Maine's premier lake: 28,771 acres of crystal-clear water serving as Portland's drinking supply and the region's most iconic natural landmark.
Sebago Lake is the crown jewel of the Maine Lakes Region and the second largest lake in the state, spanning 28,771 acres across six towns. Its name derives from the Abenaki word meaning "big water," and the lake lives up to that description in every way. With a maximum depth of 316 feet and over 105 miles of shoreline, Sebago is a vast, deep body of water with remarkable clarity that has been measured at over 30 feet of Secchi disk transparency.
Since 1938, Sebago Lake has served as the primary drinking water source for the Greater Portland Water District, supplying clean water to roughly 200,000 people in the Portland metro area. It is one of only about 50 surface water supplies in the nation clean enough to avoid filtration under EPA rules, a testament to the exceptional water quality maintained through decades of watershed protection efforts by local, state, and federal agencies.
Beyond its utility, Sebago Lake is a world-class recreational destination. It is historically famous for its landlocked Atlantic salmon fishery, the first place where landlocked salmon were identified as a distinct population. Today, anglers also pursue lake trout, smallmouth bass, and brown trout in its waters. Sebago Lake State Park, located on the northern shore in Casco and Naples, provides public beach access, camping, and boat launches, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors each summer season.
Sebago Lake stretches across Sebago, Naples, Casco, Standish, Raymond, and Windham. Key access points include state parks, town beaches, and public boat launches around the shoreline.
Sebago Lake offers year-round recreational activities, from summer swimming and boating to winter ice fishing and snowmobiling on the frozen surface.
Sebago Lake is the birthplace of landlocked Atlantic salmon fishing in America. The lake supports a diverse cold and warm water fishery managed by Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
Sebago Lake's water quality is among the best in the nation. As one of roughly 50 unfiltered public water supplies in the United States, it undergoes only UV treatment and chloramine disinfection before reaching Portland-area taps. The Portland Water District and Maine DEP conduct continuous monitoring.
Additional information about Sebago Lake from state and federal agencies.