Penobscot River Rafting: An Unforgettable Adventure
Hey, I’m Ted…one the Penobscot Guides here at Northern Outdoors, and I’m here to explain why Penobscot River rafting is one of the best whitewater rafting trips in the world. Seriously.
Passionate about whitewater, I’ve been on rivers all over the country and the world including places like Chile, Ecuador, and Costa Rica. I’ve been guiding on the Penobscot for over 20 years and spend the fall guiding on the Class V Gauley River in West Virginia.
And of all those places, the Penobscot (known by all the cool folks as “the ‘Nob), is by far, my favorite adventure.
Why?
Let’s find out.
Overview of Penobscot River Rafting
The Penobscot River offers an unforgettable whitewater rafting experience in the heart of Maine’s wilderness. You’ll navigate through stunning scenery, with the backdrop of Baxter State Park and the Appalachian Trail. This river is perfect for adventure seekers, and offers Class II – V rapids.
Whether you’re a seasoned rafter or a beginner looking for a thrill, the Penobscot River has something to offer. The river’s abundant wildlife and pristine environment make every rafting trip a unique and breathtaking adventure.
Rapids Classification
Penobscot River rafting is renowned for its diverse range of rapids, offering something for everyone from gentle waves to heart-pounding drops. Here’s a quick guide to what you can expect:
Class II:
Gentle waves that are perfect for beginners, offering easy maneuvering and a taste of what’s to come.
Class III:
Moderate waves with some obstacles, providing a bit more excitement and requiring more skillful navigation.
Class IV:
Powerful waves and technical maneuvering, ideal for those looking for a serious challenge.
Class V:
The ultimate test of skill and bravery, with extremely exciting rapids featuring the thrill of large waves and strong currents.
Is the Penobscot Appropriate for Me and My Family?
So, is this an appropriate river rafting trip for a teenager or someone without prior experience and developed skill levels? It could be. It really comes down to the mindset.
Are you in reasonably good health and fitness? Are you relatively comfortable with water? Can you sit in a raft, listen, and follow instructions?
If you answered yes to those questions, you’re likely ready for the exciting rapids of this white water rafting trip!
What Makes the Penobscot River a World-Class Whitewater Adventure?
Ideal Risk / Reward Ratios
People often ask, “Is whitewater rafting safe?” And particularly, people want to know about the “West Branch of the Mighty Penobscot.”
Like many things, it’s relative. I mean, you’ve got water rushing over rocks, so, yes, there’s an element of danger there. But for some, that’s what makes it exciting.
A couple notable differences about the Penobscot River, as opposed to some other Class IV+ and V rivers in the Southeast. One, the Penobscot flows primarily through hard granite, which is much less susceptible to erosion. So it isn’t filled with undercuts and sieves to trap swimmers. Second, as a “pool/drop” river, its short, steep rapids end in calm pools perfect for rescuing any potential swimmers.
So, although a swim through the gorge ain’t easy, it’s not super likely – and most consequences on the Penobscot River involve hitting rocks and getting a bruise on your butt.
Let’s Take a Tour
Pre River Trip
Your Penobscot rafting trip begins at our base at the Big Moose Inn. It can be busy, especially on a mid summer Saturday morning, so we encourage you to try to get there a few minutes before 7:00 am, our check-in time.
If you’re staying on site, walk on over from your cabin! If not, park your car across the street from the Katahdin Crossing store next to Ambejejus Lake. Be dressed in your river gear (bathing suit and possibly some polypro or fleece if it’s a cool day) and river shoes or sandals with straps. (Please don’t wear flip flops or Crocs…they end up falling off and getting lost in the river.)
Bring sunscreen and any medications you will need for the day. You don’t really need much else…you can return to the car after the trip for towels, dry clothes, or cash or credit cards to purchase a t-shirt or trip photos and video.
Also, we HIGHLY ENCOURAGE you to fill out your trip waivers online in the days or weeks before your trip. It’s so much easier to do online than filling out those tedious little boxes by hand at the crack of dawn and simply makes the morning more relaxing.
After we collect and check all the forms, our trip leader will give a safety orientation, you will get your paddle, PFD, (formally known as life jackets) and helmet, then board the bus for a 40ish minute bus ride to the river put-in at McKay Station.
