QUICK TRAIL FACTS
- Preserve Size: 740 acres
- Trail Mileage: 5 miles of biking trails; ~4.5 miles of walking trails
- Pets: yes
- Difficulty: easy
- Sights: pond, sandy beaches
Range Pond State Park has a beautiful, popular sandy beach and accessible nature trails on the pond side of the park. Because it’s a state park, you have to pay a fee. The best places to swim, in my opinion, are not at the main beach, but the quieter, more secluded beaches at Frenchman Beach, past the marsh. You can also walk out on a long peninsula, near the Poland Spring facility, but there is no swimming at the end. Check out the maps at the main beach before you start your walk.
On the other side of Empire Road are miles of trails popular with mountain bikers, although walkers and skiers are welcome, too. There is one short trail for just walkers along a sylvan creek. Dogs are allowed. This system connects to a snowmobile trail system, which I didn’t complete. There is a self-pay stand here.
I couldn’t find any good maps of this place, unfortunately.
Leashed dogs are allowed on the beaches between Oct. 1 and March 31,
Directions: Take I-95 to Exit 75 for US-202/ME-4/ME-100. Turn right on Washington Street and after about one mile take another right onto ME Route 122/Poland Spring Road. After passing under I-95, turn left to continue on ME Route 122/Poland Spring Road. At 3 miles, turn right at Empire Road which will be the second road encountered on the right side. Continue just over a half mile to State Park Road. There is a fee, and visitors who frequent the mountain bike trails via the parking lot across the gate must pay at the self-pay station in the parking lot.
