Moosehead Lake
Moosehead Lake is a deep, coldwater lake located in Piscataquis County. On the map, it sits 12 mi northwest of Beaver Cove. Worth the trip, Hundred-Mile Wilderness is 24 mi off.
A lake, 12 mi northwest of Beaver Cove
Winters are cold
January nights drop to 4°. When to go ↓
Greenville is the nearest base
Greenville is 13 miles southeast, with 16 places to stay. Where to stay ↓
Best months: Jun, Jul, Aug and Sep
June, July, August and September are the mild months, with highs of 64–72°. When to go ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
Choosing a month
Plan a visit to Moosehead Lake around the weather below.
Moosehead Lake
Moosehead Lake is a deep, coldwater lake located in Piscataquis County in Northwestern Maine. It is the largest lake in Maine and the largest lake wholly within New England, the second-largest lake in New England after Lake Champlain, and the largest mountain lake in the eastern United States. Situated in the mostly undeveloped Longfellow Mountains, the lake is the source of the Kennebec River. Several rural townships border the lake. Greenville is by far the largest town on the lake, with a small downtown area that has banks, shops, and restaurants. There are over 80 islands in the lake, the largest being Sugar Island and Deer Island to the west being the second largest.
- Type
- Lake
- Area
- 118 square miles
- Elevation
- 1,024 ft
- Wikipedia readers
- 32K a year
A base for Moosehead Lake
The closest towns with hotels, motels or campgrounds are Greenville (16) and Jackman (14).
Greenville
The closest town with somewhere to stay.
1,743 people · 55% vacation homes
13 mi southeast of Moosehead Lake
Compare 7 towns
| Town | From Moosehead Lake | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville 55% vacation homes | 13 mi southeast | 20 min | 16 1 hotel · 1 motel · 3 inns & B&Bs · 8 lodges & cabins · 3 campgrounds | 1,743 | $269K | A |
| Jackman 34% vacation homes | 26 mi west | 40 min | 14 2 hotels · 2 motels · 1 inn or B&B · 7 lodges & cabins · 2 campgrounds | 799 | $173K | — |
| Beaver Cove 46% vacation homes | 12 mi southeast | 20 min | 2 1 hotel · 1 campground | 134 | $523K | — |
| Shirley 49% vacation homes | 19 mi south | 30 min | 2 2 lodges & cabins | 275 | $220K | — |
| Monson 48% vacation homes | 24 mi south | 35 min | 3 1 lodge or cabins · 2 hostels | 642 | $178K | — |
| Moose River 26% vacation homes | 28 mi west | 40 min | 4 1 motel · 2 lodges & cabins · 1 campground | 186 | $145K | — |
| Willimantic 71% vacation homes | 26 mi southeast | 40 min | 1 1 hotel | 136 | $132K | — |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Around Moosehead Lake
These well-known sights sit within 70 miles.
44 mi State parkBaxter State Park
52 mi Ski areaSugarloaf137 runs · 2,769 ft vertical210 mi Ski areaBig Moose Mountain Ski Area26 runs · 1,589 ft vertical
55 mi National MonumentKatahdin Woods and Waters National Monument34K visitors a year
64 mi Ski areaSaddleback Mountain72 runs · 1,847 ft vertical
67 mi MuseumL. C. Bates Museum
70 mi GardenFay Hyland Botanical PlantationPhoto credits
Baxter State Park: TJ aka Teej at English Wikipedia, Public domain · Sugarloaf: Bubblecuffer, Public domain · Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument: U.S. Department of the Interior, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Saddleback Mountain: petersent, Public domain · L. C. Bates Museum: W.A. Judge, Public domain · Fay Hyland Botanical Plantation: Jalnet2, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Moosehead Lake: common questions
What town is Moosehead Lake near?
Beaver Cove, ME, about 12 miles southeast.
When is the best time to visit Moosehead Lake?
June, July, August and September, with highs of 64–72°.
What is the closest airport to Moosehead Lake?
Bangor (BGR), about 70 miles away. The nearest big hub is Portland International Jetport (PWM), about 141 miles.
Where should I stay near Moosehead Lake?
Greenville (13 mi, 16 places to stay), Jackman (26 mi, 14 places to stay) and Monson (24 mi, 3 places to stay).
Notes from people in Beaver Cove
No one has shared advice yet; Beaver Cove’s Town Square takes questions.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.