Swan Lake State Park is a 67-acre park located on the shores of 1370-acre Swan Lake in Swanville. The location is a quick 20-minute drive from the thriving town of Belfast, and an hour and ten minutes from Augusta. Portland is just over two hours to the south.
The park’s central Maine location and picturesque beach make it a favorite spot for day trips. It’s a nice, rural getaway spot while vacationing on the nearby coast.
Nearby Parks
Activities at Swan Lake State Park
Your day here can be centered around water activities like paddling, swimming, and fishing. The picnic area has tables and grills, and there’s a playground to keep the kids busy. If you want to have a family or group picnic, you can use the reservable group shelter and area with game setups.
There are walking trails from which to watch for birds and wildlife. Hunters can try their luck as permitted by season.
You’ll find changing spaces and restrooms for your convenience. The park is reported to have limited access. Even then, the parking and restrooms are ADA accessible, as is the beach with assistance. There is also a beach wheelchair available.
Boating at Swan Lake State Park
While at this Maine state park you can canoe or kayak, something that’s appealing into the fall. There’s a motorized boat launch eight minutes away at the south end of the lake at coordinates lat.44.52560 long.-68.99980.
Regardless what watercraft you use, Swan Lake’s shoreline is developed with both year-round and seasonal homes. The lake’s maximum depth is 87 feet. Follow state boating regulations and guidelines to stay safe and protect local waters.
Swimming at Swan Lake State Park
The park’s beach area is at the northern end of Swan Lake, looking southeasterly over the water’s expanse. There’s plenty of shoreline with room for digging and sunbathing. Lifeguards are on hand during the peak summer season for everyone’s safety.
Hiking at Swan Lake State Park
There’s a network of footpaths and walking trails that loop around from the parking lots to the beach and picnic areas. The general area beyond the park has other trails to explore, including:
- The Belfast Rail Trail is 10 miles from the park. It is a 2.2-mile, one-way, multi-purpose trail. It’s rated as easy, and is pet-friendly for leashed pals. The trail accommodates people using wheelchairs and bikes. It is available for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter.
- Long Cove Headwaters is another multi-use, pet-friendly trail that’s an easy 2.5-mile network, and located just over 8 miles from the park. You can hike, walk, and enjoy cross-country skiing and snowshoeing when the snow flies. This is a good spot for birding too!
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Maine Stream Preserve is an easy one-mile trail network open for walking and snowshoeing. Pets are permitted to be part of your outing in this Stockton Springs setting known for spotting wildlife and birds.
This river walk in only 10 miles from the park and is a place where you’ll see evidence of old homesteads.
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Northern Pond Preserve is about 9 miles north of the park in Monroe. This easy-to-moderate networked system offers over two miles of varied terrain for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and snow shoeing.
Your pet can join you as you venture across forest floor, and then traverse across bog bridging. You’ll also find a hand-carry boat launch and spot to swim and picnic, though without any comfort facilities.
Biking at Swan Lake State Park
As you’ve just read, there are nearby natural settings that permit cycling. Another option is to check out the public roads around the lake. Some skirt right next to the lake and will take you into Swanville village.
Fishing at Swan Lake State Park
Swan Lake’s depth and its cool waters make for good fishing. That includes landlocked salmon, perch, a few types of minnows, togue, brook trout, and smallmouth bass, among a number of others. You can cast from shore or out in your canoe or motorized boat. Just follow the Maine fishing laws and you’ll be all set.
Birding at Swan Lake State Park
While thinking about birds, it’s also interesting to learn that this lake is also known as Goose Pond. Presumably that means that Canada Geese gather here during the breeding season. That is certainly the case for common loons, grebes, and mergansers. Other water fowl seen during the warm months are great blue heron, kingfishers, and perhaps osprey and eagles because of the abundance of fish.
Back in the wooded areas you may catch signs of wild turkeys, partridge, and woodcock on the ground. The tree canopy is the year-round home to hairy, downy, and pileated woodpeckers as well as barred owls, chickadees and nuthatches. During the nesting season, you’re likely to spot various warblers, vireos, and kinglets, as well as rose-breasted grosbeaks.
Nature & Wildlife at Swan Lake State Park
The wildlife in this area includes all sizes! There have been reports of moose and bear, along with white-tailed deer, fox, coyotes, porcupine, and squirrels. Of those, only the bear go into hibernation. Since this is their home, it’s best to keep your distance.
Pets at Swan Lake State Park
Pets are allowed on the trails if they are leashed and their droppings are taken care of appropriately. Dogs are not allowed on the beach.
Camping at Swan Lake State Park
Although there isn’t any camping at this park, there are two good options not too far away:
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Searsport Shores Oceanfront Camping is only 12 miles away with spaces for tents all the way up to big RVs. It has several amenities including water frontage on Penobscot Bay, kayak rentals, a laundry, rec hall, store, nature trails, cabins to rent, and a lobster pit.
Each site comes with a fire ring and picnic table. There is amp service for most of the sites. This is a pet-friendly setting although they cannot be accommodated in the rental trailers.
- Moorings Oceanfront RV Resort is another camping spot that’s a 13-mile drive. This too is pet-friendly. It is exclusively for RVs, with spaces for various lengths of stay. Each site’s rate includes a table and fire ring, plus cable TV and WiFi access, water, sewer, and electricity.
Park Location
Swan Lake State Park
100 West Park Lane
Swanville, Maine 04915
Phone: 207.525.4404
Map
Video
Here is a short YouTube video showcasing beauty of Swan Lake State Park from the beach:
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