Turner, Maine: A Small Town with a lot to Offer

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Turner, Maine: A Small Town with a lot to Offer

“Bear Pond in Turner, Maine”

Round Pond is a charming kettle pond located just off of Route 4 in Turner, Maine. Covering a modest 12 acres, the pond features an above-average water quality rating, a mean depth of 15 feet, and a maximum depth of 39 feet. It is home to a variety of warmwater fish species, including yellow perch and chain pickerel, and its waters are free from invasive aquatic plants. Its shores are mostly undeveloped and there isn’t any public boat access available, making it a lovely sanctuary for canoe and kayak enthusiasts.
Lard Pond, a slightly larger, more shallow pond with an average water quality rating, lies directly across Route 4 from Round Pond, and the popular Bear Pond, which features a sandy municipal beach and picnic area, is just 11 miles north on Route 4. The Androscoggin and Nezinscot Rivers weave their way throughout the town of Turner, offering excellent fishing spots and even more canoe and kayaking opportunities. Maine’s newest state park, Androscoggin Riverlands, covers a total of 2,635 acres across the towns of Turner and Leeds and is just a short distance from Round Pond. The park boasts 12 miles of river frontage and an extensive trail network that totals 22.4 miles of various terrain and is ideal for hikers of all ages and ability. It is also a popular destination for mountain bikers, snowshoers, and cross country skiers, depending on the season. Park admittance is currently free of charge year-round.
For those who prefer motorized recreation as opposed to foot travel, the town of Turner does not disappoint. The Turner Ridge Riders Snowmobile Club is responsible for a series of trails that span across Auburn, Livermore, and Buckfield and run along the Androscoggin River, the Wildlife Game Preserve, Bear Pond, and Bear Mountain making for a scenic wintertime route. Turner also hosts the Northeast’s only vintage snowmobile race, the “One Lunger 100”. From May 15 to December 15, the Turner Timberland ATV Club opens their trails to the public, some of which run through the state park.
If you’re looking for a relaxing summer night in town, The Gazebo in Turner’s historic village center invites members of the public to enjoy free concerts each Tuesday evening from late May through early September. The concerts are part of the Music for Mavis series and begin at 6:30 p.m. (6:00 p.m. in September). For all the avid golfers out there, Turner and the surrounding area is home to a number of courses and country clubs, including the Turner Highland’s Golf Course and Country Club, Maple Lane Country Club and Restaurant, Fox Ridge Country Club, and Martindale Country Club. Take your pick and grab your clubs and tees!
Another popular destination in the town of Turner is Ricker Hill Orchards, located on Brookfield Road off of Route 4 and only a 10 minute drive from the shores of Round Pond. Ricker Hill is a generational, family-run farm that first sprouted from the land in the early 1800s. They offer a wide variety of produce ranging from pick-your-own apples to pumpkins to cranberries, a farm stand, bakery, corn maze, petting zoo, and disc golf course. As of recent, they have started up a winery and have also begun producing their own hard cider. A great place to visit for a day or return to again and again, Ricker Hill Orchards is open daily from March through December. Even more local produce can be found at a variety of locations all within the town of Turner, including Nezinscot Farms, Clark’s Farm and Produce Stand, and Greenwood Orchards–which borders the shores of Round Pond!
Turner’s central location makes day-trips to an array of popular destinations, including the towns of Bethel, Farmington, Belgrade, Brunswick, Freeport, and Portland, incredibly reasonable–all of these trendy spots are just an hour or less away! And at the end of the day, you’ll be able to return home to the easygoing nature of a small town with a great taste for the outdoors in Turner, Maine.

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