Maine

Bartlett Cove Public Beach

This is a pretty beach with a roped swimming area, and diving platform.  There is a small sand beach with picturesque views of some islands.  The grass picnic area is backed by sheer cliffs which is kind of unusual and interesting.  Dogs are allowed at certain times, and port-a-potties are available.

Buster’s Beach

This is a small town beach on Ellis Pond, very close to the public boat launch.  There is a small picnic area, and a nice sand beach.  The beach is fairly small, but there are pretty views across the water, and the area seemed very clean.  I was here during the off-season, so I’m not […]

Andover Covered Bridge

This is also called “Lovejoy Bridge” on Google maps, and it is on Covered Bridge Road where it crosses the Ellis River. I was here on sort of a rainy day and the water level was fairly low, so I didn’t think it seemed very appealing, but if you look at this website it seems […]

Coos Canyon

Coos Canyon is famous in Maine, and is one of the most unique swimming holes in the state.  The canyon has smooth curving rocks, and green water flowing over multiple falls.  It is wonderful that they seem to allow, or at least not prevent, people from swimming here.  Some people swim below the bridge that crosses […]

Wire Bridge

From Route 27, get on Route 146 heading towards New Portland, and take the first left and then the first right, following the signs for “Wire Bridge.”  Follow this road to the end (about 2 minutes), where you’ll see the bridge and parking area. We wouldn’t call this a swimming place really, as it looked […]

Strong Public Beach

The beach is at the end of Beanies Beach Road, off of Pond Road on Porter Lake.  You can follow the signs for the public boat launch, though there are no signs for the beach itself until you get there. The park offers lake swimming with expansive mountain views.  The water is clear, with a […]

Pleasant Point Beach, McGrath Pond

This is a lovely park, with individual picnic sites by the water.  They have a very, very, small roped swimming area, with stone steps going into the water. The water at the roped area is a light jade, and it looks like they’ve put sand here.  The shore at the picnic spots is more rocky. […]

Oakland Town Beach, Messalonskee Lake

This is a nice little park, next to a cemetery. There is a swimming area, picnic tables, and a small playground.  The beach is narrow and sandy, but there is a large grass lawn with shade trees. Located on Messalonskee Lake in the Belgrade Lakes region of Maine. There is a dam down stream, so […]

Dead River Boat Ramp, Flagstaff Lake

This is a boat ramp where swimming is allowed, which is fairly unusual.  There is a sign requesting swimmers to be courteous and make way for boaters, which is always a good idea. Kids were jumping from the low bridge, about 12 feet high.  There is a parking lot beside the bridge, which has an outhouse. […]

Clearwater Beach

This is a very small strip of grass leading into the water beside the public boat launch. The beach is currently beside a café called The Ugly Moose. There is a picnic table, but not much else.  There are pretty views, and the water is very clear.  It isn’t much of a beach, but at […]