Maine Path and Paddle Guides

Our Goal, as canoeing guides, is to provide a safe, organized, and fun experience into the Maine Woods that will leave lasting memories. The selection of adventures that we offer ranges from Introduction to Canoe Camping (perfect for families), to thrilling Class III Whitewater Rapids (experience required).

We specialize in family canoe camping, scout trips, senior trips, and independent Multisport vacations.

New for 2022 season.
I've decided not to list scheduled trip dates. All trips will be based on your desired dates and my availability. All trips will be customized for your family or group. Reducing the number of trips with mixed groups.

Spring Trips * Day Trips - Family Specials - Multisport Trips * Summer Trips
Fall Trips * Winter Trips * Partner Trips

2022 Schedule

COVID-19 Travel and Visitor Information

The Keep Maine Healthy plan aims to protect Maine people, protect visitors, and support Maine small businesses by reducing, to the greatest extent possible, COVID-19 risks associated with travel. The plan relies on three cornerstones:
1) testing that encourages all visitors to "know before you go";
2) screening for symptoms among travelers; and
3) engaging Maine communities to promote COVID-19-prevention best practices and public health.
If you are traveling, or planning to travel to Maine, please consult the Keep Maine Healthy plan and FAQs for the latest guidance. A list of Maine COVID-19 testing sites is here .

How it might affect your trip with Maine Path & Paddle Guides:
- May require guests to drive their own vehicle to put-in
- May request testing upon arrival for trip
- Smaller groups and preference to family trips

Winter - Day Trips

Winter Day Trips
Selected Sundays

$20 per person
Difficulty Easy to Moderate

Meet at 9am

bring lunch and snacks
Get out and play in the snow. Depending on the weather and your interests we will snowshoe or cross-country ski.
Plan on being outdoors for 3-5 hours at the most. Weather is always a factor and may alter plans.
We will advise on cold weather gear and equipment, winter navigation considerations, and winter food considerations.

Destination TBD. Typically within 2 hour drive of Portland area.

1 Day Winter Skills Workshops

Available for group and family workshops, Scouts, T3 Outing Clubs,

Easy to Moderate
Max 20 participants
6 - 8 hour training
Indoors and Outdoors activities
bring your own lunch

Learn how to enjoy Maine winters outdoors. At our one-day workshop you will learn about the following:
- Winter Planning
- Winter Clothing and Gear
- Winter Travel
- Winter Safety
- Winter Nutrition & Hygiene
This workshop will be conducted outdoors. Please dress appropriately. Or call ahead if you need to be outfitted.

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Winter - Multi-Day Trips

Intro to Winter Camping
2-3 days

Jan,Feb, and Mar dates TBD -Call for information.
$150-$200 per person
Moderate difficulty

Max 6
2-day : 8am Saturday morning to noon Sunday
3-day : 8am First morning to noon day-3

Thinking about winter camping but don't know where to begin? Let Maine Path & Paddle Guides do the preparation and planning. You can focus on learning and having fun in the snow. Snow shoe or x-country skiing into a remote shelter, lodge. or yurt and light up the fire. Build a snow shelter and sleep outside in the middle of winter. Believe us, you will stay toasty warm. Staying out the first night will hook you on winter camping!

Winter Expedition — Debsconeag Four Day Trek

Inquire about Custom Dates
4-5 days / 3-4 nights

$800 per person

Difficult—Previous winter camping and travel experience required.
Max 6

A 40 mile winter trip through some of the most scenic and remote areas of the North Maine Woods. We will be breaking trail for the majority of this trek. Mostly cross-country skiing and snow shoeing pulling sleds with gear.

April can be a wonderful time to enjoy winter, the days are getting longer and there is usually plenty of snow on the ground.

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Spring Trips 2022

St John River
May custom trips

Class II—III
Experienced Paddlers
Max 8
$1300 per person—

Maine's most remote wilderness river touring experience. Our trips begin at Baker Lake for a 92 mile run of continues quick water. The St John River builds with several major tributaries. Enjoy beautiful river side campsites at Nine Mile Bridge, Seven Islands, and so many more. Flowing north the St John tripping experience is a special journey through the top of Maine's North Maine Woods. The weather in mid May can bring sunny spring days or blustery late spring snow, we prepare for either. We know the one thing we do not have to worry about are the bugs, they don't seem to make an appearance till Memorial Day.

Seboeis River
Custom trips
3 days
Quick water - Class II
Experienced Campers
Max 10
$600 per person

Seboeis River — Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. This river flows along the eastern border of Baxter State Park. A great way to start the canoe camping season on a beautiful river. Experience the natural wonders of springtime budding and blossoming, returning birds and newborn animals as we explore a the Seboeis in spring!

