Peaks-Kenny State Park

camping Canoeing fishing hiking (trails) hunting swimming watching wildlife campground group picnic shelter picnic area RV dumping station showers trailered boat launch

Description

Peaks-Kenny State Park lies on the shores of Sebec Lake, offering day visitors and campers a peaceful, wooded setting in which to enjoy boating, fishing, swimming, hiking and picnicking. With 56 sites set among stately trees and large glacial boulders near the lake, the campground fosters quiet and private enjoyment of a beautiful natural setting. The 839-acre park lies in the Central Maine Highlands, an area renowned for its natural beauty and outdoor opportunities'with Moosehead Lake, the Appalachian Trail, the southern end of Baxter State Park and other outdoor destinations all within a morning's drive.

The Park encompasses more than a mile of shoreline along Sebec Lake. A sandy swimming beach, staffed by a lifeguard in summer, offers lovely views across Sebec Lake to Borestone Mountain, a 1600-acre nature sanctuary with a summit trail (see Nearby Destinations). A grassy picnic area with playground adjoins the beach, providing picnic tables and barbecue grills enjoyed by both camping parties and day visitors. The camping area, a five-minute walk from the beach, has many glacial boulders that children camping at the park enjoy climbing.

The clean and deep waters of Sebec Lake, which stretches 10 miles in length, make it an appealing destination for wildlife watchers and those seeking cold-water fish like landlocked salmon and lake trout (togue). Campers can bring canoes or rent ones on site. Those with trailered boats can launch at a public ramp two miles from the campground (at Greeley's Landing where Route 153 ends at Sebec Lake).

Ten miles of gentle hiking trails within the park offer visitors of all ages and skill levels a chance to enjoy old-growth hardwood forests, hemlock and pines. For more challenging terrain nearby, see the Nearby Destinations section.

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History

An ice sheet that covered Maine roughly 15,000 years ago scoured out the basin underlying Sebec Lake. The entire region was shaped by a mile-thick ice sheet that carried off most of the soil, leaving exposed bedrock and a deep bowl where the lake now lies.

Not long after the glaciers receded 11,000 years ago, the first Paleoindians came to this area, but there is scant evidence of their temporary encampments. More artifacts reveal the habits of native people from the Archaic period (between 4,000 and 9,000 years ago), who camped on lake shores and river banks - hunting deer, trapping fur-bearers, and trapping shad and salmon in fish weirs. These early inhabitants used dugout canoes initially, but about 3,000 years ago, they began using birchbark for baskets, houses, buckets and canoes.

European settlers first arrived in this area in the early 1800s, with many working in the lumbering trades (as much of the area's timber was harvested - first for shipbuilding, and later for wood sent to lumber mills and paper mills). Steamboats hauled logs across the lake. There was a spool mill along the lake for a time, along with a short-lived slate quarry and fish hatchery. Eventually these industries gave way to sporting camps (and a few summer camps), where visitors enjoyed fishing, picnics and hikes to ice caves and local mountains.

A famous landmark along the lake is a shorefront home known as the 'Castle,' built in 1890 by a Foxcroft attorney who was impressed with European castles. He later became Maine's first Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Game, instituting conservation measures like the single deer limit and state fishing licenses.

The land that now constitutes the developed portions of Peaks-Kenny State Park was given to the State in 1964 by a prominent citizen and lawyer in Dover-Foxcroft, Francis J. Peaks, who served in the Maine House of Representatives. The gift of this beautiful recreational site, including a white sand beach at Sand Cove that had long been a favorite picnicking spot, was made in memory of his sister, Annie Peaks Kenny, and their parents, Joseph and Eliza Peaks - for whom the park was named. The park first opened on July 4, 1969.

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Activities

• camping
• Canoeing
• fishing
• hiking (trails)
• hunting
• swimming
• watching wildlife

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Rules

• Swim only in designated areas.
• Camp only at established sites, many of which can be reserved in advance at www.campwithme.com. There's a two-night minimum for reserved sites and a 14-day maximum stay during July and August.
• Park rules prohibit use of intoxicating beverages.
• Keep pets on leash (less than 4 feet) at all times and do not leave pets unattended.
• Quiet in camping areas is required between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Generators in the campground can only be operated at designated times.
• Moving firewood can transport exotic insects & diseases that threaten forests. Always acquire firewood from a local source.
• Please stay on trails to protect sensitive ecosystems.
• Observe wildlife from far enough away that they do not change their behavior: do not follow or feed animals. Avoid areas with nesting birds, dens or young animals (even those that appear abandoned).
• See Rules for State Parks and Historic Sites

Consider lending a hand. Contact us if you would like to help with stewardship or maintenance work.

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Trails

Peaks-Kenny State Park offers a 10-mile network of hiking trails, some of which are interconnected.

Cove Trail (0.7 miles) leaves from the beach picnic area, offering a short loop through the woods.

Loop Trail (0.5 miles) provides a centrally located loop for those seeking a quick woods experience.

Birch Mountain Ledge Trail (2 miles roundtrip): This trail winds through mature forest to ledges atop Birch Mountain.

Brown's Point Trail (distance/time): (5.5-mile roundtrip, allow 2 hours) provides a more challenging hike through varied forested terrain.

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Services and Facilities

• campground
• group picnic shelter
• picnic area
• RV dumping station
• showers
• trailered boat launch
• See Visitor Accessibility

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Special Considerations

If you trailered in a boat, make sure your boat, propeller, trailer, anchor and fishing gear are weed-free before launching to prevent the spread of invasive plants like Eurasian milfoil. Place any plants found on high, dry ground or in the trash. All motorized boats using Maine's inland waters must purchase and display a Lake and River Protection Sticker, which helps fund prevention and monitoring efforts for aquatic invasives.

All those fishing (age 16 and above for Maine residents and age 12 and above for non-residents) must have a valid license and review the State's open water fishing regulations. Fishermen are asked to use lead-free sinkers and jigs to prevent metal poisoning of loons, eagles and other wildlife. Licenses may be purchased online or at local sporting goods stores, convenience stores and the Dover-Foxcroft Town Office.

Maine has a freshwater fish consumption advisory due to mercury (which enters waters from airborne pollution and accumulates in fish - posing significant health threats). The State sets strict limits on recommended consumption of fresh water fish: see the open water fishing regulations for details.

When boating or hiking, be prepared with extra clothing (and appropriate footwear), map and compass, and adequate water and food. Always inform someone where you are going and when you expect to return.

Be prepared for black flies and mosquitoes, particularly in May and June. While the area is not heavily infested with deer ticks, it is still advisable to check yourself daily to prevent Lyme disease.

Moving firewood can transport exotic insects & diseases that pose a serious threat to our forests. Don't transport firewood, buy it from a local source. Burn It Where You Buy It

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