Burnt Meadow Pond beach
Brownfield, Maine · on Burnt Meadow Pond
Verified · 4 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- pond
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- No fee found
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Burnt Meadow Pond beach
Burnt Meadow Pond beach is a town-maintained public swimming beach on the north shore of Burnt Meadow Pond in Brownfield, Maine, reached off Swan Road, a classic small-town swimming hole. The 65-69 acre pond also has a separate boat launch on its south side off Spring Street, and the beach sits near the popular Burnt Meadow Mountain hiking trails, making it one of the handier places to swim after a hike.
The pond lies in East Brownfield in Oxford County, in the shadow of Burnt Meadow Mountain, whose northeastern flanks are visible from the water. The surrounding landscape is part of the area burned in the major October 1947 Maine wildfires, which scorched roughly 21,000 acres in Brownfield; a small ski area operated intermittently on the mountain's north slope from 1972-1982 before the forest reclaimed it.
Swimming at Burnt Meadow Pond beach
Swimming is in open pond water reached from a town-maintained beach; hikers describe stopping here for 'a swim and a picnic' in warmer months. The pond has a relatively quick drop-off into deeper water in places, so it is not uniformly shallow at the shoreline.
How to get to this swimming hole
The public swimming beach is on the north side of Burnt Meadow Pond, off Swan Road. A separate boat launch is on the south side off Spring Street (Route 160) in East Brownfield.
Parking: A parking lot serves the public beach off Swan Road/Route 160; hikers note it is plowed and usable as overflow trailhead parking in winter. The separate boat-ramp lot off Spring Street has about 13 spaces including trailer parking.
The hike in
- Time on foot
- Walk from the beach parking lot to the water is under a minute; it's a direct shoreline lot.
No hike is needed to swim - the beach is a drive-up town lot on Swan Road/Route 160. Note: the well-known Burnt Meadow Mountain Trail (4.3 mi loop, or 5.7 mi with the Stone Mountain spur, 1,660 ft gain) starts from a separate trailhead lot on Route 160 nearby and is a distinct hiking destination, not required to reach the water.
Hikers doing Burnt Meadow Mountain sometimes use the pond-beach lot as overflow parking when the main trailhead lot is unplowed, per first-hand hiker reports.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Town-maintained pond beach with a new (2024/2025) dock; however multiple sources note the pond has a relatively quick drop-off into deeper water in places, and no lifeguard or supervision was mentioned in any source, so young/non-swimmers should be watched closely near the drop-off areas.
Parking
Lot
Beach lot off Swan Road/Route 160 on the pond's north side; hikers note it is unpaved but plowed in winter and doubles as overflow parking for Burnt Meadow Mountain hikers. A separate boat-launch lot off Spring Street (Rt 160) on the south side has about 13 spaces including trailer parking. No fee/payment signage or cost was mentioned in any source.
Water clarity
Varies with season and flow
Sources disagree: one description calls the water 'clean, only very slightly stained,' while another rates clarity 'slightly below average, which is typical for many New England ponds.' Both agree the pond has a fairly quick drop-off into deeper water near the access areas. No first-hand visitor clarity reports were found.
On the water
The Spring Street boat launch has a gravel ramp described by howsyourriver.com as suitable for kayaks, canoes, and motorized boats, with no stated horsepower/no-wake restriction found. Separately, mainelakeschamber.org characterizes general pond access as 'carry-in,' which may reflect the beach side rather than the boat ramp. No official regulations page was found, so restriction details beyond this are left null.
Rentals nearby
Canoe and kayak rentals (includes paddles, life jackets, and shuttle service) and inner-tube floats, for trips on the Saco River
Prices: Canoe/kayak: $60 first day / $40 each additional day (offseason & midweek through June 30 and after Labor Day), $75 first day / $55 each additional day (Fri-Sun in July-August); tubes $25-38 depending on age/season
1009 Main Street, Fryeburg, ME, adjacent to the Swans Falls access point on the Saco River - roughly 10-15 miles from Burnt Meadow Pond, not on the pond itself · Seasonal, late spring through early fall; midweek defined as Monday-Thursday all season, with premium weekend rates July-August
Backstory
The area was part of the roughly 21,000 acres burned in Brownfield during the major October 1947 Maine wildfires. A ski resort later operated on Burnt Meadow Mountain's north slope from 1972 to 1982 before the site reverted to forest.
Burnt Meadow Pond beach: FAQ
Is Burnt Meadow Pond beach kid friendly?
Town-maintained pond beach with a new (2024/2025) dock; however multiple sources note the pond has a relatively quick drop-off into deeper water in places, and no lifeguard or supervision was mentioned in any source, so young/non-swimmers should be watched closely near the drop-off areas.
Do I need to hike to reach Burnt Meadow Pond beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Burnt Meadow Pond beach?
Beach lot off Swan Road/Route 160 on the pond's north side; hikers note it is unpaved but plowed in winter and doubles as overflow parking for Burnt Meadow Mountain hikers. A separate boat-launch lot off Spring Street (Rt 160) on the south side has about 13 spaces including trailer parking. No fee/payment signage or cost was mentioned in any source.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Burnt Meadow Pond beach?
The Spring Street boat launch has a gravel ramp described by howsyourriver.com as suitable for kayaks, canoes, and motorized boats, with no stated horsepower/no-wake restriction found. Separately, mainelakeschamber.org characterizes general pond access as 'carry-in,' which may reflect the beach side rather than the boat ramp. No official regulations page was found, so restriction details beyond this are left null.
When is the best time to visit Burnt Meadow Pond beach?
Summer (warmer months), per first-hand and news accounts of swimming there.
What water body is Burnt Meadow Pond beach on?
Burnt Meadow Pond beach is on Burnt Meadow Pond, a natural pond verified in USGS hydrography data.
