Top 5 Spring Activities on Moosehead Lake

Photo provided by Mary Sue Henzey

The Maine Birding Trail

The Maine Birding Trail offers a peek into early-season migration for a wide range of bird species, beginning as early as March with the arrival of mixed sparrow flocks and the distinctive display-flight sounds of American Woodcock, then will file in Blue-headed Vireos, Hermit Thrushes, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and other songbirds. Later in the season come the hawks, then finally, the shorebirds. 

Follow the Maine Birding Trail by downloading a copy of the trail guide. Find specific viewing areas and information about our local species at The Maine Highlands: Bangor, Moosehead, Katahdin. You can also get statewide birding information at Maine Birding Trail.

Spring Fishing

Moosehead Lake is nearly forty miles long and twenty miles wide with breathtaking scenery of undeveloped shoreline and mountains. Spring fishing on Moosehead Lake —  from ice out to before Memorial Day Weekend– can produce catches that inspire legendary stories. 

There are endless opportunities to reel in dinner. You could hook landlocked salmon, brook trout, and in the Lily Bay and Spencer Bay areas, Smallmouth bass.

Don’t forget that there are more than forty ponds and lakes — in addition to Moosehead Lake’s nearly 118 square miles – that provide even more opportunities for fishermen to explore. Many of them are roadside providing easy access by canoe, kayak or you may choose to hike into the many backcountry ponds where your only visitor may be one of the many moose and deer that call this region home.

Our picks:

• The Moose River, found on the western shore of Moosehead in Rockwood, is a tributary to Moosehead Lake offering the very best early season fishing in the Region. It can be accessed by canoe, from the shore, or by wading.
• The East Outlet of the Kennebec River, the largest river in the Moosehead Region, offers cold, clean water from Moosehead well into the summer. It is fly fishing only and parts are open year round. Voted “1 of 100 places in America you need to fly fish before you die”, this amazing fishery produces Brook Trout and Salmon all year long.
• The Roach River, on the eastern side of Moosehead, is also a tributary to Moosehead Lake. Don’t let its small size fool you! This fly fishing only, catch and release, rather remote fishery, produces amazing fish from a streamlike long River. Be sure to catch the smelt run/sucker spawn in the spring!

Reminder: Be sure that you have a fishing license and an up-to-date fishing regulation book from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife. Our local bait shops have you covered if you lose or forget your favorite flies.

Fiddleheads

Spring in Maine means fiddleheads! Fiddleheads are a Maine delicacy. Only available in Maine from late April to early June, Fiddleheads are the coiled tips of young ostrich ferns that grow near brooks, rivers and lakes. Because they are the furled fronds of a young fern, the window for harvesting them is small. Left on the plant, each fiddlehead would unroll into a fern.

Never been able to sample the seasonal sprouts? These regional delicacies can be described as having a woodsy taste like asparagus, spinach and mushrooms combined. They are high in vitamins A and C, rich with assorted minerals and low in calories. Fiddleheads have antioxidant activity, are high in iron and fiber and are a source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids!

What’s All the Fuss About Fiddleheads? Find the best places to pick up fresh fiddleheads, how to cook them, and why Mainers love them so much!

Best Spring Hikes at Moosehead

Spring is a wonderful time to explore the Moosehead Lake region on foot! Be sure to check out Moxie Falls during the spring runoff, as the gushing water makes for stunning photos. The trail is extremely easy to walk, winding slowly through some of the most beautiful forests in Maine — but keep an eye out for the signs, as they can be easy to miss. There’s no fee to access the trails, and there are even geocaches in the area! The trail to Moxie Falls is approximately 0.9 miles long, and is a round trip hike. 

Another seasonal must-see is the Northernmost section of the Appalachian Trail, dotted with waterfalls that perform their absolute best during the spring. This list includes Little Wilson Falls, a favorite of locals and visitors alike for it’s easy to medium level trails and impressive natural presence. You can bring your four-legged friends, but be sure to watch your footing in the early part of the year, as the rocks can be slippery!

Number Four Mountain offers a four-mile round-trip trek, providing access to the beach area on the Lake and showcasing stellar views of Baker and Lily Bay mountains. In the spring, it’s dotted with stunning wildflowers, making for an almost whimsical hike or birdwatching venture. The trail is well-maintained, and leashed dogs are welcome! The tower at the top offers a great vantage point for overlooking the lake. 

Up for a hiking challenge this spring? Be sure to check out the Moosehead Pinnacle Pursuit Challenge which offers 6 amazing summits with views that are worth every step you take!