Bear Pond in Waterford is the town’s deepest lake. While only 250 acres in surface area and four miles in circumference, Bear Pond is 72 feet deep.
It provides excellent habitat for coldwater and warmwater fish and is a popular fishing spot yearround. It is said to be named after a bear that was killed in its waters during the early settlement of Waterford.
The outlet to Bear Pond is the Bear River which flows into Long Lake in Harrison. The Department of Environmental Protection has rated the water quality of Bear Pond as “slightly above average”.
Bear Pond is regularly stocked by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife with landlocked salmon and brook trout. These two fish also have been known to spawn in Mutiny Brook which flows into Bear Pond. The pond also has populations of lake trout, splake, rainbow smelt, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, white perch, yellow perch, chain pickerel, hornpout, and pumpkinseed sunfish.
From the west shore boaters and property owners can take in magnificent views of Bear Mountain. On the north end of the pond find Bear Mountain Inn, open year round for guests and gatherings. Nearby on the northwest shore is Camp Wigwam, a summer camp for boys founded in 1910.
There is no public beach on Bear Pond, but the town fathers have set aside a small area at the south end of the pond for public access.
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