Turner Pond, Somerville

By Mike Perry

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Paddle name: Turner Pond Nearest town: Somerville Region: Kennebec Water type: Pond Difficulty: Advanced Beginner Put-in: Drive east of Augusta on Route 105 to Somerville. Turn left onto the Turner Ridge Road. In one mile, turn left onto the gravel Colby Road. Put in on the right, a mile up the road, just after passing over Lovejoy Stream. Take-out: Same as put-in Other: Be aware of submerged rocks. Also, There is a conspicuous ledge island a half mile up the pond that makes a good picnic spot. Maps: Get driving directions from MapQuest. View a topo map from Maptech MapServer.

The drive itself makes this paddling spot worth the time. Rolling meadows are full of colorful wildflowers, and distant views of the Camden Hills beckon to the east.

Situated 15 miles east of Augusta, this narrow pond offers two hours of exploring in its nooks and crannies.

Drive east of Augusta on Route 105 to Somerville. Turn left onto the Turner Ridge Road. In one mile, turn left onto the gravel Colby Road. Put in on the right, a mile up the road, just after passing over Lovejoy Stream.

There is no development on the pond so you will be sharing it with lots of wildlife: loons, blue heron, osprey and a variety of wading birds.

The pond has changed significantly the past few years. The old dam on the outlet stream has fallen into disrepair, and the water level has dropped 5 feet. This means mud around the edges of the pond and shallow going in spots. On a recent visit, we hit a few submerged rocks.

A couple of gigantic glacial erratics sit in the hardwood forest along the shoreline. Ringing the shoreline are boulders of every shape and size.

As you head north on the pond, you will encounter a number of ledges and islands. There is a conspicuous ledge island a half mile up the pond. It makes for a great picnic spot. Rising 10 feet above the water, it provides an expansive view over the pond.

At the northern reaches of the pond, beds of yellow pond lilies and fragrant water lilies float on the surface. Turn back here and explore the opposite shoreline on the way back.

Turner Pond is not a swimming pond. If you are in the mood for a swim, there are plenty of options nearby.

A few miles east on Route 105, Washington Pond is clear and cool, perfect for a dip. Park at the state of Maine boat access site at the southern tip of the pond. Damariscotta Lake State Park is to the south in Jefferson, and Lake St. George State Park in Liberty is to the north.

Michael Perry is former director of the L.L. Bean Outdoor Discovery Program and founder of Dreams Unlimited, specializing in multi-media programs about the outdoors. This article first appeared in the VacationLand Guide, July 23, 2000.