Where to see Moose in Maine?

The famous question while traveling to Maine is “Where to see Moose in Maine?

Well, I can tell you that you won’t see them in Acadia National Park, this article will give you many places in the pine tree state where you have a great chance of getting a glimpse of the iconic Maine moose.

With the largest concentration of moose in the lower 48 states and only second to Alaska, Maine is the place if you want to see the largest member of the deer family, 

I’ve always been fascinated with moose, not sure if it is because of their size or their beauty but it is a lifetime experience seeing them in the wild.

One time we were in Maine (Moosehead Lake region) when we got to see 2 male moose locking antlers, wow what a site and even a little scary. Although most of the time we see them it reminds me of how gentle these magnificent creatures can be seeing them with their young and feeding in the bogs.

Moose Population in Maine

At one point the moose population in Maine was over 100,000 but today it is estimated that there are between 60,000 and 70,000.  

The numbers are based on the number of roadkill by automobile accidents and the count of killed moose by hunters. Between both, there are about 2,000 to 3,500 moose killed each year.

Although there are few predators such as wolves of the adult moose, the calves are a different story. Black bears and coyotes go after the young when born. Maine has the largest population of black bears on the east coast with about 35,000. However, bears are not predators of the adult moose.

3 parasites in Maine infect moose: brain worms, ticks, and lungworms. All three of these could mean death to a calf but only brain worm would cause an adult moose to die.

Moose Facts

Knowing a little more about moose gives you clues on where to see them. So here’s a list of moose facts:

• Moose eat about 35 to 50 lbs. of food a day and can hold up to 100 lbs. in their stomachs
• They can run to 35 mph and they are great swimmers who can swim up to 10 miles a day
• Their diet consists of leaves and twigs of woody plants
• During the summer months, they eat underwater aquatic plants such as pondweed and water lily
• During the winter they will eat Balsam Fir even though they can’t live on that alone
• Moose need sodium in their diet
• Natural salt licks are rare in the state of Maine that’s why you will see Moose along the road licking the salt runoff
• Average life expectancy is 8 years for a cow and 7 years for a bull however they can live into their teens but rarely past 20
• The average length of a bull moose is 9 feet and the average height is 6 feet
• Moose are made to sustain the long cold snowy winters in Maine
• The best time of day to see moose is early morning or around dusk
• The skin hanging under the moose’s mouth is called a bell and both males and females have it.
• Since moose like to eat water plants, bogs, and marshes are areas to explore

Best Spots to see Moose in Maine

Although you can see moose anywhere in the state, if you’re lucky enough, most sightings are in the north Maine woods. Let’s go over the most likely places where you see moose in Maine.

Note: All the places mentioned in this article are places to see moose from the road or on short hikes. For other places, try canoeing the lakes in northern Maine.

Baxter State Park

Baxter State Park is truly Maine’s hidden gem and a true wilderness experience. You can see moose anywhere in Baxter State Park but some ponds are known as “moose hangouts”.

Grassy Pond and Sandy Stream Pond are a great place to see moose all day long. These are short family-friendly hikes and I’ve seen moose here every time.

Golden Road

Golden Road is a logging road in Northern Maine. The area is secluded and has woods, ponds, bogs, and lakes. This 96-mile dirt and gravel road runs from Millinocket Maine to the Canada border and is privately owned by the paper mills.

This is moose territory and you can spot them anywhere, especially in wet boggy areas. A good place to head is to Compass Pond or Abol Bridge, hopefully, one will be eating there.

One evening we were driving on Golden Road when we saw a bull, cow, and calf walking along the road. We slowed down and watched the cow scoot her baby into the woods. What a sight of a lifetime, unfortunately, we never got a photo, but it will remain in my memory forever.

Tip:

When driving this dirt road at night, remember to use caution as you never know when a moose can come out of the woods.

Moosehead Lake Region and Maine Highlands

Moosehead Lake area was the first place I’ve ever seen a moose in the wild some 20 years ago and always see moose there when traveling in the area of Maine.

