Outdoor Recreation

The Oxford Hills has more than 10 lakes and ponds, including Lake Pennessewassee of Norway, Crystal Lake and Long Lake of Harrison, South Pond of Buckfield, which are havens for boating, swimming, fishing, ice skating, cross country skiing, snowmobiling and more.

Streaked, Singepole, and Hawk mountains are hiking treks with vista views of Mount Washington and the Presidential Range.  For a hiking map of these mountians, please click here (PDF 1,126 KB).  Additionally, Norway's Ordway Grove and Paris' Cornwall Nature Preserve provide over 150 acres of land for public use. Norway Country Club and Paris Hill Country Club are golfers' favorites. And, each year, McLaughlin Garden kicks off the spring season with its "Lilac Lap" road race.

Oxford Hills has the most active mineralogy mines in Maine. A number of shops feature jewelry and mineralogy histories, including Perham's of West Paris and Creaser Jewelers of South Paris. A new venture, Western Maine Mineral Adventure, allows folks and families to dig for their own masterpieces; look for the sign that says "DIG GEMS" just north of the West Paris town line on Route 26.  Read an article from The Oxford Hills Magazine about mineralogy (PDF 1,046 KB) in the Oxford Hills.  

The agricultural and farming community is large. You'll find farmers and their supporters at The Big O and Waterford's Worlds Fair.  Similarly, there are many farms and natural food providers in the area who sell yarn, herbs, maple syrup, and organic meat.

Whether it Winter, Spring, Summer of Fall, Oxford Hills has it all...  Click on the links below to read more about recreation in the Hills from The Oxford Hills Magazine.

Outdoors in the Oxford Hills (PDF 572 KB)

Having Fun! (PDF 352 KB)

Horsing Around in the Oxford Hills (PDF 626 KB)

Nurtured by Nature (PDF 644 KB)

Outdoor Adventures(PDF 572 KB)

Hill Waters Run Deep (PDF 698)