Back Pond, Little Mud Pond, Middle Pond, Mud Pond and Jewett Pond Make Up the Five Kezars Ponds in Waterford, Maine

February 19th, 2012 categories: Sebago Lakes Region

Let the Five Kezars be your place to get away from it all

The Five Kezar Ponds are cradled in the hills of Waterford, Stoneham and Lovell, Maine. Those who own lakefront property here consider it a delightful place to experience Maine.

Back Pond, Little Mud Pond, Middle Pond, Mud Pond and Jewett Pond make up the Five Kezars, which were created by glaciers. This cluster of small ponds form the headwaters of the Kezar River. According to local lore, they were named for an early hunter of the same name, who frequented them, as well as Kezar Pond in Fryeburg and Kezar Lake in Lovell.

In total, the Five Kezars cover 222 acres and have a maximum depth of 50 feet. The ponds are perfectly suited for exploration by canoe or kayak. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife restricts all five ponds to motorboats with no more than 10 horsepower. A carry-in site is located along Lovell Road on Mud Pond.

Middle Pond in Waterford was formed by a dam on the Kezar River. It is the largest at 72 acres, with the deepest point being 50 feet. The water quality of Middle Pond is above average.

View Vacation Rentals on Five Kezars

Next in size is Back Pond, which covers 54 acres and has a maximum depth of 32 feet. It’s located in the southeast corner of Stoneham and has average water quality.

Lakefront Properties For Sale on Back Pond

Jewett Pond, in Waterford, encompasses 43 acres and has a maximum depth of 41 feet. The water quality is average.

Lakefront Properties For Sale on Jewett Pond

The narrow, hook-shaped Mud Pond, also in Waterford, covers 39 acres and has a maximum depth of 35 feet. Because there are many shallow areas on this pond, the water quality is below average.The shallow Little Mud Pond covers about 14 acres and also has below average water quality.The residents of the Five Kezar Ponds Watershed have worked diligently over the years to protect and preserve this precious environment. Most recently, some of the residents helped create the Back Pond Reserve, a combination of 139 acres north of the Five Kezar Ponds Road and 10 acres south of the road. The 10 acres were bought in 1980 by 12 families on Back Pond and deeded to the Greater Lovell Land Trust (GLLT) in 1998. No activities are permitted on the 10-acre Preserve as it is maintained in its natural, unaltered state.The 139 acres were acquired by the Greater Lovell Land Trust in 2006 through the generosity of members and friends the Five Kezar Ponds Watershed Association. Several trails loop through the 139 acres and guided walks are offered each summer. Information is available at the trailhead kiosk.

The Five Kezars are great for those looking to do a little fishing, with the principal fishery being brook trout, which is stocked annually. They are even more suitable for those who like to explore via canoe or kayak–Middle Pond, Back Pond and Mud Pond are connected. All five ponds offer different views of the surrounding mountains.

You might also like to explore the area on foot or via bicycle. Dirt and logging roads offer lots of adventures. And it’s just a short walk to the picturesque Kezar Falls Gorge on Lovell Road.

In about twenty minutes you can drive to the White Mountain National Forest or the small towns of Norway and Bethel. Sunday River Ski Resort is 30 minutes away–it takes the same amount of time to drive to Shawnee Peak in Bridgton.

North Waterford is the closest village to the Five Kezars. As part of the Maine experience, you’ll need to dine at Melby’s Market and Eatery–I guarantee you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Another must do is a stop at the Beech Hill Bison Farm. And you’ll want to make sure you are in town for the annual Waterford World’s Fair, touted as “A little Agricultural Fair with a big heart.”

To learn more about lakefront property listings on the Five Kezars, just click on the green boxes above.

This entry was posted on Sunday, February 19th, 2012 at 3:15 pm and is filed under Sebago Lakes Region. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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