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Paddlers, Try One More Time: Sebago's Peabody Pond is Worth It

November 12, 2008 - SEBAGO -- There is nothing quite as special as a canoe outing in November. Just enough of a chill in the north wind to bring a refreshing zing to your cheeks, yet enough strength left in the rising morning sun to bring a soft, comforting caress to those same cheeks.

Add in flocks of mallards rising from small, secluded indentations in the shoreline, the symphony of chickadee, blue jay and nuthatch calls and a pair of juvenile loons side by side a few yards ahead of you, and you have the makings of a memorable three-hour outing on Peabody Pond in Sebago.

Peabody Pond is shaped like a wide "V" pointed toward the northwest. If you paddle the complete shoreline, you will cover about six miles. Make sure you select a relatively wind-free period of the day. The pond is surrounded by many low ridges and mountains that often serve to accelerate the wind. The shoreline is fairly linear and does not provide many secluded coves to duck into if the wind does pick up.

At one point, we paddled under a 100-yard stretch of shady hemlocks leaning well out over the water. We enjoyed the light touch of the delicate needles on our heads as we paddled under them.

At various vantage points around the pond, you will be rewarded with outstanding mountain vistas. At the northern end of the pond, you can pick out Douglas Hill to the south. To the east of Douglas Hill lies the conical profile of Peaked Mountain. From most points on the pond, you will enjoy views of Bald Pate Mountain soaring up over the northern shoreline of the pond. Note the huge cliff surrounded by trees on the southeastern face. It looks like a many-tiered granite waterfall tumbling down through steep, forested slopes.

From the southern end of the pond you will be able to see the broad mass of Pleasant Mountain in Denmark emerging from behind Bald Pate. The silver fire tower on the highest summit is 10 air miles away and can be seen by the naked eye if the sunlight hits it just right.

There are only two islands on the pond, each on the northern end. They are shaped exactly like an exclamation point. Although not easy, you can land on the brushy northern end of the larger island, or on its southwestern edge. Judging by the charred birch logs strewn about and the crude firepit, the island gets occasional use in the summer. We sat on a large fallen tree trunk and munched our sandwiches, admiring the dancing diamonds of sunlight on the water.

Seek out the hidden jewel at the southern end of the pond, a small winding waterway that threads its way for a quarter-mile through a small marsh. We paddled over two barely submerged beaver dams before turning around at an exposed dam deep within the marsh. The stream eventually connects to tiny, secluded Cold Rain Pond.

At the margins of the marsh, the brilliant golden needles of the larch radiated in the autumn sunshine. Dried brown leaves of pickerelweed poked up to the surface from below. With a sharp squawk, a solitary wood duck rocketed up out of the reeds a few yards ahead of us. As we studied the sky on the other side of the marsh, a hawk circled above us looking for something tasty to swoop down and snatch out of the grasses.

On the drive to and from the pond, be sure to slow down along the open areas on the southwestern shoreline of Sebago Lake. There are outstanding views to the east toward Rattlesnake Mountain in Casco. But the real showstopper is seen from the southern end of Sebago: the unmistakable profile of massive Mount Washington, with a mantle of white on its flanks. Winter may have settled into the high country, but there are still many fine weeks left of local paddling. Try to get out there one more time.

To get to Peabody Pond from Route 302 in North Windham, drive around the southern shoreline of Sebago Lake, via Routes 35 and 114. Proceed through the town of East Sebago, via the Long Hill Road, to Route 107 north. Pass through the small town of Sebago. From the Sebago Town Hall, drive 2.2 miles to Peabody Pond Road. Turn right onto Peabody Pond Road and drive one mile east to where the pavement ends and the gravel begins. Bear left at the fork and continue 0.1 mile to the boat launch site on the right. Consult the Delorme Maine Atlas and Gazetteer (map No. 4) for help in getting to the boat launch site. For additional information on Peabody Pond, contact the Lakes Environmental Association (www.mainelakes.org).

MICHAEL PERRY, Portland Press Herald, November 6, 2008


Lakes: Peabody Pond
Regions: Sebago


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