Whitewater Paddling Products
Whitewater Paddling Resources
- Untamed Mainer Resources
- Kennebec River
- The Kennebec River Gorge marks the start of the 3.5-mile section of the river where rafters come to play. Excellent for beginners and families, the entire whitewater trip is 8 miles long. Paddling the Kennebec at regular and high-water releases is a completely different experience- I preferred the regular water release because it was more turbulent with fewer “holes” filled in by the excess water, making for a wilder ride! The lower section of the river offers an excellent opportunity to float down the river. The Kennebec has daily whitewater releases, bringing the river to 4,800 – 6,000 cfs.
- Detailed river & rapid information for the Kennebec River
- 2024 Kennebec River high water (turbine test) release dates
- Penobscot River
- Whitewater rafting on the West Branch Penobscot River is on both the upper and lower sections of the river. The river trip is between 12 and 14 miles long and is a steep gradient with pool-and-drop technical rapids. This river has consistent big-water daily, with Class III – V rapids, with a bold and exciting Class V right at the beginning. Many outfitters take out after completing the upper section of the river to avoid the long section of deadwater and put back in at the beginning of the rapids on the lower section. This scenic river flows through Baxter State Park and past the base of Mount Katahdin.
- Detailed river & rapid information for Penobscot River
- Dead River
- The Dead River is one of the longest continuous whitewater sections in the Northeast, with approximately 30 rapids in a 13.35-mile stretch ranging from Class II to Class IV. There are typically only 8 water releases for rafting each year on this river. The river mainly consists of granite boulder rapids with many holes and pour-overs. Release levels and periods of heavy rain heavily influence river difficulty. At 1,200 – 1,800 cfs most rapids are Class II, except the first and last few rapids. At 2,000 – 3,500 cfs rapids are Class III, and at 4,500 and up rapids are Class IV.
- Detailed river & rapid information for the Dead River
- 2024 Dead River high water release dates
- Kennebec River
- State of Maine Whitewater Paddling Resources
- Additional Resources
Whitewater Paddling Articles
2020 Kennebec River High Water Whitewater Release Dates and Special Release Dates
Read more: 2020 Kennebec River High Water Whitewater Release Dates and Special Release DatesPaddles up when the Kennebec Rises! Photo credit: Three Rivers Whitewater. Mark your calendars, here are Maine’s Kennebec River Whitewater Release Dates for the 2020 paddling season! The Kennebec River has only 4 special high-water releases each year, with flows of 8,000+cfs, that’s almost DOUBLE the normal release flows! The Kennebec River features 12 miles…
2020 Dead River Turbine Test [High Water] & Whitewater Rafting Release Dates
Read more: 2020 Dead River Turbine Test [High Water] & Whitewater Rafting Release DatesMake 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…
Maine Holiday Gift Guide- Give the Gift of Adventure!
Read more: Maine Holiday Gift Guide- Give the Gift of Adventure!The Gift that Fits Any Size Outdoor Enthusiast Looking for a gift for that outdoor enthusiast on your list who has everything? Looking for something really unique, fun, and comes with lifelong memories? We’ve got the perfect gift for any age or skill level- a trip with a Registered Maine Guide or Master Maine Guide! …
Allagash Wilderness Waterway (AWW) 1: Preparation & Getting There
Read more: Allagash Wilderness Waterway (AWW) 1: Preparation & Getting ThereAllagash River CFS: 872 and dropping Time: 2:30 pm – 9:12 pm Hours: 6.75 Miles: 206 (driving) {It all started over a bonfire and some cold beers.} I came across a recent adventure a friend of mine had on the Allagash Wilderness Waterway (AWW) to Henry one evening as we stood around the bonfire having…
2018 Dead River High Water Whitewater Release Dates
Read more: 2018 Dead River High Water Whitewater Release DatesPhoto credit: North Country Rivers 2018 Long Falls Dam releases for the Dead River Whitewater Season Mark your calendars! Here are the high water release dates for the 2018 season from Brookfield Renewable Energy who operates the dam. Water sources are from Long Falls Dam and inflow from Spencer Stream. All releases from Long Falls…