North Pond, Norway, Maine

 

 Body of Water:  North Pond, Norway, Maine

Directions: From Portland jump on the turnpike and head north to Exit 63, Gray.  Turn left at the light coming off the turnpike onto Rt. 115.  Drive 0.3 miles and turn RIGHT onto Rt. 26.  You will stay on Rt. 26 for a long time!  (about 26 miles, through Gray, Poland and Oxford towards Norway. ) After 26 miles turn LEFT onto Main St. in Norway.  which becomes Rt. 118 for 1.7 miles.  

Not far after passing Boomers Restaurant (pretty good food!) Turn RIGHT onto Crocket Ridge Road for about 2.5 miles.  Then turn LEFT onto Round the Pond Road for about 2.4 miles, then turn RIGHT onto the final road... I think it is called North Pond Dam Road, but to be honest I cannot remember!  (Sorry and it is not listed on google earth!)  If you get to Needham Road you missed it.

 

This is looking at the final road from the parking area. 

 

Parking:  This is not a large parking area by any means, but there is room for a few vehicles, even with trailers.  As I always recommend... the earlier you get there the more parking availability there is!  I parked here to unload, but there is a bigger area above for parking.

 

Launch: A nice gradual sandy launch!  (My favorite kind)

 

 

 

 Looking back at the launch on the return trip

 

Fees:  None!

 

Bathroom:  None!

 

Wildlife:  Canada Geese! Great Horned Owl! (YUP but no pics!)  ducks, osprey and while we did not see any, I would imagine deer, moose, fox, etc. 

 

Notes: This is a place with SO many areas to explore!!!  The catch? You need to get here early in the season while water levels are up.  As the water levels drop and water plants grow, many areas become inaccessible.  You can make it out to the main part of the lake, which is very nice, but y'all know I love the nooks and crannies!  

Map from Google: 

The launch area was very inviting!  If you were stopping here and took a quick peek, you may think that this was it, that this was a tiny pond, but... you leave the launch area and paddle around a corner...

 

I loved the way the sun looked in my phone!

 

 

This, I have learned, is a catbird!  It mimics other birds like a mockingbird.  It was beautiful!

 

Once we came around the corner it opened up into all of these areas, all these channels to explore.  I couldn't wait to see what was waiting around every corner! 

 

Donna, a wonderful friend, had paddled here before and invited me to join her.  It was an honor to visit this pond.  Thank you Donna! (Donna Knowles Photography)

 

It is one of those places that makes you lose track of time and forget about anything else happening in the world!  Peaceful. 

 

I did not expect to see this tucan/elephant in the woods of Maine!  Ha!

Red Wing Black Bird! 

 

Yellow Warbler!

 

This osprey was pretty vocal! 

 

I am not sure if this is a fire tower you can hike to, but it was neat to see. 

This is out on the big part of the pond looking back at where we had come from.

 

A few arches to go under while exploring the bigger part of the pond!

 

A log or... a chameleon? You decide!

 

We saw our first babies of the year! 

Heading back towards the launch...

We stopped under a tree to have lunch and watch a muskrat.

 

He was so fun to watch!  (I posted a video on Instagram if you want to see it!)

 

This was another AMAZING place to paddle.  SO much wildlife, so much peace!  Thank you Donna!  

Just remember... when paddling with me... I may be packing... 

 you have been warned!  ha ha!