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Lakes → Maine → Moosehead Lake

Moosehead Lake

Maine · Natural · near Greenville

74,890 acres 246 ft deep 25 ft clarity Water A

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6.8SCORE

Survey summary · Maine

74,890

Surface acres

246 ft

Max depth

281 mi

Shoreline

25 ft

Typical clarity

1,029 ft

Elevation

Moosehead Lake covers 74,890 acres in Maine and drops to 246 feet at its deepest point. It is a natural lake, which generally means a more stable shoreline and fewer drawdown surprises than an impoundment. Water clarity averages around 25 feet, placing it among the clearer bodies of water in the country. Short-term rental posture: Plantation rules. Confirm at the municipal level before underwriting rental income.

What stands out

Exceptional clarity, roughly 25 ft
Deep water — 246 ft max
Large open water, 74,890 acres
Fishing
Moose watching

Score breakdown

Water 8.5

Recreation 7.2

Value 3.5

Access 7.3

Investment 7.0

Each axis is computed by published formula from this lake's own attributes. How we score.

Water quality grade

Water A

ExcellentClear, low-nutrient water. Typically oligotrophic with high clarity and little seasonal algae.

Water B

GoodHealthy water with moderate clarity. Some seasonal variation, no persistent problems.

Water C

FairProductive water — good fishing, reduced clarity. Algae possible in late summer.

Water D

PoorNutrient-rich or heavily drawn down. Swimmable conditions vary; check before you rely on them.

Computed from measured clarity, trophic state, and drawdown magnitude — not an opinion. See the formula.

Overall score, 1–10

8.0+

ExceptionalStrong on every axis we measure.

7.0–7.9

StrongClearly above average, usually with one standout axis.

6.0–6.9

SolidA good lake with a trade-off worth understanding.

5.0–5.9

MixedReal strengths and real compromises.

Under 5

CompromisedSomething material — volatility, water quality, or access.

Weighted: water 26% · recreation 22% · investment 20% · value 18% · access 14%.

Fishery

Landlocked salmonBrook troutLake troutTogue

On the water

FishingMoose watchingSnowmobilingPaddling

No USGS gauge on this lake. Water level and clarity figures below come from published lake management data rather than a live sensor.

What the drawdown looks like

Full pool vs autumn low · Moosehead Lake

The dock sits at full-pool elevation. At low pool the waterline retreats and the reach to navigable water changes. Scale is illustrative; the 4 ft figure is from published operations for this lake.

Where it is

True shoreline from USGS NHD 306 km²

The outline is this lake's actual boundary from the USGS National Hydrography Dataset, not an approximation — 584 boundary points. Basemap is USGS topographic with contours and hydrography. Switch layers at the top right.

Depth profile

Idealized cross-section. Max depth 246 ft, average 79 ft. Depth at a specific dock depends on local bathymetry — verify at the property.

Level behaviour

Level stabilityNatural Typical drawdown4 ft Drawdown seasonAutumn Trophic stateOligotrophic Typical clarity25 ft Water quality gradeA Elevation1,029 ft Managing authorityMaine DEP

Dock & shoreline

Permitting authorityMaine DEP / LUPC Wake / speed rulesOpen water

A dock is never guaranteed. Confirm in writing with Maine DEP / LUPC that the specific parcel is eligible before you remove contingencies.

Short-term rental posture

Plantation rules

Generally permitted, but rules change. Confirm the specific municipality and any HOA covenant.

Model rental income →

Modeled estimates. Market figures are derived from lake attributes and regional patterns, not from MLS data. Treat them as a starting point, not a comp.

$1,155,000

Median waterfront

$7,403

Per shoreline foot

+0.9%

Year over year

100

Est. inventory

130

Avg days on market

$827

Est. nightly rate

Rental snapshot

Modeled occupancy72% Booked nights / yr189 Gross revenue$167,421 Net operating income$86,466 Yield on median price7.49%

Open the full model →

What a median-priced home on Moosehead Lake actually costs to carry, with waterfront-specific line items most calculators omit.

$9,140

All-in per month

$261,970

Cash to close + setup

$19,672

Beyond P&I, tax, insurance

Where the annual cost goes

Principal & interest $73,026 (68%) Maintenance reserve (1.1%) $12,705 (12%) Property taxes $12,128 (11%) Hazard insurance $4,851 (4%) Utilities $2,700 (2%) Shoreline / seawall reserve $960 (1%) Dock maintenance $900 (1%) Flood insurance $878 (1%)

Annual carry

Principal & interest	$73,026
Property taxes	$12,128
Hazard insurance	$4,851
Flood insurance	$878
Utilities	$2,700
Maintenance reserve (1.1%)	$12,705
Septic service	$520
Well & water testing	$260
Dock maintenance	$900
Winterization / seasonal close	$750
Shoreline / seawall reserve	$960
Total	$109,677

Model your own numbers →

4.5 / 5 from 2 reviews

Great water, know the drawdown

Danielle S. · Owner on the lake · Summer 2026

4/5

Beautiful clear water and the fishing is genuinely good. Be aware the level drops in the fall and our dock needed a longer walkway than we budgeted for. Not a dealbreaker, just plan for it.

The fishing is the reason we stayed

J. Harmon · Owner on the lake · Summer 2026

5/5

Smallmouth and walleye both fish well. Water clarity has held up over the fifteen years we have been here, which I credit to the watershed protections.