Schoodic Lake Cottage

Things to do in the "warm months"...

The Lake offers good swimming, but the water is cool. In the summer, the surface water temperature is typically in the mid-to-high 70's but the water is cooler as the depth increases. Most people acclimate quickly.

Another hike we have enjoyed is to Screw Auger Falls at Gulf Hagas. We particularly enjoyed the hike from the parking area to the Falls. There is a fee to access the Paper Company roads used to access the Gulf.

Other Day trips...

Bar Harbor - it is just a bit over a 2-hour drive from the cottage to Bar Harbor. We have enjoyed the shops and restaurants in Bar Harbor. We also recommend the Harbor or Whale Watching cruises available. If you go on a cruise... take a jacket and even a blanket! The ocean water is cool and it does get chilly even in the summer.

Acadia National Park - there is a lot to see and do at Acadia. We have enjoyed the view from the top of Cadillac Mountain. The entrance to the park is a short drive from Bar Harbor.

Moosehead Lake - There are some nice shops and local restaurants in Greenville which is at the southern-most part of the lake. Moosehead Lake is huge (40 miles long, 20 miles wide with over 700 miles of shoreline).

The Maine Coast - As you drive through Southern Maine there are some very nice beaches just a mile or two off of I-95. They are worth a stop if you have time. On a number of occasions we have left home at ~ 3 a.m. so we could stop and spend the day at either Ogunquit or Old Orchard Beach.

Boating - The lake is 11 miles long and over 2 miles wide. There are about 400 camps on the lake and every one of the camps has one or more boats. With that said, it is rare that there are ever more than a handful of boats out on the lake at one time, even on the weekend. The lake is great for water sports and we have water skis, a knee board and a tube to pull behind the boat. We also have a 2-person kayak.

Fishing - For the fisherman, there is a plentiful supply of smallmouth bass in the lake. The lake is gin clear, so light line (6-8 lb) works well. We have had a lot of success using 2-3" rapalas in natural or blue colors. Rubber worms (black or brown) are also very productive. There is also a good supply of Lake Trout (Togue) in the lake. In the summer months, the togue are in 70+ feet of water. We have two downriggers on the boat we use to get to that depth. A variety of spoons work well for the togue. There are also some stocked brook trout and salmon in the lake but we have never targeted them.

Biking - The roads around the lake are not paved. These roads get little traffic during the week and are great to ride a bike or walk on. There are some hills on the camp roads, but they are not that difficult. There are also nice asphalt roads (most repaved in 2010) to ride a bike on. These roads can be quite hilly and challenging.

Hiking - walking the camp roads along the lake can be very enjoyable, but there are a number of very nice hikes a short drive away. Our favorite is the hike to the top of Borestone Mountain. We like to pack some snacks and to sit and enjoy the view from the summit. The hike with a restful stop takes 5-6 hours. There is a nominal fee charged by the Audubon Society.

Things to do in the "winter months" ...

Maine has over 13,000 miles of groomed snowmobile trails and from the cottage you can ride virtually anywhere in the State and into New Hampshire and Canada (Quebec and New Brunswick). Snowmobiling is a significant activitiy in Maine and most businesses cater to snowmobilers. We have even seen snowmobiles lined up at a Wendy's drive thru. A friend and I came back into the U.S. from Quebec on our sleds at U.S. Customs with the cars and trucks.

Ice Fishing is very popular on the lake and dozens of fishing shacks will begin to populate the lake once the ice is safe. The busiest weekend of the year is during the Schoodic Lake Ice Fishing Derby which is held on President's Day weekend every year when hundreds of people hit the lake. Ice shacks, trucks, campers, ATVs and snowmobiles can be seen all over the lake. Some people take the fishing seriously but for most it is a social event.

Downhill sking is available in Greenville at Big Squaw Mountaing Ski Resort. The mountain is just over an hour from the cottage.

Many folks also cross-country ski in the area and there is also a big dog sled race in Brownville every winter.