Events & News
Ice Out at Great Pond
The Bureau of Parks and Lands Boating Division tracks ice out on Maine's lakes each Spring.
Although the winter of 2016/2017 has brought a lot of snow to most of Maine, lake ice conditions are considered to be normal or below normal in ice thickness. A heavy blanket of snow has covered most of our lakes since early December insulating the ice and has generally reduced the ice quality and thickness throughout Maine. Many areas that may typically see more than 4' of ice late in the season are currently covered by 24-30” of ice and much of that is "soft" ice meaning it is very porous.
Aerial photograph of Popham Beach State Park & Fort Popham
Check out the new Popham Beach Conditions webpage and sign up to receive an email or text each time the conditions are updated. Page features include links to:
- Current weather and extended forecast
- Tide Information
- Boat Launches statewide, sortable table listing
 Now is the time to eradicate browntail caterpillars in trees that are accessible. Browntail caterpillars cause a rash like poison ivy and they are spreading across more and more of Maine. Contact with caterpillar hairs can cause severe reactions for some individuals.
The caterpillars spend the winter webbed in silken-wrapped leaves on the tips of branches of oak and apple trees. (See photo at left.) State entomologists say NOW is the time to look for the bright white silk tying a few leaves to the TIPS of your apple, crab apple, plum and oak tree branches. If you see a web CLIP IT OUT and destroy the web by dropping it in a bucket of soapy water, do not just leave it on the ground.
These caterpillar webs can be found regularly from the New Hampshire border to Waldoboro, and inland to Turner and Waterville. They are worst along the coast from Falmouth to Bristol. The moths have been seen all the way to Kingfield, Millinocket and Topsfield on the New Brunswick border.
For More Information: Contact the Maine Forest Service (207) 287-2431 or your local University of Maine Cooperative Extension Office.
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 Ice fishing at Range Pond
Range Pond State Park
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March 4: "Hooked on Fishing" Kid's Ice Fishing Derby at Range Pond State Park, 9 AM to 1 PM. Free ice fishing rig for 1st 500 registered children ages 12 & under that arrive before 10 a.m. compliments of Kittery Trading Post. Free ice fishing basics, drilled holes and bait for kids; first come first serve. And XC-ski trails - 2 miles groomed, sliding hill (snow permitting) and food vendor.
Ice Fishing Derby website & release form
Special reduced park entry fee of $1.50 for adults and youth 12-64; all others free
Park Location: 26 State Park Road, Poland (off Empire Rd.)
Lily Bay State Park
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March 11: Take-it-Outside Winter Family Fun Day at Lily Bay State Park, 10 AM to 3 PM. Ski and Snowshoe Trailer will be on site with free loans of equipment. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, ice fishing demo, tote sled rides, wildlife exhibit, and bonfire. Ski & Snowshoe Trailer on site for free equipment loans. Winter survival skills by the Boy Scouts. Hot dogs, burgers, coffee and cocoa while they last! Door prizes too!
$1.50 for adults and youth 12-64; all others free.
Park Location: State Park Road, Beaver Cove (9 miles north of Greenville on the east shore of Moosehead Lake). For More Information call: (207) 695-2700.
Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park
Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park offers nature programs on weekends in March, except March 11, at 2:00 PM. Nature programs start at the benches by the end of the second parking lot unless otherwise noted and may include walks, talks, and activities in a beautiful natural setting. Programs last about one hour unless otherwise noted, weather permitting.
No reservations are needed, unless otherwise noted. Nature programs are free with park admission. Admission is $1.00 for ages 5-11; $4.00 for Maine residents ages 12-64; $6.00 for non-residents ages 12-64; $2.00 for non-residents 65 and older. Persons under 5 and Maine residents 65 and older are free.
For more information or to arrange for group visits, please call 865-4465.
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3/4 Reading Animal Tracks - Experience the joys of snowshoeing as we track animals through the park! 2:00 PM, meet at the benches by the second parking lot, 1 hour, weather permitting. Free rental of snowshoes.
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3/5 Winter in the Woods - Join us for a guided walk to enjoy and learn how plants and animals survive the cold winter months. 2:00 PM, meet at the benches by the second parking lot, 1 hour, weather permitting.
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3/12 Winter Tree Identification - Learn how to identify trees in the park’s forest using their winter characteristics. 2:00 PM, meet at the benches by the second parking lot, 1 hour program, weather permitting.
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3/18 Winter in the Woods - Join us for a guided walk to enjoy and learn how plants and animals survive the cold winter months. 2:00 PM, meet at the benches by the second parking lot, 1 hour, weather permitting.
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3/19 Stories in Stone – Get to know the story of Maine’s beautiful rockbound coast on this walk with short talks and activities. 2:00 PM, meet at the benches by the second parking lot, 1 hour, weather permitting.
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3/25 Casco Bay Walk – Enjoy views of islands and rocky shores on this one-mile walk along the scenic Casco Bay Trail. 2:00 PM, meet at the benches by the second parking lot, 1 hour, weather permitting.
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3/26 Signs of Spring – Look for signs of spring including flowering trees, emerging chipmunks, and migrating birds. 2:00 PM, meet at the benches by the second parking lot, 1 hour program, weather permitting.
For
more information about Maine State Parks visit us at: www.parksandlands.com or view our Year at a Glance of Park Events Calendar
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