Range Pond State Park

Oct 17

I’ve probably driven through Poland hundreds of times in my life. I always viewed it as a mid-point. Just a place in between destinations to stop and get gas or maybe some food. Lately, i’ve began spending more and more time outdoors in the Poland area, and i’ve come to love it. Poland is beautiful. It’s home to rolling hills, scenic mountains, a beautiful golf resort, several lakes and ponds, and a lovely state park.

Directions to Range Pond State Park can be found with a quick Google search. For anyone that doesn’t have access to a smartphone or computer, the park is located off of Empire Road in Poland. To get to Empire Road, take either Route 26 (from Western or Southern Maine) or take Route 202 from the Lewiston/Auburn area.

I visited the park on a quiet, cool Fall morning. I loved driving down the foliage-lined park road. This was just one of the many beautiful things awaiting me inside the park. I was the first car in the parking lot. I couldn’t believe it. It was actually kind of overwhelming, as there are hundreds of parking spots to choose from. I decided to park near in the furthest lot, right next to the Old Field trail sign, as the trail was the first item on my to-do list.

The Old Field Trail started on what I believe was a continuation of the park road. It was flat but picturesque, bringing me through a nice pine forest. The canopy was just starting to turn color, which made for a beautiful walk. The trail was nice, but poorly marked. I think I stayed on the right trail, but I could have easily been maneuvering between a couple different trails. I wasn’t worried about getting lost, because the trails intersect several times and aren’t very long.

About 15 minutes in, I came across a group picnic area, complete with picnic tables and grills that open up to a large, wide field. There were also some bike racks, a good size playground, and a couple outhouses. I’m not sure what impressed me the most. Probably the playground, as it had three—yes THREE—slides!

After exploring this area, I began walking on what I believe was the Old Camp Trail. This trail looped back towards the lake, where I was thoroughly surprised to find several picnic tables and grills scattered along the trail, right on the water. Several of the picnic spots provided access to their own swimming spots on the lake. The picnic tables were covered in pine needles and oh so rustic.

I slowly made my way out of the woods and onto the sandy beach. Boy, was I surprised! There must have been at least a quarter-mile worth of beach. Scattered along the beach and in the shade of the trees surrounding the beach were even MORE picnic tables. Man, this place is accommodating and family-friendly!

Soo the beach is HUGE. AND beautiful. It has sandy, shallow waters, perfect for swimmers of all ages. I could picture myself floating on a tube in the water, letting the sun melt away all of my stress. There were also lifeguard stations, which is another plus for families. I saw that there were also seasonal kayak, canoe, and paddle board rentals on weekends, which is super convenient. Right next to the rentals was a boat launch for smaller boats, which is a great way to try your hand at catching a trout or a small or large mouth bass.

I can’t forget to mention the seasonal bathroom facilities, ANOTHER playground, as well as a covered, reservable picnic area that has drinking fountains, a volleyball court, and inside space (which is great for those summer nights when Maine weather goes from one extreme to another).

The Railroad Trail continues on past the boat launch and beach, towards the bottom of Lower Range Pond, where it transitions back to a wooded setting. If mountain biking is more your speed, there are several trails that branch from the State Park parking lot across from where you turn to enter the park. These trails are also utilized in the off-season for walking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, etc.

With so much to see and do at this park, I will definitely be back. And i’ll force everyone I know to come with me. Range Pond State Park is way too pretty not to share. And it has something for everyone, which is why I love it so much. The next time you drive through Poland, set aside some time to stop by and explore!