One of Maine's smallest state parks is nestled on the south shore of Rangeley Lake. Rangeley Lake State Park offers a change of scenery if you've had your fill of Lakeside Park in Rangeley. But aside from a different "beach" and 50 campsites, there is little here that you can't find elsewhere. If you have a Maine state park pass it's not a bad place to visit, but there's not much here to justify the $3-4 per person entry fee.
The park is located very convenient to the town of Rangeley. Just take Route 4 south and turn right on Shore Drive. There are signs to guide you. It's approximately 8 miles from downtown Rangeley to the park entrance and it will probably take no more than 15 minutes to get there. Click here to see a map.
Overall the park is mostly forested, although there are clearings for parking, playgrounds, the beach, etc. The park and its facilities are clean and well-maintained and the staff ooze northern Maine friendliness. In addition to the aforementioned public boat launch, campsites, and beach, Rangeley Lake State Park offers picnic facilities, playing fields, and trails. The playing fields are really just grassy fields (no bleachers, goalposts, etc.) and while the trails are in great shape they are mostly utilitarian (e.g. a trail from the parking to the ball fields, a trail from the beach to the campsites, etc.) and aren't for serious hiking. Note that the "beach" is grass with steps down to the water rather than sand.
We visited the park on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon and while many of the campsites were in use there were probably no more than a dozen other cars at the park. It's definitely a quiet place to spend an afternoon. Leashed dogs are allowed in the park, but are not permitted on the beach. The park is open and staffed between May 15 and October 1, typically between 9am and sunset.
