Visit the legendary Mt. Kineo and camp, boat and fish on Maine's largest lake. Moosehead Lake, New England's largest freshwater body, lies at the gateway to the North Maine Woods and offers camping, fishing, hunting, paddling, hiking, paddling, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing opportunities. The sheer face of Mount Kineo, with 700-foot cliffs, forms the centerpiece of a spectacular landscape long cherished for its natural beauty and plentiful resources. Moosehead Lake is the headwaters of the Kennebec River, and represents a critical hub in a network of traditional canoe routes. Two ancient carries (where natives portaged boats and gear) linked Moosehead with the West Branch of the Penobscot and the Allagash rivers, and with the Penobscot's North Branch and the St. John River. Recreational paddlers today still enjoy water trails such as the Northern Forest Canoe Trail that stretches 740-miles from northernmost Maine west to Quebec and the Adirondacks. The cool, deep waters of the lake are exceptionally clean. Moosehead draws pleasure boaters in warm-weather months and fishermen at all seasons, with landlocked salmon (stocked), native brook trout (squaretails), and lake trout (togue). Site-specific fishing information is available from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife. Hunters come in search of black ducks, wood ducks, partridge, white-tailed deer, bear and moose (for which the region is famous). Birdwatchers find a remarkable variety of species in the area. Visitors may hear or see up to 20 species of warblers along with less common boreal birds. The cliffs of Mt. Kineo are home to peregrine falcons, and support a critical breeding site for this endangered species that has been active since 1987. Western Shore Along the western shore of Moosehead lies the village of Rockwood, where a shuttle runs out to Mt. Kineo (elevation 1,789 feet). Farm Island (a 980-acre State wildlife preserve with several camping sites) is also accessible from Rockwood. The East Outlet along this shoreline is a popular setting for whitewater paddling while the West Outlet offers quieter waters. The Little Moose Public Lands (see Nearby Destinations) are readily accessible from this side of the lake. There are two large paved boat launches at Greenville and Rockwood. Eastern Shore Lily Bay State Park (see Nearby Destinations), along the lake's southeastern shore, offers waterfront camping with easy access to many natural attractions along the lake's eastern side including boat access to Sugar Island (4,208 acres) and Spencer Bay; hiking opportunities in Days Academy Grant; and class II & III whitewater paddling and fishing along the Roach River. There are four public boat launches on the east shore (Lily Bay State Park, Jewett Cove, Cowan Cove, and Norcross Brook). When to Visit The public lands surrounding Moosehead Lake offer abundant recreation at every season of the year. Boaters and campers enjoy the warm weather months, followed by hunters in October and November and ice fishermen and snowmobilers in mid-winter. Surface fishing for salmon and trout is usually best in the weeks following ice out (typically early to mid-May) or when the waters cool in September. Be prepared for black flies and mosquitoes, particularly in May and June.