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03.24.10
City of White
Check out these six top whitewater destinations near Portland, Maine.
by
Corey Norman
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Above: A paddler navigates the Limington
Rips. Below: Dropping down the ledges of the Pleasant River. (Corey
Norman Photos)
When people think of
Portland, Maine, the word 'whitewater' is not the first word that comes
to mind. But, within one hour in any direction, rapid-filled playgrounds
await the eager boater. Below are some of the top whitewater
destinations that southern Maine has to offer
— all
only a stone’s throw away from Portland.
From ledge drops to surfing holes, these
destinations are hot spots for boaters of all skill levels. As you
venture out to explore these sites, make sure to keep safety in mind.
Always paddle with a buddy, and make sure you never paddle without all
of your protective gear. Scout all rapids and use your best judgment
when deciding whether or not to run them.
Spring water levels
only come once a year, so get out there and have some fun!
Mousam River (Mousam Lake to Estes Lake)
Springvale, ME
Maine is a state that has developed around industry. From fishing to
logging, towns have formed around the lifeblood of these industries, the
mighty Maine River. The Mousam River is no exception. With an old mill
towering in the background, this stretch provides some great ledge
drops, but is only worth running in high water. Located about 55 minutes
from Portland, you can find the launch site by turning off ME 11/109 at
Emery Market, where you will put in just below the dam. Look for a
boiling at the base of the dam. If this is not present, then the river
is too low to run. Within the first three miles of this trip, there are
three sharp ledge drops
— one
below a set of power lines, another 1.25 miles below the ME 11 /109
bridge, and a third drop about a mile further. The second drop is a
steep Class III in high water and should be scouted from a bridge about
150 feet downstream. If the water is too low to run this drop, then the
level is too low for the rest of your trip. You can take out shortly
after this last drop at Holdworth Park on ME 11 /109.
Crooked River
(ME-118 Rest Stop)
Waterford, ME
Located just over an hour from Portland, Maine, the upper section of the
Crooked River presents paddlers with a great section of whitewater,
including several epic ledge drops. Before reaching these, paddlers are
presented with a Class III rapid next to the roadside rest stop. In low
water, this first rapid can be run, but in high water, large waves form
around the boulders making the channel vanish. Because of this, it’s
recommended that you put in just below this rapid. This remaining 0.75
miles are home to two solid Class II ledge drops. These rapids should be
scouted from the Route 118 Bridge. To get to the put-in, take I-95 to
exit 63 in Gray, Maine. Continue down Route 26 for just over 26 miles,
before merging with Route 118. Stay on this road for 6.4 miles until you
cross the Crooked River.
.jpg) Pleasant
River (Rt. 302 to River Road)
Windham, ME
Located a half hour from Portland along Route 302 in Windham
(just past the rotary), the Pleasant River is a section of water only
worth running in the high water months. During the drier months, most of
this river has to be walked, but when the spring runoff is at its
highest, this river affords some great ledge drops in a country setting.
Your first major rapid is a Class III ledge drop that comes in two
stages about two miles from the put in. This rapid is best scouted on
the right. A mere quarter of a mile later, you come to another set of
double ledge drops, this time a Class II+. This spot is known by locals
to be a great surfing location as well. Watch our for the potential of
fallen trees as you make your way down this four-mile stretch of river that
ends at Loveitt Bridge on River Road. Make sure you have a car ready to
shuttle your boats back to the put-in.
Royal River (Sparhawk
Mill Rapid)
Yarmouth, ME
The closest patch of whitewater to Portland is the Sparhawk
Mill Rapid at only 14 minutes away. Follow Route 1 into downtown
Yarmouth until you cross over the Royal River. In high water you can put
in just below the bridge at the fishway. This put-in will give you
access to a strong Class II-III rapid that flows past the mill parking
lot. During low and medium water levels, this spiny section of water is
best portaged, but at high water it is a rapid to be thoroughly enjoyed.
On the outset, you will experience 200 yards of quickwater followed by
some fun Class I rips. Close to home, this location is ideal when you
only have a few hours to play.
Steep Falls, Saco
River
Steep Falls, ME
Set to the backdrop of a waterfall, Steep Falls on the Saco
River is definitely a spot for the more experienced paddler. A Class
I-II+ (V+) in lower water, this stretch develops a massive hydraulic as
the water begins to rise. In the spring season, expect this stretch to
boast a high watermark of 10,000+ cubic feet of water per second.
Because it only lasts for 0.3 miles, be ready to walk back upriver a few
times during your session. For you beginner paddlers out there,
this is a great set of rapids to learn on in the summer months when the
water levels are lower, but novice boaters should avoid this section
during the high water months. Located 52 minutes from Portland, take
Route 25 to the town of Standish. There you will come to the
intersection of Route 25 and Route 113. Follow this for about 5.5 miles, and then take a left onto Route 11. After half a mile, you
will have arrived at your destination.
Limington Rips,
Saco River
Limington, ME
If you’re looking for the hottest spot to paddle this spring,
head 45 minutes outside of Portland along Route 25 and you’ll find it.
The Limington Rips is nearly a half-mile of continuous Class II
whitewater, which, in high water, quickly transforms into a set of gnarly
Class III rapids. This is a park and play section of river that’s run-able all seasons, but due to its large waves, is ideal for spring
paddling. Although there are a few ledge drops and play spots before the
bridge, most serious springtime riders choose to surf the holes that are
closer to the parking lot. Watch out for “Prom Date,” the massive
hydraulic on the river’s left that can turn into a nasty Class IV during
this time of season.
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Freelance writer Corey Norman is also a
professional film maker and adjunct professor at Southern Maine
Community College. His article
'In The
Drink,' about riverboarding Maine's Penobscot River, appeared on
SixStates.net in October.
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