On the River
The most difficult rapids on the Penobscot River start right at the top, so be ready! Your guides will help you practice paddling in the calm water right next to the power station, then you’ll head downstream into Ripogenus Gorge and Exterminator Rapid.
Exterminator, a large river-wide feature reminds me of American football…speed and power often mark success here as you punch through the big hole and then thread your way around the Fist of God and Staircase rapid to the safety eddies below.
Immediately after Ripogenus Gorge, you’ll drop through the Heaters, Little Eddy Rapid, and Class IV Troublemaker.
After Troublemaker, our rafts generally take a short break to regroup and allow our video staff to get set up below at our second Class V rapid, the Cribworks. While Exterminator is like football, the “Crib” is like ballet. Rather than bashing through big waves, the secret to the Crib lies in finessing your way with style and grace through a maze of boulders and dropping smoothly over the 6-foot drop at the “Final Chute.”
After splashing through the Class III Big Eddy rapid, you enjoy one of the calm sections floating or swimming down towards next significant rapid, the Class IV Amberjacks for some quick, fun drops and maybe some surfing.
After that, your raft will bop through the Class II Horserace rapid before pulling over for a freshly grilled river lunch– more on that later!
Following lunch, you’ll drop Class IV Nesowadnehunk Falls (more about that rapid later in this article), then float alongside Baxter State Park before finishing the day with the Class IV Abol Falls and Pockwockamus Rapid.
Depending on the size of the trip, we usually pull out at Never’s Corner between 2:30 and 4:00 and catch our breath on the 15-minute bus ride back to base.
Post River Trip
After changing into dry clothes and grabbing a snack and/or beverage, we sit down for the video and slide show, generally wrapping everything up between 4:00-5:00.
Unmatched Adventure at “The Falls”
Like I said, I’ve taken whitewater rafting trips, I’ve kayaked, and I’ve guided all over the world.
And NOTHING I’ve seen in any of those places compares to Nesowadnehunk Falls.
This whitewater playground offers maximum fun with a big, calm recovery pool in case you need to regroup.
Highlight of the Falls: Drops
First, you’ve got a 12-foot waterfall drop into a big, fluffy wave that often stands boats straight up in the air. Not only is it fun and exciting, it makes for great pictures and video at the end of the day.
But what makes this waterfall a world-class whitewater feature is its repeatability.
Yup, you read that right; for the adventurous, you can carry the boat back up and run this drop multiple times. I’ve never seen anything like it in the world where you can take multiple runs over a big drop into a recovery pool.
For many of our guests, it’s the highlight of the day.
But…wait, there’s more!
Highlight of the Falls: Surfing
While other boats “run the raft line” as we call it, other boats can choose to surf. This is where you paddle the boat into a seam of currents at another part of the drop. The boat bucks like a wild bronco splashing water everywhere. (I often issue the “Giggle” command while surfing!).
And finally, the Falls offers the ultimate in “challenge by choice” options. The adrenaline junkies can choose the thrill of multiple drops and surfing. The more conservative rafters can choose lines that are “less dynamic” or even walk around the drop, and we’ll pick you up at the bottom.
No matter what you choose, Nesowadnehunk Falls is a big part of what makes Penobscot River rafting one of the best whitewater experiences in the world.
Penobscot River Lunch
Yup. Lunch is on the list.
And, no exaggeration, it’s the best in the country. (I can’t say the world because Maine can’t compete with fresh avocado and mango like they serve in Ecuador and Costa Rica.)
But, just for comparison, lunch at most other rafting companies outside of Maine consists of cold cuts, a soft drink, and a bag of chips.
Not on the Penobscot River!
Our riverside lunch gives you a choice of steak, chicken, salmon, or a veggie burger grilled over a hardwood fire. Plus, our secret recipe “River Rice” is packed with veggies and secret spices. Add a 4-bean salad, a home-baked cookie for dessert, and your choice of iced tea, lemonade, water, hot chocolate, or cowboy coffee (also “cooked” on the open fire and infused with hardwood smoke) and you’ve got yourself a MEAL…not just a lunch.
We love our lunch spot located at the old “Log Cable Crossing,” It offers a perfect mixture of sun and shade, a view of Katahdin, and you can even check out the old motor and cables that were part of the machinery operating the cable crossing.