There are many places in this area to spot moose so here are the most common places to look:

• Route 15 between Greenville and Rockwood Maine, you can spot them along the road and in the marshes
• Shirley Bog on 15, 5 miles south of the Greeneville Corner, go west on Shirley Road for 4 miles, bog is on the right
• All along Lily Bay Road heading north of Greenville, for 20 miles to a small town called Kokadjo, if you’re lucky you will see them on the road
• Lazy Tom Bog is in Kokadjo, passed the bridge on Lily Bay Road, stay to your left and you will see a bridge over Lazy Tom Stream, look there and wait a little while.
• Department of Transportation (DOT) in Greenville about 4.5 miles from the visitor’s center on the right, look for moose across from the DOT. This is one of the best places to spot them
• On Old Canadian Road (Route 201) from North Forks through Jackson and north right to the Canadian border (this is known as Moose Alley) along the road and many logging roads off that road are great places to spot moose
• Also, the road from Rockwood to Jackman (RT 15), look along the road I’ve seen many moose here. There are several ponds, bogs, and marsh areas that’s where you look

Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument

Established in 2016, Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument begins east of Baxter State Park and is a recreational area with hiking, mountain biking, fishing, canoeing, camping, hunting, and snowmobiling covering over 83,000 acres.

The area is a great place to see moose. Watch for them along the Katahdin Loop Road a 17-mile scenic drive around the southern portion of the park.

Aroostook County

There are several lakes in this area where moose frequent. Here are some favorite spots to look at:

• Mooseleuk Lake on Jackman Road
• Christina Reservoir on Conant Road, look on the north shore
• Big Machias Lake is 20 miles west of Ashland on American Realty Road
• Pratt Lake, continue another 5 miles from Big Machias Lake to Pratt Lake

Rangeley Lake Region

Rangeley Lake Region is in Western Maine. Here are a few spots to look for moose:

• RT 16 from Rangeley to Stratton
• Rt 16 from Rangeley to Wilson Mills, Wilson Mills sightings to the New Hampshire Border
• RT 16/27 between Stratton to Carrabassett Valley
• RT 27 between Kingfield and New Vineyard
• RT 4 from Phillips to Rangeley
• RT 142 between Phillips and Weld
• Rt 27 between Eustis and the Chain of Ponds
• Rangeley Lake State Park

I’ve been to Rangeley and didn’t see any moose at the time. On another trip, we were in New Hampshire and decided to take a moose safari.  They brought us into the Rangeley area and we did see moose on that trip.

Maine Moose Safaris

When in moose country and you don’t see a moose why not take a moose safari? Many different types of tours are offered through the areas with a sizable moose population. Moose Tours offers the experience of a knowledgeable guide giving you the best chance to see these majestic moose. 

You can take a van tour, jeep tour, boat, and even canoe tours that offer close-up experiences with Maine guides. These folks know where to go to see moose. And although not guaranteed some offer another free tour if you don’t see moose.

I’ve been on many moose tours through the years and my favorite was a van tour to several lakes then a canoe ride to get up close to the moose. Boy, what an experience, my whole family still talks about it today.

We got to see a cow with 2 calves and even a bull moose. The guide was the best, reminded us of Daniel Boone (he had the hat) and was very informative about moose and where they go, and why.

I would differently recommend this kind of tour when you’re in the Kennebec Valley area. We also did just a van tour and another time a boat tour but by far the canoe experience was the best.

For information on moose safaris check out Visit Maine.

Happy Moose Watching

Although moose are gentle animals you must always remember they are wild animals and caution and common sense should be used when looking for moose.

Always stay your distance especially when cows are with their young and bull moose in the rut. You never want to get even close to a bull moose during the rut season (around October) as this can be very dangerous.

Always remember they are wild animals.

There is nothing like experiencing this mighty large creature in its environment. I hope you get to see moose in the wild on your next trip to Maine.  You won’t regret it. All you need is to know where to look, have patience, and some luck!

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