Make sure you’re ready when they “raise the Dead!”
Photo credit: Three Rivers Whitewater. Mark your calendars, here are Maine’s Dead River Whitewater Release Dates for the 2020 paddling season! The Dead River features 16-miles of the most continuous whitewater in the northeast for a high energy, fast-paced trip! Experience class II-V whitewater in this fast and furious river filled with exciting holes, wave hits, and boiling wave trains. Take on rapids including Spencer Rips, Hayden’s Rapid, Enchanted Rapid, Elephant Rock, Humpty Dumpty, the Mine Field, Mile Long Rapid, Evil Nasty Hole, and the grand finale, class IV+ Poplar Hill Falls!
2020 Long Falls Dam release dates for the Dead River Whitewater Season
All high water releases from Long Falls Dam stop at 1 pm. Turbine Test release dates are highlighted in red. These release dates are the highest volume days making huge waves and really high water. You’ll never forget paddling turbine test flows, it’s one heck of a ride! Surfing Release dates are highlighted in blue. Lowest cfs releases are in black.
May 9th (Saturday)
Big Spring Release
6,000+ cfs
Class IV+ Rapids
May 16th (Saturday)
Big Spring Release
6,000+ cfs
Class IV+ Rapids
May 24th (Sunday)
High Water Release
6,000 cfs
Class IV Rapids
May 25th (Monday)
Summer Flow Release
1,300 cfs
Class I-II+ Rapids
May 30th (Saturday)
High Water Release
6,000 cfs
Class IV Rapids
June 6th (Saturday)
Medium (Surfing Flow) Release
4,000 cfs
Class III-IV Rapids
June 7th (Sunday)
Summer Flow Release
2,400 cfs
Class II-III Rapids
June 20th (Saturday)
Summer Flow Release
1,800 cfs
Class I-II+ Rapids
June 21st (Sunday)
Summer Flow Release
1,300 cfs
Class I-II+ Rapids
July 11th (Saturday)
Summer Flow Release
1,800 cfs
Class I-II+ Rapids
July 12th (Sunday)
Summer Flow Release
1,300 cfs
Class I-II+ Rapids
July 25th (Saturday)
Summer Flow Release
2,400 cfs
Class II-III Rapids
July 26th (Sunday)
Summer Flow Release
1,800 cfs
Class I-II+ Rapids
August 8th (Saturday)
Summer Flow Release
2,400 cfs
Class II-III Rapids
August 9th (Sunday)
Summer Flow Release
1,800 cfs
Class I-II+ Rapids
September 6th (Sunday)
High Water Release
5,500 cfs
Class IV Rapids
September 19th (Saturday)
Medium (Surfing Flow) Release
3,500 cfs
Class III-IV Rapids
October 3rd (Saturday)
Fall High Water Release
FULL OPEN TO 6,000 cfs
Class IV+ Rapids
Please note that these flow levels may change without notice based on license requirements or water levels.