Maine Canoe Symposium
Saturday June 12 2022
The Pandemic has delayed the MCS new begining. stay tuned for updates.
NEW LOCATION - Bryant Pond - Volunteer Steering Committee working to make this all happen again in 2022!!

Food and lodging available — extra fees apply.

Learn traditional canoeing and camping skills. A weekend of workshops and presentations about all aspects of canoeing and camping. On water workshops include; solo and tandem paddling; touring techniques; poling; canoe sailing; j-stroke; and more. Special children program. War canoe Race.
Friday and Saturday evening keynote presentations that captivate and spark the imagination for travel and advantures in Maine and beyond.
MCS is an all volunteer coordinated and run event!

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Day Trips * Family Specials * Multisport Trips

Day & 1/2 Day Paddles Greater Portland area
Available Most Weekends

Presumpscot River

Ossipee River

Crooked River

Saco River

several western Lakes and Ponds

Great for families, friends, corporate picnics
2—25 people
No Experience required
From $35 per person
Group Discounts

Come out and paddle for the day. Greater Portland has plenty of inland water to tour and explore. We will help choose a pond, river or lake that best fits your interests. The Ossipee River running from Kezar Falls to the Saco River in Cornish is a perfect day trip, ideal for families and groups. You will be surprised how remote you can feel less than an hour from downtown Portland. Enjoy the river, swim, go off a rope swing, and get back to nature!

Family Camping Introduction
Call for Availability
3—5 days
Flat water
Families
From $1400 per family

Let us provide everything your family will need for a Maine woods canoe camping experience. You just show up, have fun, and let us do the rest. OK you do have to paddle your canoe, but we don't go too far on our family trips! From infants to teens. Extended families too. Learn what it takes to enjoy nature and the Maine outdoors. Children find excitement and adventure in every cove on the lake; among all the rocks and sand on he shore; and in amongst the trees around camp.

Maine Multisport Independent Adventures
Call or email for information
Custom dates
4—10 days
Lodging, camping, cabins, Inns, B&Bs
Independent travel
Great Families Trips
from $800 per person

Hike! Kayak! Bike! Canoe! Raft! Climb! Explore! Sample Maine's outdoor high adventure and visit the best of Maine's scenic landscape. From the protected islands off the down east coast to the heights of Katahdin to the rivers that flow throughout the state we will WOW you with an adventure filled with fun. Design your trip with a choice of lodging preferences. Fill each day playing or take a day to explore the coast. Sail on a schooner, go whale watching, or explore museums and shops in quaint coastal towns.

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Summer Trips 2022

Allagash Wilderness Waterway
Custom trips dates
6 days
Class I—II
Experienced Campers
Max 8
$1200 per person
(8 and 10 day trips available)

Canoe the Allagash River and experience the North Maine Woods and the natural beauty and wonder of Maine. Camp among he tall pines, baslm fir, spruce and cedar; see the moose, bald eagle; loon and bear that inhabit this vast wild land that remains a last vestage of life as few can recall. While we embrace the guides traditions of cooking over an open fire and being self sufficient; we also embrace modern equipment and current knowledge. The Allagash is just the right mix of lake paddling, quick river currents, and rapids. Water levels often vary throughout the season, making each trip a new experience. You can plan on a lot of swimming, exploring, wildlife viewing, and all that the Allagash waterway has to offer. Join us on an adventure that will make memories that last a lifetime!

West Branch Penobscot River

Custom trip dates
4 days
Quick water
Families & Adult Trips
Max 10
$800 per person

The quintessential North Maine Woods canoe tripping experience. Paddle Thoreau's route little changed since his historic journey. Enjoy some of the finest campsites to be found in Maine. We paddle into Lobster Lake the first night and then head back down the W Branch. Watch for moose feeding in the river. Bald eagle have made an incredible comeback and can be seen scanning the river for their next meal. The paddling is easy going with only small riffs and a good current while on the river.

Add an extra day and we'll plan for a lay over day in Lobster Lake!

St Croix River

Custom trip dates 4 days
Class I—II
Families & Adult Trips
Max 10
$800 per person

The St Croix International Waterway is the border between Maine and New Brunswick, Canada. Starting from the Vanceboro launch site the river is filled with small rapids and riffles that provide a whitewater introduction for paddlers eager to learn and improve their skills. The dam controlled flow assures that we have great water levels throughout the paddling season. The small mouth bass fishing is a big hit for kids and seasoned anglers alike. Watch the Kingfisher chatter and guide the way down river.

