Lily Bay State Park

Name: Lily Bay State Park

Location: 13 Myrle's Way, Greenville, ME 04441

Activities: boating, camping, canoeing, fishing, walking trails, picnicking, day-use area, swimming, lots of wildlife (deer!!), cross-country skiing (Winter), snowmobiling (Winter), snowshoeing (Winter).

Dog-friendly: Yes, on-leash

Hours: 9:00a.m.-sunset

Season: Year-round

Camping: Yes

Fees: Yes

One weekday during our vacation in late August we decided to take a drive and ended up at Lily Bay State Park. Turns out it was the perfect time to visit because all of the kids had gone back to school, so most of the park was quiet and empty. The weather was also perfect, 70 degrees and sunny with a light breeze. We couldn’t have asked for a better day.

Lily Bay State Park is located on the eastern side of Moosehead lake, right off of Lily Bay Road. Moosehead Lake is the largest lake in New England, it spans over 117 square miles. The lake provides great trout and salmon fishing, as well as picturesque views of the surrounding mountains. Technically, the park is located in a town called Beaver Cove, which is right outside of Greenville. It’s a great way to get immersed in the wilderness without being more than a 20-minute drive from a grocery store, gas, or restaurants. 

The park was established way back in 1961, when Scott Paper Company donated land to the great state of Maine. Now, it is a 925-acre park with a 90-site campground, sandy beach, playground, boat launch, and walking trails. The campground has wooded and waterfront sites, fire rings, picnic tables, hot showers, and a dumping station. There is also a nice shaded picnic area with tables and charcoal grilling stations. 

During our visit to the park, we started by exploring the beach. It was very clean and well-maintained. The water was crystal-clear and welcoming. One thing I really enjoyed about their beach area is that it extends into a grassy area, so if you don’t want to sit on the sand all day, you can relax on the grass instead.

Another pleasant surprise was the 2-mile walking trail that goes from the beach area to the campground. It had some outlooks with good views of the lake. If you’re looking for longer hikes, Big Spencer (3,206 ft), Number 4 Mountain (2,890 ft), and Big Moose Mountain (3,196 ft) are all within an hour’s drive from Lily Bay State Park. 

In the winter, the park provides groomed cross-country skiing trails. Snowshoeing and snowmobiling are also allowed in the park during the winter months. I can’t even imagine how windy and cold it gets on Moosehead during the winter months. I’m shivering just thinking about it. 

We also took a drive through the park to check out the campsites and found a beautiful marsh along the road that you could tell would become a hotspot for moose after the sunset. We even stumbled across two deer that were very friendly and came right up to our car! Oooo, how exciting. 

Overall, this park provided plenty of exploring for our day trip. I would love to come back and spend a weekend camping here, because the campsites looked gorgeous. Maybe someday, when we have a boat to take out on the lake as well. 

Keep exploring, friends!