Belgrade Lakes Region

The Belgrade Lakes Region is home to 7 pristine Maine lakes, including Great Pond, Long Pond, North Pond, East Pond, McGrath Pond, Salmon Lake and Messalonskee Lake, also known as Snow Pond. The lakes span the Kennebec and Somerset County towns of Oakland, Belgrade, Rome and Smithfield, Maine. 

The population of the Belgrade Lakes Region swells in the summer months as people from all over the country retreat to their summer cottages and visitors enjoy the region’s historic American Plan fishing camps, such as Alden Camps, Bear Spring Camps, and Castle Island Camps. Children have flocked to the Belgrade Lakes for decades to enjoy the region’s idyllic summer camps, including Camp Matoaka, Camp Manitou, Camp Modin, Camp Runoia, and New England Golf and Tennis Club. 

Cottage rentals and B&Bs in the Belgrade Lakes Region abound if you are looking for a more private escape. For those with four legged family members, many Belgrade Lakes rentals are pet friendly.  The nearest destinations for hotels in the Belgrade Lakes region are the cities of Augusta and Waterville, just a short drive from the lakes. 

There is no shortage of family fun activities on the lakes, including kayaking, swimming, paddleboarding and boating. The Belgrade Lakes are renowned for their fishing and boat rentals in the Belgrade Lakes are available for leisure or sport. While you are here, take a hike on one of the 7 trail systems maintained by the 7 Lakes Alliance for beautiful views of the lakes and the Kennebec Highlands conservation area. The Belgrade Lakes Golf Club features an 18-hole course with breathtaking views of the lakes, attracting golfers from near and far. 

While visiting, you’ll want to spend time in Belgrade Village, which is your destination for restaurants, shops, Hello Goodpie Bakery, and Day’s Store, where you will find all of the provisions you will need for a day on the lake. On Sundays, visit the Belgrade Lakes Market for fresh produce, meat, cheeses, baked goods, flowers and crafts. 

When the weather in the Belgrade Lakes Region gets colder and the snow begins to fly, you will find snowmobilers enjoying the extensive trail systems and snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and ice fishing on the lakes. The region is just a short drive from both Saddleback and Sugarloaf Mountains for those looking to enjoy downhill skiing during the winter months. 

Belgrade Lakes FAQs

Are the Belgrade Lakes connected?

The Belgrade Lakes are a chain of lakes that all drain into the Kennebec River by way of the Messalonskee Stream. East Pond is the headway pond of the seven lakes, which flows into North Pond, followed by Great Pond, Long Pond, and then Messalonskee Lake. McGrath Pond empties into Salmon Lake, which is also connected to Great Pond. 

Can you swim in the Belgrade Lakes?

Yes! Swimmers enjoy all seven lakes that make up the Belgrade Lakes. The lakes are also friendly to boating, fishing, paddleboarding, kayaking, and canoeing. 

What kind of fish are in the Belgrade lakes?

Anglers know that the Belgrade Lakes are famous for fishing smallmouth and largemouth bass, pike, white perch, trout, pickerel, and crappie.

How many acres is Great Pond?

Great Pond is the largest of the Belgrade Lakes at over 8,239 acres! Messalonskee Lake is the second largest at 3,510 acres. 

What are the Belgrade Lakes known for?

The Belgrade Lakes are known for their superb fishing and as a quiet escape from ordinary life. Families have been retreating to the lakes since the turn of the last century to enjoy the solitude that the charming, rustic communities provide. The movie On Golden Pond, featuring Jane and Henry Fonda as well as Katharine Hepburn is based on Belgrade's own Great Pond. Author E.B. White famously references his times on Great Pond in his 1941 essay "Once More to the Lake" published in Harper's Magazine.

Common questions

Is the Belgrade Lakes region the setting for On Golden Pond?

It is the inspiration, not the filming location. Playwright Ernest Thompson spent childhood summers on Great Pond in Belgrade and drew on it when he wrote On Golden Pond; the film was shot on Squam Lake in New Hampshire. Great Pond still looks the part, with old camps along the shore, loons on the water and very little development in view.

How many lakes are in the Belgrade Lakes chain?

Seven, connected by streams and channels: Great Pond, Long Pond, East Pond, North Pond, Salmon Lake, McGrath Pond and Messalonskee Lake. The village of Belgrade Lakes sits on the narrow neck between Great Pond and Long Pond, and those two carry most of the summer camp and boat traffic. The smaller ponds are shallower and much quieter.

Is there hiking in the Belgrade Lakes?

Yes, though it is short and steep rather than all-day. French Mountain is the best-known walk in the area, rated 4.8 from 216 reviews, and repays a brief climb with an open ledge view over the lakes. Several other small summits and preserves nearby are kept up by the regional land trust and are similarly quick to do.

When is the best time to visit the Belgrade Lakes?

July and August, if the water is the point. The lakes take until midsummer to warm up, and that is when boat rentals, camps and village businesses are all running. September brings quiet water and good fishing, and the region empties out after Labor Day. Winter belongs to ice fishing and snowmobiling, with most summer businesses shut.