Add an extra day and we can start the trip in the upper lakes, this area is remote and wonderful!! Well worth it if you've got the time.

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Northern Forest Canoe Trail
Custom Trips Arranged
4—12 days
Class I—III
Beginner to Experienced
Custom Trips
Max 10
from $160 per person per day

Maine boasts 347 miles of the 740 mile—New York to Maine—Northern Forest Canoe Trail. We have explored most of the Maine section. There are tripping opportunities for every type of paddler, novice to experts—day trippers to through paddlers. There are even inn to inn paddling adventures! Let us customize a trip for you.

Lobster Lake
Custom trip dates
4 days
Flat water
Families, Adult Trips
Max 10
$800 per person

Lobster Lake is a great destination for families or groups that want a base camp experience. Venture out each day to hike Lobster Mountain— paddle around Big Island— relax on the sandy beach and catch up on your reading— pick blueberries— swim— fish—have fun!

Family Camping Introduction
Call for Availability
3—5 days
Flat water
Families
From $1400 per family

Let us provide everything your family will need for a Maine woods canoe camping experience. You just show up, have fun, and let us do the rest. OK you do have to paddle your canoe, but we don't go too far on our family trips! From infants to teens. Extended families too. Learn what it takes to enjoy nature and the Maine outdoors. Children find excitement and adventure in every cove on the lake; among all the rocks and sand on he shore; and in amongst the trees around camp.

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Fall Trips 2022

Allagash Wilderness Waterway
Custom trip dates
6 days
Class I-II
Adults
Max 10
$1200 per person

Late August is great time to paddle the Allagash! We share the river with the kingfisher, loon, merganser, and bald eagle. Moose continue to feed along the river. In the swampy bottoms the maples start their transition to bright red. The days start to get shorter, the nights cooler. It is a fine time to enjoy the river and all it has to share with us. And the evening star gazing is equally spectacular. See the milky way as you will never see it back home.

West Branch Penobscot River
Custom trip dates
4 days
Quick water
Adults
Max 10
$800 per person

The quintessential North Maine Woods canoe tripping experience. Paddle Thoreau's route little changed since his historic journey. Enjoy some of the finest campsites to be found in Maine. We paddle into Lobster Lake the first night and then head back down the W Branch. Watch for moose feeding in the river. Bald eagle have made an incredible comeback and can be seen scanning the river for their next meal. The paddling is easy going with only small riffs and a good current while on the river.

St Croix River

Custom trip dates
4 days
Class I—II
Adults
Max 10
$800 per person

To experience the St Croix River after Labor Day is truly treat. Because it is dam controlled there is always a great flow. The small mouth bass are abundant and there is no one else on the river. Come experience one of the best fall paddling rivers in Maine!

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MultiSport Partner Trips

Backcountry Excursions Mountain Biking
Full and 1/2 Day rides
May—November
Easy to Advanced
Great Family Fun

"Tucked in the foothills of the White Mountains is a little town called Parsonsfield, Maine. There, you'll find a unrivaled woodland playground : Backcountry Excursions. 1,200 acres of heavily forested hills surrounded by an 8,800 acre semi-wilderness preserve. A Mecca for single tracks and on- and off-road cyclists."

Water Walker Sea Kayaking

1/2 Day, Day, and Multi—Day
Jun—September
All Abilities

Join Ray Wirth for a day or for a week and you will learn so much about the Maine coast, so much about sea kayaking, and so much about the natural world that is his world on the waters and islands of down east Maine. Great Guides, top quality gear, and great destinations.

New England Outdoor Center
Day Trips
Everyone
Min age 14

Raft the Penobscot River gorge!!

Up to 14 mile river trips

Class I—V Rapids!

Natural water slides and surfing

Riverside BBQ Lunch

Fun trip for families

Combine with a Katahdin hike in Baxter State Park

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New for 2022 season. I've decided not to list scheduled trip dates. All trips will be based on your desired dates and my availability. All trips will be customized for your family or group. Reducing the number of trips with mixed groups.

2022 Schedule

COVID-19 Travel and Visitor Information

Winter - Day Trips

Winter - Multi-Day Trips

Spring Trips 2022

Day Trips * Family Specials * Multisport Trips

Summer Trips 2022

Fall Trips 2022

MultiSport Partner Trips

New for 2022 season.
I've decided not to list scheduled trip dates. All trips will be based on your desired dates and my availability. All trips will be customized for your family or group. Reducing the number of trips with mixed groups.