BROOKLIN sights and attractions: inlets, seashores, stony beaches, swimming spots
pets: yes - Hatch Cove and Schumacher Preserve, CASTINE sights and attractions: bays, coves, fields, seashores, stony beaches
pets: yes - Holbrook Island Santuary, BROOKSVILLE sights and attractions: bumps, cemeteries, parks, ponds, sandy beaches, stony beaches, swimming spots, wetlands
pets: yes - Huckins Beach and Morrison Cove, LUBEC sights and attractions: bays, fields, seashores, stony beaches, swimming spots
pets: yes - Lamoine State Park, LAMOINE sights and attractions: bays, parks, sandy beaches, seashores
pets: yes - Lily Pond Park, DEER ISLE sights and attractions: accessible trails, lakes, swimming spots
pets: yes - Little Long Pond Natural Lands, Eliot Mountain, and Thuya Garden trails, MOUNT DESERT ISLAND (MOUNT DESERT) sights and attractions: fields, ponds, small mountains, views
pets: yes - Little Mayberry Cove Trail, GRAND LAKE STREAM sights and attractions: lakes, swimming spots
pets: yes - Little Tunk Pond, SULLIVAN sights and attractions: lakes, sandy beaches, swimming spots
pets: yes - Patrick Lake Trail, MARION TOWNSHIP sights and attractions: lakes, sandy beaches, swimming spots
pets: yes - Pigeon Hill, STEUBEN sights and attractions: open summits, seashores, stony beaches, swimming spots, views
pets: yes - Pineo Peaks Trail, GRAND LAKE STREAM sights and attractions: caves, lakes, stony beaches, swimming spots
pets: yes - Rocky Lake Preserve, WHITING sights and attractions: lakes, swimming spots
pets: yes - Sandy Cove Trail, TRESCOTT TOWNSHIP sights and attractions: coves, headlands, sandy beaches, seashores
pets: yes - Seaduck Point Preserve, BEALS sights and attractions: coves, stony beaches, swimming spots
pets: yes - Vining Lake Community Preserve, COOPER AND CATHANCE TOWNSHIP sights and attractions: lakes, swimming spots, wetlands
pets: yes - Whiting Bay Beach, TRESCOTT TOWNSHIP sights and attractions: bays, seashores, stony beaches, swimming spots
pets: yes
3 comments to “Places to walk and take a swim”
3 comments to “Places to walk and take a swim”
what an interesting site! Thanks for doing all this work!
Thank you! It’s a total and complete joy. I get out whenever I can, and have seen so much of Maine!
This was really helpful thank you so much