The Belgrade Lakes Region is one of Maine’s premier communities and four-season vacation and recreational destinations. The area offers peaceful lakeside surroundings, superb fishing, as well as swimming, boating and hiking. A variety of shops, restaurants, and lodging choices await the weekend visitor, vacationer, or year round resident.
With their many seasonal events, boat tours, golf courses, hikes, or easy trips to the scenic Maine coast and area mountains, the greater Belgrade Lakes area provides multitudes of opportunities for fun and recreation throughout the year.
While the Greater Belgrade Region includes the China Lakes area to the east and the Winthrop Lakes area to the south, the actual Belgrade Lakes are usually defined by a chain of seven fresh water lakes ranging in size from 500 acres to 8,000 acres. All the lakes feature excellent fishing and boating and all have state-maintained boat launches for easy accessibility. The seven lakes, in decending order of size, are as follows:
Great Pond – Belgrade and Rome – 8239 acres, depth 69’Messalonskee Lake – Belgrade, Oakland and Sidney – 3510 acres, depth 113′
Long Pond – Belgrade, Mt. Vernon, and Rome – 2714 acres, depth 106′North Pond – Mercer, Smithfield – 2115 acres, depth 20′
East Pond – Oakland and Smithfield – 1823 acres, depth 27’Salmon Pond – Oakland and Belgrade – 562 acres, depth 57′
McGrath Pond – Oakland and Belgrade – 486 acres, depth 27
The China Lakes area, located just east of Maine’s capitol city of Augusta, is comprised primarily of four water bodies – China Lake (3939 acres/ 85′ deep), Webber Pond (1233 acres/ 41′ deep), Three Mile Pond (1174 acres/ 37′ deep), and Togus Pond (674 acres/ 49′ deep), and five towns – Augusta, Windsor, China, Vassalboro and Winslow.
To the south of the Belgrade Lakes and west of Augusta is the Winthrop Lakes Region. Scattered amongst the towns and villages of West Gardiner, Manchester, Monmouth, Winthrop, Leeds, Wayne, Readfield and Fayette are a dozen lakes and ponds, the most prominent of which are Cobbosseecontee Lake (5236 acres), Androscoggin Lake (4020 acres), Maranacook Lake (1844 acres), Lake Annabessacook (1415 acres) and Echo Lake (1109 acres).
All of these areas are about 3 1/2 hours from Boston with easy access to the Maine Turnpike.
Whether a destination for a vacation retreat, second home, or relocation, the greater Belgrade Lakes area offers something for all ages and seasons. The Greater Belgrade Lakes Area – where quality of life is the “Maine” attraction.
Lakefront Locator will get you to available listings in the Belgrade Lakes Area. LakeSmart is a research tool that will give you important information about area lakes. If you have a question or need a friend in the business, let us know. We love Maine’s lakes and ponds and want to share them with you.
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