Branns Mill Pond in Garland, Maine

Island on Branns Mill Pond

Branns Mill Pond is gorgeous with few houses and boats and is fairly shallow with depths of mostly 5 - 6 feet. A couple of islands make nice exit places for picnics.

Find it on Map 32 of the Maine Atlas.

We put in about 11 AM which is about the time the animals head for the woods. There were plenty of colorful dragonflies and butterflies. The obnoxious deer flies bugged us only when we paddled in places protected from the wind. We saw fish jumping and heard plenty of bass playing frogs. We had hoped to see a moose or an eagle but our timing was off.

It took us about 1.5 hours to paddle most of the pond and we paddled at a leisurely pace, watching for rocks and shallow areas. The island we stopped at had tall pine trees and fire pits that looked like they got frequent use. We did saw almost no litter.

Branns Mill Pond

There was plenty of parking on Notch Rd after you cross over a short causeway with another small pond on the other side of the road. The put in was easy with a gradual cement ramp.

This was a nice break and a good warm up paddle on our drive from Southern Maine to Greenville, as we took advantage of a great weather week end for kayaking. Slight winds made it inviting, otherwise, being fair weather paddlers, we would have spent our time hiking. The Moosehead area provides ample opportunities for both.

Whether you kayak or hike, both activities can result in a few stiff muscles. Make sure to pack your Maine Warmer -- that is if you camp at a place with a microwave oven. Then sit back and relax at the end of the day as you plan the next day's paddle or hike.