Aerial imagery: USGS National Map (public domain)
Southwest Pond — Lakes 29.5 Miles NNE of Chapman Inn
Franklin County, Maine · USGS Jackson Mountain Quadrangle · GNIS 575958
29.5 miles north-northeast of Chapman Inn, on the USGS Jackson Mountain topographic quadrangle, Southwest Pond is a lake recorded in Franklin County, Maine by the federal Geographic Names Information System.
Landmark Profile
Classification & USGS reference
The USGS Jackson Mountain 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle places Southwest Pond in Franklin County, Maine (FIPS 23/007), classified as a lake in the federal GNIS (Feature ID 575958). Last revised by the Board on Geographic Names on 05/12/2018.
Coordinates & physical setting
Southwest Pond sits at 44.80452° N, 70.57867° W (DMS 44°48′16″ N, 70°34′43″ W).
Other lakes in Franklin County, Maine
Franklin County, ME contains 98 lakes catalogued in the USGS Geographic Names Information System, counting Southwest Pond itself. The ones closest to Southwest Pond:
| Feature | USGS Quadrangle | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Swift River Pond | Jackson Mountain | 2.6 mi |
| Witham Bog | Jackson Mountain | 2.9 mi |
| Witham Pond | Jackson Mountain | 3.1 mi |
| Little Swift River Pond | Jackson Mountain | 3.2 mi |
| Jackson Pond | Jackson Mountain | 3.7 mi |
| Tumbledown Pond | Roxbury | 4.2 mi |
| South Pond | Jackson Mountain | 4.5 mi |
| Sabbath Day Pond | Houghton | 4.6 mi |
| Round Pond | Houghton | 5 mi |
| Pearl Pond | Madrid | 5 mi |
Features on the USGS Jackson Mountain Quadrangle
The Jackson Mountain 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle holds 16 catalogued natural features alongside Southwest Pond. A sampling nearest to this location:
| Feature | Type | County | Offset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Mountains | Ranges | Franklin County, ME | 2 mi |
| Swift River Pond | Lakes | Franklin County, ME | 2.6 mi |
| Noon Mountain | Summits | Franklin County, ME | 2.8 mi |
| Witham Bog | Lakes | Franklin County, ME | 2.9 mi |
| Dolly Mountain | Summits | Oxford County, ME | 3.1 mi |
| Witham Pond | Lakes | Franklin County, ME | 3.1 mi |
| Little Swift River Pond | Lakes | Franklin County, ME | 3.2 mi |
| Jackson Pond | Lakes | Franklin County, ME | 3.7 mi |
| Tumbledown Mountain | Summits | Franklin County, ME | 4 mi |
| Little Jackson Mountain | Summits | Franklin County, ME | 4.1 mi |
Visiting from Chapman Inn
Distance, bearing & drive time
Chapman Inn sits 29.5 miles north-northeast (bearing NNE) of Southwest Pond. At moderate back-road speeds the drive runs about 51 minutes — comfortably inside a half-day outing window after breakfast.
Best time to visit
June through September for paddling and swimming; January through March for ice fishing. Being this far north (lat 44.805°), first snows typically arrive by mid-October and linger into early May — narrow the window accordingly. At 29.5 miles from the Inn, block the full day — sunrise start, late return, packed meals. Conditions at Southwest Pond track the nearby Blue Mountains mountain range (2.0 mi away) closely — if that is runnable, so is this.
Nearest features to Southwest Pond
| Feature | Type | County | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Mountains | Ranges | Franklin County, ME | 2 mi |
| Swift River Pond | Lakes | Franklin County, ME | 2.6 mi |
| Noon Mountain | Summits | Franklin County, ME | 2.8 mi |
| Witham Bog | Lakes | Franklin County, ME | 2.9 mi |
| Dolly Mountain | Summits | Oxford County, ME | 3.1 mi |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Southwest Pond located?
Southwest Pond is in Franklin County, Maine, approximately 29.5 miles north-northeast of Chapman Inn in Bethel, Maine. It appears on the USGS Jackson Mountain topographic quadrangle.
How far is Southwest Pond from Chapman Inn?
The drive runs about 51 minutes, 29.5 miles north-northeast (bearing NNE) of the Inn.
What type of natural feature is Southwest Pond?
The U.S. Geological Survey classifies Southwest Pond as a lake, catalogued under GNIS Feature ID 575958 on the Jackson Mountain quadrangle.
When is the best time to visit Southwest Pond?
June through September for paddling and swimming; January through March for ice fishing.
How many other lakes are in Franklin County, Maine?
GNIS lists 97 other lakes in Franklin County, Maine.