Experienced and Passionate Staff
I don’t want to sound too cocky here, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about the Northern Outdoors staff…some of the best in the business. Our full time Penobscot team has over 70 years of experience amongst them, and we’re lucky to see so much of our staff come back year after year.
Yes, we have new team members too- wonderful, new additions that are trained by us- guides with the most longevity in the biz. Every guide goes through rigorous training on the Kennebec and Dead Rivers for their Level 1 license, and additional training on the Penobscot River for their Level 2 license. Rest assured- we have a GREAT team!
True Wilderness Experience
Penobscot River rafting provides a wilderness experience. You won’t be rafting along a highway like the Ocoee River in Tennessee or Clear Creek in Colorado. You’ll be in a “township” called “T3-R11” where moose outnumber human residents. Seriously.
Throughout the day, you might occasionally catch glimpses of “The Golden Road,” a dirt logging road stretching between Millinocket and Canada, but often you won’t see another vehicle all day. And other than a Saturday, there’s a good chance you won’t see another raft…just your Northern Outdoors river trip brethren and sisteren.
Instead, you’ll see the 90-foot cathedral-like granite walls of Ripogenus Gorge, the backdrop of Katahdin, Maine’s tallest mountain, eagles, osprey, and maybe even a moose.
Pristine wilderness also means a striking lack of pollution…water, land, and light. Many southern rivers carry a lot of sediment making the water muddy. The Penobscot River, however, cascading over granite rock is crystal clear. And despite being in northern Maine, the water warms up to near 70 degrees by mid-July making it a perfect temperature for relaxing and floating the flatwater sections.
A lack of light pollution means that if you elect to spend the night at the Big Moose Campground (which, quite frankly, you should…whitewater rafting is even more relaxing when you don’t have to commute before and after), the night sky stars are spectacular! Did you know…the Katahdin Woods National Monument, where this adventure is located, is an International Dark Sky Sanctuary?!
Apres Rafting Trip
Everyone talks about “apres ski,” grabbing a beverage, and hanging at the pub. But Apres Raft is even better because of the slides and video presentation.
Now, a lot of companies around the world have cut their video and photo programs because, quite frankly, after equipment and labor costs, they’re not all that profitable. And, at Northern, we’ve had the same conversations. But the guide staff fought hard to keep it. Fortunately, in the end, ownership agreed with us.
You see, a rafting trip is truly a bonding experience. The guide knows the river but needs the crew to provide the paddle power. And when you’re all literally in the same boat, a river trip is a team effort.
By the end of the day, you’re ready to celebrate.
Maybe it’s the ex-teacher in me, but there’s something extra rewarding about taking someone down the river who may have started the day a bit nervous and hesitant. But at the end of the day, when everyone’s cheering and watching the video, they carry just a little more swagger.
At any rate, there’s no better way to recap a day’s events and preserve those memories than by looking at the goofy faces, unspeakable fun, and exciting moments of the day’s adventure.
And, despite seeing videos every day, the guides are excited too and hustle through the dishes and trip cleanup so that we can share the photo/video experience with the folks who made our whole day possible.
Nearby Attractions
After your exhilarating white water rafting trip, take some time to explore the natural beauty that surrounds the Penobscot River. Baxter State Park, home to the iconic Katahdin and the Appalachian Trail, offers endless opportunities for hiking, camping, and wildlife watching. For a scenic drive, the historic Golden Road winds its way through the “working forest,” providing stunning views and a chance to spot local wildlife.
The nearby town of Millinocket is worth a visit, with its charming shops, restaurants, and outdoor gear stores.
Lodging Options
Our partnership with the Big Moose Inn & Cabins, right in between Ambejejus and Millinocket Lakes, provides you with choices like camping, small cottages, and even an entire cabin.
Booking Your Trip
It’s easy to book your river trip. You can book whitewater rafting online, or give us a call at (207) 663-4466 to book rafting and lodging together.
We’re happy to take you, your friends, or your family down not only one of the best Maine whitewater rafting trips but one of the best whitewater rafting trips in the world. It’s the best kind of wild!
If you feel that you’re not quite ready for the Penobscot River, that’s okay, too. Check out all of our river trip options– including the popular Kennebec River located in The Forks, Maine!
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