Hello, folks! After a rough winter, our family is looking forward to getting out and on the water again. Sitting here watching it snow is making us even more antsy.

We are toying with the idea of making a run up to Maine and spend 10 days or so during my summer vacation leave. This would be in the last week of July, and we'd like to spend a couple days on the coast (Acadia, perhaps?) watching the wildlife, and then head inland (Mooshead lake area, or somewhere else?) for some lake and gentle river canoeing. We'd like to experience some of the places with quiet solitude, like what we've found in the BWCA and the Adirondacks.

If you can recommend places to visit or paddle, or things to see, we would certainly appreciate it. I would also VERY much appreciate information on campgrounds that are quiet, on the water, with a chance of seeing loons and moose. We will likely be taking our small travel trailer, but use it like a tent- we're outside all the time except to sleep, so we don't want an RV-park environment. We don't really need hookups, but my wife would prefer access to a flush toilet and hot shower!

This is probably a once-in-a-lifetime visit, so we'd like to do it right. I'd appreciate your tips and input. We're hillbillies from the Virginia mountains, so know nothing about Maine. How bad are the bugs likely to be at the end of July, etc.?

Many thanks, safe paddling! Regan

I've never been to Maine, so I don't have any specifics to offer. But the Allagash Wilderness Waterway has always been on my "To Do" list. I'd like to check that out if I ever move back east. Also, the Old Town Canoe Company factory is in Maine, and that is supposed to be a cool tour. And of course Acadia looks great! Those are some ideas anyway; sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Woodtroll,
The Allagash is a great River trip! I would aslo suggest that you might want to visit Baxter State Park plenty of moose there, ask a ranger where and when the best times are to see them. I do not know what they have for Pop-up amenities, I do know they offer camping. On your way up the coast you may want to stop in and check out LL Bean they offer just about everything an outdoors person could want and a short distances from the main store they have an outlet. It has been some time since I was last there.

flp

Woodtroll,

The Allagash Waterway IS a great trip.  If you do the whole length, the mix is about half lakes, half river paddling.  DEFINITELY have park officials truck your packs, etc., the nine-mile length of Chase Rapids (mid-way), IF you choose to run those rapids.  There are some 3's & maybe even a 4 in there.  Nearly lost a mother-in-law, father-in-law, & wife in that section!  Let's put it this way... I was the ONLY one left in a canoe & had to fetch or find all the others.  Anyway, THAT part of the waterway can be challenging.  It's beautiful country; lots of wildlife.  Mount Katahdin - the top of which is the first place on mainland USA to recieve sunshine everyday - will loom high above & behind you for the first third of your trip.

Fishing-wise, I'm sure there must be stream trout in the rivers but the only thing we could consistently catch were whitefish... and they were everywhere.  Of course, that was thirty years ago for me.  I suppose it's conceivable that flying catfish - or some other exotic - has made their way into the ecosystem & taken over.  Hope not.

It's a great trip.  I recommend trying to stay in your canoe while you're on the water....

Jimbo   8-)

Maine is a great place.  I lived there for a long time.  There are a number of great canoeing places.  Lobster lake is one of my favorites off the West Branch of the Penobscot river and then up Lobster Stream, a little combination of river and lake paddling with lake camping, great beaches and clear water. The roads in the area are dirt but excellent since they are maintained by the logging companies. Sebago Lake is closer to civilization and the Songo river between Sebago and Long Lake offers a fun day trip including a set of locks that the old mail steamers used to use.  The Songo locks are operational and you can take a canoe through them.  Then there is the Saco River from North Conway, NH all the way to Saco, Maine. It gets scratchy in the upper reaches in the late Summer and Fall but has some excellent canoeing most of the year.  Maine has so much water that you can't go very far without bumping inot a river or a lake.  I you have some regions in mind let me know and I can give you some ideas.  

Regards,
Chuck

If you are doing some sightseeing head up Cadaliac mountain in Acadia National Park.  There are several outfitters that can help with any arrangements you might need.  Bar Harbor is OK, but a tourist destination, sea kayaking in the bay would be another fun excursion.  And whale watching would be another idea, they guarantee seeing whales.  
It sounds like the others had some good canoing ideas, so I thought some other things for a family to do.

btw, if you go to Bangor up that way, there is a restaurant/micro brew pub called Sea Dog, breat beer sampler, and excellent food.  Blueberry beer is a speciality.  

allagash info can be found using the search feature here.

Folks, I sincerely appreciate your input. An unfortunate tragedy has struck our little corner of the world, and I've been pretty distracted the last couple days. I will look up some of your recommendations. Again, my thanks!

Take care, Regan

i would agree with flpaddler that baxter is definitely worth your time. it is absolutely beautiful and filled with spaces andlakes that reminded me of N MN with mountain peaks. i wasn't all that fond of acadia but maybe all the people and the fact that there isn't any backcountry camping got to me. hands down my favorite spot on the coast is a place called cutler wilderness area. it is a beautiful stretch of hiking trials that loop through forest and coast. best part about it is that it can be all yours if you are lucky! happy planning.

thebutcher

those killings have touched every corner of the commonwealth. god bless.

jdrocks wrote on Apr 19^th, 2007 at 12:12pm:

those killings have touched every corner of the commonwealth. god bless.

:-?
thebutcher

The tragedy in Va has touched hearts acros the Nation.  I can not even begin to understand the pain of the families and my thoughts are with them.  I have a daughter in college and I just pray that the schools take a more pro-active apporach to potential violence on campus. I know that my daughter's college campus is completely open and one can wander about without ever being questioed.  It is a sad statement indeed that our kids can not prepare for thier futures in an environment where they can be free of this type of tragedy.

doesn't seem like there's anyone in the commonwealth that doesn't have some connection to that school. plenty of paddlers down there too. this 'ol badger is wearing the hokie colors.