Lily Pond Park
The go-to freshwater swimming spot on Deer Isle. A 32-acre pond, a small beach, a bathhouse open in summer, and a 0.2-mile gravel path from the parking lot that handles wheelchairs and strollers. The water reaches 74°F in peak summer.
Lily Pond Park has been an Island Heritage Trust preserve since 2009, but the pond has been used for swimming, canoeing, fishing, ice skating, and ice boating for generations. The state classifies it as a "Great Pond" (20 acres or more). It's stocked by Maine IFW with brook and brown trout. Horses raced on the ice here until 1926, when cars with tire chains replaced them.
Two parking areas access the pond. The Quaco Road trailhead (the larger lot, preferred) connects to a 930-foot gravel path — 8 feet wide, 4–8% slope — that handles wheelchairs and strollers. The beach is 0.2 miles from either lot. A bathhouse with a pit toilet is available seasonally through the summer. The pond's maximum depth is about 21 feet; surface temperatures hit 74°F in summer.
In 2023, IHT began a native tree nursery and pollinator garden in the Lily Pond meadow, supported by a USDA Project Canopy Grant. It doubles as an educational space about climate-resilient coastal forest. The overall trail network is about a mile, with additional narrow paths along the northern and southern shorelines.
No motorized boats. No fires. No camping. Dogs allowed under voice control.
What Visitors Say
"I have been going here since I was a kid and it is one of the most amazing things to look forward to. Well taken care of trails. The water is almost always the perfect temperature."
"Gemstone! perfect for kids and teens, benches to sit and watch, mottled shade is perfect."
"Nice little beach, great for young kids. Also a nice (short) walk by the shore."
Local Tips
- Quaco Road trailhead is the better lot — larger, gravel path to the beach is wider and less steep.
- From ME-15 (0.4 miles north of Deer Isle village Main Street), turn east onto Quaco Road; parking on right in 0.4 miles.
- The bathhouse (pit toilet, changing area) is available summer season only — confirm before off-season visits.
- Fishing requires a Maine freshwater license; the pond is stocked by IFW.
- Winter use: ice skating and ice boating when conditions allow — call IHT to confirm ice safety.
Connected To
- Sand Beach — the saltwater alternative on the Stonington side; different experience (waves, cold water, big rocks)
- Barred Island Preserve — if you want a hike after swimming, Barred Island adds a sandbar crossing; about 15 minutes by car
- Settlement Quarry Preserve — also on the Stonington side; good combo with a Lily Pond swim stop on the way