COVID-19 Safety Guidelines

It’s time to get outside! There’s nothing better for the soul than a little time spent on rivers and trails, and we’re here to help make sure we’re doing it all safely.

What to Expect at Northern Outdoors & Kennebec River Brewery

Northern Outdoors opened on July 1st, 2020 with heightened precautions in place across our resort to ensure the safety of our staff and guests. It was a challenging time as we all adjusted to the new normal. We now have over one year of adapting to ever-changing mandates, and feel very confident in our team’s ability to provide the best and safest vacation experiences to our guests. Northern Outdoors is committed to abiding by all guidance put forth by the State of Maine and the CDC, while also providing the outdoor adventure experiences you know, love – and need!


Below you will find information on our plans for the upcoming season. We will continue to follow all guidance of CDC and state officials. It’s important to note that any decision to visit a public space comes with risk of being exposed to COVID-19. We are taking steps to mitigate these risks, as described below, but there is nothing we can do to completely eliminate any risk of contracting the virus. By choosing to visit Northern Outdoors and Kennebec River Pub and Brewery, you understand this risk. We encourage you to review all information on this site, as well as current information regarding COVID-19 in Maine.

Office hours 9:00am-6:00pm daily. Visit Kennebec River Pub & Brewery Facebook page for up-to-date brewpub hours.

Resort Guidelines

Northern Outdoors’ main lodge capacity and operations will abide by state COVID-19 guidance and mandates, with particular attention to…
  • Capacity: Northern Outdoors has a max capacity per State of Maine guidelines for restaurants which will be maintained at all times.
  • Physical distancing: Maine currently does not have physical distancing requirements. Northern Outdoors will continue to provide adequate spacing between guests in the restaurant and encourages guests to be mindful.
  • If you are sick, please do not come! Rest easy and protect your trip with Trip Cancellation Insurance.

Restaurant Procedures

Kennebec River Pub and Brewery continues to follow all state guidelines and mandates for safe operations. Please be kind, considerate, and patient of our staff – as with many restaurants, we are operating with reduced staffing.

wings beer fireplace
  • Take out is available- please call (207) 663-4466 and press 2 to connect with the pub.
  • Bar seating is available.
  • The game room, pool table, and hot tub are open.

Our restaurant team is abiding by all guidelines for the safe reopening of restaurants, including frequent sanitization of high touch surfaces and frequent hand washing. To see all protocols, please visit: Maine COVID Guidelines for Restaurants.
go pro family rafting

Whitewater Rafting Operations & Procedures

Northern Outdoors worked closely with rafting outfitters in Maine and across the nation early in 2020 to establish precautions to ensure we kept guests and team members safe during the whitewater rafting trip. These guidelines were approved by the State of Maine, and enabled us to run a successful, fun, and healthy summer of whitewater rafting trips on the Kennebec, Dead, and Penobscot Rivers. Guidelines have evolved, and Northern Outdoors will continue to follow all state and CDC guidance and mandates.

Additional Cleaning and Sanitation Practices

Maintaining a safe and healthy environment has always been important to us. Daily sanitation of paddles, life jackets, helmets, vehicles, tables, etc will continue. Gloves, masks, and distancing measures will be required of all staff according to state mandates.

 

Rafter Participation Requirements

We ask each visitor to self-check for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 prior to arrival and sign a participation agreement. It is recommended that people who are not fully vaccinated wear a face covering when traveling on the bus

Riverside Lunches and Meal prep

Continued practice of existing cleaning protocols, including frequent cleaning of surfaces and materials and hand washing stations for guests and guides.

 

Time Outside

More than anything, research shows that being in the open air is one of the safest places to be right now! Sunlight is a natural disinfectant, and with the wide open spaces of being outdoors, physical distancing is easy peasy.

Transportation

Heightened cleaning and sanitizing of all buses, vans, and vehicles will continue to occur.

Northern Outdoors’ Cancellation Policy

Your confirmed reservation may be transferred or cancelled without penalty by providing notice to Northern Outdoors at least 30 days before your scheduled arrival date. For cancellations or transfers that occur with less than 30 days notice but at least 14 days notice, you will be charged a $25 per person cancellation fee; any remaining credit balance will be refunded in the form of a gift card. Once you are within 14 days of your arrival date, all money shall become nonrefundable and nontransferable. No transfers can be made within 14 days of your arrival date. For protection from events such as personal illness, injury, or death of an immediate family member, or military deployment, please consider purchasing Trip Cancellation Insurance, which will cover you up to day of arrival.


Deposits for snowmobile & ATV rentals are refundable, minus the 20% cancellation fee of the full reservation, up to 2 weeks prior to arrival. Assuming satisfactory conditions exist, cancellations made inside the 2 weeks to arrival would forfeit 50% of the full rental fee, likewise, the remaining balance if cancelling inside 48 hours to arrival.


We want you to feel confident in booking an adventure with Northern Outdoors. Please know that if the Federal Government, the CDC or the State of Maine put in place special restrictions making it unreasonable to travel we will waive any transfer fees and provide you with a gift card or credit to your account that can be used at a future date. If a gift card or credit to your account is not reasonable for you, then we are happy to work with each group on a case by case basis. We highly recommend purchasing trip cancellation insurance to cover you in the event of personal illness, injury or death of an immediate family member, or military deployment.

Have Some Questions?

We want to make this process as easy as we can for you – please contact us and we are happy to answer any questions!