An Overview of Maine's Rivers, Lakes & Coastal Bays

Largest and Most Notable Rivers & Lakes

Maine’s backbone rivers include the Penobscot (with the West and East Branches), Kennebec, and Androscoggin. Border rivers are the St. John (north) and St. Croix (east); southern basins include the Saco and Piscataqua. The largest lake is Moosehead; other major waters include Sebago, the Rangeley–Mooselookmeguntic–Richardson–Cupsuptic chain, Umbagog, Flagstaff, Chesuncook, Chamberlain, West Grand and East Grand, Sebec, China Lake, Messalonskee, Great Pond, and Damariscotta Lake. Coastal embayments such as Casco Bay, Penobscot Bay, Frenchman Bay, Blue Hill Bay, Passamaquoddy and Cobscook Bays, and tidal Merrymeeting Bay define the shoreline.

Water Sources & Flow

Snowmelt from the Western Maine mountains, spring rains, and glacially carved basins drive seasonal flows. Many rivers have hydropower dams; large restoration projects have reopened migratory fish passages on the Penobscot and Kennebec. Headwaters like the Allagash, Dead, Sandy, Sebasticook, Mattawamkeag, and Piscataquis feed the mainstems.

Recreation

Backcountry paddling along the Allagash Wilderness Waterway; rafting on the Kennebec and Dead rivers; salmonid fishing on coldwater lakes (Rangeley chain, Mooselookmeguntic, Umbagog); boating on Moosehead and Sebago; sea‑kayaking among the islands of Casco and Penobscot Bays.

Maine Rivers, Lakes, Streams, Bays and Water Features

Penobscot River, ME West Branch Penobscot River, ME East Branch Penobscot River, ME Mattawamkeag River, ME Piscataquis River, ME Seboeis River, ME Kenduskeag Stream, ME Cold Stream, ME Kennebec River, ME Dead River (Kennebec trib.), ME Carrabassett River, ME Sandy River, ME Sebasticook River, ME Cobbosseecontee Stream, ME Sheepscot River, ME Damariscotta River, ME Medomak River, ME St. George River, ME Androscoggin River, ME Swift River (Androscoggin trib.), ME Little Androscoggin River, ME Kennebago River, ME Presumpscot River, ME Royal River, ME Saco River, ME Ossipee River (ME reach), ME Mousam River, ME Kennebunk River, ME York River, ME Piscataqua River (ME/NH reach), ME St. John River (ME reach), ME Aroostook River, ME Meduxnekeag River, ME Allagash River, ME St. Croix River (ME/NB border), ME Machias River, ME Narraguagus River, ME Union River, ME Passagassawakeag River, ME Ducktrap River, ME Penobscot Bay coastal rivers (group), ME Moosehead Lake, ME Sebago Lake, ME Rangeley Lake, ME Mooselookmeguntic Lake, ME Upper & Lower Richardson Lakes, ME Cupsuptic Lake, ME Aziscohos Lake, ME Umbagog Lake (ME/NH), ME Flagstaff Lake, ME Chesuncook Lake, ME Chamberlain Lake, ME Telos Lake, ME Allagash Lake, ME Eagle Lake (Aroostook), ME Square Lake, ME Long Lake (Aroostook), ME Cross Lake (Aroostook), ME Portage Lake, ME Big Lake (Washington), ME West Grand Lake, ME East Grand Lake (ME/NB), ME Spednic Lake (ME/NB), ME Grand Falls Flowage (ME/NB), ME Schoodic Lake, ME Sebec Lake, ME Swan Lake (Waldo), ME Great Pond (Belgrade), ME Long Pond (Belgrade), ME Messalonskee Lake, ME China Lake, ME Damariscotta Lake, ME Androscoggin Lake, ME Maranacook Lake, ME Cobbosseecontee Lake, ME Thompson Lake, ME Long Lake (Cumberland), ME Brandy Pond, ME Kezar Lake, ME Moose Pond, ME Nicatous Lake, ME Casco Bay, ME Penobscot Bay, ME Frenchman Bay, ME Blue Hill Bay, ME Muscongus Bay, ME Saco Bay, ME Passamaquoddy Bay, ME Cobscook Bay, ME Merrymeeting Bay (tidal estuary), ME