There are two items that top any list of Maine’s most epic adventures: whitewater rafting the Penobscot River and climbing Mt Katahdin. You can do both the rafting and hiking from our Katahdin Adventure Base Camp steps from Baxter State Park on the Appalachian Trail. Read reviews of Penobscot rafting and Baxter State Park hiking below (with Mount Katahdin photo bombing ever present.) More info on Penobscot River Whitewater Rafting (and a must-see rafting video with drone footage of Maine’s wildest river.) Post your Penobscot River rafting photos on Instagram with #NorthernOutdoors to be featured in our taproom.
Maine is huge, and there are epic outdoor adventures all over the state. You could easily spend weeks driving for hours to hit all Maine's best trails, lakes, rivers and mountains. But if you’re looking to set up camp and stay put, there is one place that might be considered...
Looking for the best Maine waterfalls for hiking, rafting, snowmobiling, fishing and swimming? Head inland to these 6 off-the-beaten-path trails for year round outdoor adventure!...
Name: Adam Ruger Hometown: York, ME Age of First Rafting Trip: 15 years old Year you started guiding at Northern Outdoors: 2016 What type of guiding do you do? Whitewater Rafting What do you enjoy most about working at Northern Outdoors? What I enjoy most about working at Northern Outdoors is the staff throughout each department...
There's so much to do from our Katahdin Adventure Base Camp, hiking the Appalachian Trail, exploring Baxter State Park, climbing Maine's greatest mountain, paddling or fishing right from our campground at Abol Bridge, and of course whitewater rafting on the Penobscot River. Whitewater Kayaking the Seboomook Section of the Penobscot River Recently,...
The campground at Abol Bridge was absolutely beautiful and relaxing. It is by far one of the most beautiful places in Maine and the perfect place to camp out before a day rafting the Penobscot. Our guides Matt and Todd were awesome! The rapids were wild, surfing the rapids was...
I have the utmost respect for the rafting guides and crew at Northern Outdoors. My daughter fell out of the raft in the middle of the cribworks and while the raft went down the chute my daughter took the longer route. The guides kept their cool and composure and safely...
Our rafting adventure on the Penobscot River with Northern Outdoors was outstanding! Our guide Ryan was incredible. He not only navigated us through crazy rapids but he also informed us of the history of the river as well as the area; he was very personable and a wealth of information....
My group has been fishing/rafting continuously since 1991 exclusively using Northern Outdoors including both the Kennebec and Penobscot Rivers. Dollar for dollar the experience provided by Northern Outdoors gives the participant the absolute Best Bang for the Buck!!! The emotional sensation is so enjoyable that my group members are still...
We had an awesome time on the river. Ted was great, made the trip fun & entertaining. He really knew how to run the rapids. I would like to give a shout out to the rescue kayaker, Luke. I fell in & he was right on top of me to...
Name: Todd Mercer Hometown: Grew up in Bucksport but now reside in Poland Springs, where the water comes from. Age of First Rafting Trip: I hadn't ever been in a raft until my first day of training, I was 23. Year you started guiding at Northern Outdoors: 1994 What type of guiding do you...
The last trip of the season was the day we rode the Penobscot, It was overcast and gloomy but that was all forgotten once we hit the river. Ted kept us moving but safe. Surfing the waves at the waterfall was a bit disconcerting but all a wonderful experience. It...
My group rafted the Kennebec last summer and had a blast and decided to come up again to raft the Penobscot. The trip was fantastic! Going on a Sunday also proved to be a bonus with only three rafts from Northern Outdoors and only saw two rafts from another outfit....
One of THE BEST family fun vacations ever! We ran the Penobscot and Kennebec rivers this trip. The 'Nob was fab - incredible guides and great rafting. Actually, all the staff from Dave the bus driver/cook to the dining staff and food were excellent. The guides were beyond great! The...
Nothing beats Northern Outdoors! Another phenomenal trip down the Penobscot. I believe this is my 8th trip with Northern Outdoors. No need to consider going with any other company. The check in is simple, The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and fun. They have this down to a science!! I'm always...
This is my fifth year on the Penobscot and second with Northern Outdoors. The trip was flawless & well organized. After meeting in the am during which there was a thorough explanation of the trip, expectations and safety features, we began the trip with a ride through the Exterminator. What...
This trip was awesome from start to finish and exceeded some pretty high expectations by a long shot. We were met at the pavilion and greeted with enthusiasm from the first. Todd, our guide, was extremely knowledgeable and very fun. He knew exactly when to keep us safe and exactly...