Moosehead Lake Maine, which is situated in the Longfellow Mountains, is the source of the Kennebec River. With over 400 miles of shoreline, it is the largest lake in Maine. There are over 80 islands in Moosehead Lake, Maine. Mount Kineo, which rises 700 feet above the lake, is a drawing point for many visitors.

The area we now call Moosehead Lake, Maine was originally inhabited by the Algonquin Indians. They lived in various locations around the lake, including Seboomook, Northeast Carry, Indian Hill in Greenville and Birch Point in Rockwood. Some even lived on Mount Kineo. They came to the area in search of flint, which they used to make arrowheads, spearheads and tomahawks.

The philosopher and naturalist Henry David Thoreau was fascinated by the Native American culture in Moosehead Lake, Maine. On a September morning in 1857, he sat on the shore of Moosehead Lake with Joe Poli, his Indian guide. Thoreau had come to the area to immerse himself in nature. However, he also wanted to interact with the people who had lived there for so long. For the next 11 days, Poli would be his guide. Thoreau would later publish his Indian Notebooks, in which he wrote:

If wild men, so much more like ourselves than they are unlike, have inhabited these shores before us, we wish to know particularly what manner of men they were, how they lived here, their relation to nature, their arts and their customs, their fancies and superstitions.

Today, you can explore the history of Moosehead Lake Maine at the Moosehead Lake Historical Society. The renovated carriage house at the society is home to the Lumberjack Museum. Here you can explore a retrospective of logging in the 1800s, as well as a number of Native American artifact exhibits. There are displays of hand-crafted models which depict the steam vessels once frequented the waters of Moosehead Lake, along with vintage photographic exhibits, a library and a gift shop. Their Moosehead Lake Maine “Living History” presentations feature discussions by local historians about 19th and early 20th century railroad and lake boat transportation, early hotels and sporting camps, and Native American culture.

If the history of the area has inspired you to follow in Thoreau’s footsteps, you should consider looking into some Moosehead Lake rentals. Moosehead Lake rentals are perfect for family vacations, honeymoons, romantic getaways or spiritual retreats. Most of these rentals can be found in the town of Greenville. Many of the Moosehead Lake rentals include amenities such as snow mobile rentals and trail access, wrap around decks, fast access to the beaches and washer/dryers.

The Lodge at Moosehead Lake is an exceptional example of a Moosehead Lake rental. In 2005, it was named Hideaway of the Year by Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report. The Lodge at Moosehead Lake is a romantic bed & breakfast country inn located in Greenville, Maine. In 2004, Conde Nast recognized it as the Most Outstanding Inn in North America and the Caribbean. The owners of the Lodge at Moosehead lake describe their lodging experience as “roughing it in comfort.” In other words, while you explore the area in the day time, you can come back to the lodge and be pampered.

Speaking of roughing it, you should definitely think about Moosehead Lake kayak trips. The region has more fresh water than only other lake region in Maine. Many of the cabins near the lake offer rental options for Moosehead Lake kayak trips. Additionally, there are a number of outlets in Maine that conduct Moosehead Lake kayak trips.