R E C R E ATI O N / R AF TING
You don’t have to be a thrill seeker to take a whitewater rafting adventure in Maine. Rafting outfitters in Maine have offered trips since the mid 1970’s on several beautiful and fun rivers that offer a wide range of thrills for all rafters. Whitewater rafting is for anyone who enjoys the outdoors. You don’t need to be a fitness fanatic or an Olympic athlete. People of all ages from 8-80 with no previous experience raft Maine’s rivers ... many visitors have likened Maine’s rafting experience to “the ultimate, natural theme park ride.” The Kennebec, Penobscot and Dead Rivers are Maine’s most popular rivers for rafting. The Kennebec trip is a 12-mile ride that begins at Harris Station on Indian Pond and ends at The Forks, where the Kennebec and Dead Rivers meet. The Penobscot ride begins with two miles through Ripogenus Gorge, then continues an additional 12 miles before ending at Pockwockamus Falls. The Dead River expedition is a 16-mile trek from Grand Falls to The Forks, and follows the longest stretch of continuous whitewater in the eastern U.S.
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Each of the three rivers has something special to offer Maine rafters. The Kennebec River is family and first time rafter friendly with big waves, no exposed rocks and surprisingly warm summer water temps in the mid 70’s. The Dead River has just a handful of special scheduled dam releases through its 16 miles of continuous rapids. The Penobscot offers the biggest challenge for thrill seekers who love big drops, aggressive paddling and Class 4-5 rapids. Over the past four decades, the popularity of rafting has greatly increased and its appeal has broadened to a wide range of Maine’s visitors. In general, more folks want to raft and enjoy a thrill, immerse themselves in nature but know they are safe with a professional outfit that has been rafting the Maine rivers for decades. The Kennebec River fills most of these folks needs as the big, warm summertime waves are fantastic, the gorge is beautiful and the trip is perfect for families and rafters with little or no experience. The Dead and Penobscot Rivers have their niche amongst the more experienced rafters who want the biggest challenge and want to run the rapids in the most aggressive manner possible. For the uninitiated, whitewater
