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View of the Allagash River.

View of the Allagash River.

Ken Snow

Sunset over Round Pond, Allagash, Maine.

Sunset over Round Pond, Allagash, Maine.

Joel Sanford

Early morning on Allagash Lake, Maine.

Early morning on Allagash Lake, Maine.

Joel Sanford

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Allagash Wilderness Waterway

The most stunning wild waterway preserved in a forever natural state.

The Allagash River and the lakes and ponds that join it were once a distant, commercial highway through the faraway heart of Maine’s northwestern forest. Lumbermen cut and floated countless logs down its waters to market. Today, the Allagash carries something else: canoeists and kayakers traveling the farthest reaches of the North Maine Woods seeking solitude and adventure.

The Allagash Wilderness Waterway, established by the State of Maine and part of the National Wild and Scenic River System, is 92 miles long and a classic of Eastern paddling. Boaters can take the entire route and spend more than a week on the water. Or, they can take shorter, multi-day trips. However long the journey, paddlers traverse broad, beautiful (and sometimes windy) lakes along with river sections that burble slowly or chatter with Class II whitewater.

Sunset over Round Pond, Allagash, Maine. – Joel Sanford

A Waterway So Untouched

Besides the splendid boating, the Allagash offers some prime Maine fishing habitats. Either from the boat or the shore, anglers can hook wild native brook trout, lake trout and lake whitefish. And in winter, the Allagash is prime country for ice fishing and for the snowmobiles that bring the anglers to the fishing spots.

The river, lakes, ponds and streams that make up the Waterway are still surrounded by working commercial forest; if you come, you’ll drive to the river on logging roads. But the Waterway was designed to shield paddlers from the outside world. Signs of current civilization are few. Campgrounds along the water are plentiful but offer few amenities. You’ll get tent spaces, poles for tarps, an outhouse and a picnic table or two. This is backcountry camping. Moose outnumber working cellphones.

A journey north on the Allagash is also a journey through the past. Old logging and lumber equipment is scattered throughout the trees. Included in that rusting gear is a tramway that once dragged logs through the forest and two locomotives, resting where they were left, from the defunct Eagle Lake & West Branch Railroad, which hauled hundreds of thousands of cords of wood.

Running the Allagash is a lifetime ambition for many paddlers. It can be a daunting one. Good planning is vital, since travelers need to bring everything they need for the journey. There’re no Walmarts on the banks of the Allagash.

Because of its challenges and remote character, the Allagash is probably best enjoyed by experienced paddlers – if they’re going by themselves. Neophytes can enjoy it on guided trips. On such journeys, planning and logistical issues are solved by the guides, who also lead the trips. Check out companies such as Allagash Canoe Trips, Allagash Guide Service, Canoe the Wild, Mahoosuc Guide Service and Northwoods Outfitters.

Businesses & Organizations

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  • Sebago Trails Paddling is the premier kayak, canoe and standup paddleboard outfitter in the greater Sebago Lakes Region.

    Phone: (207) 894-4696

    Website: www.sebagotrails.com

    Address: 1311 Roosevelt Trail , Raymond

    Registered Maine Guides Kayaking and Canoeing Lakes and Ponds
  • Moose Tours are Our Specialty, with Master Maine Guide - Rich Yvon. Fully guided tour with BBQ lunch with a view! Book Now for the 2024 and 2025 seasons! Choose a day trip and stay in our luxury lodge! See our Google Reviews!

    Phone: 207-907-9151

    Website: www.twinmapleoutdoors.com

    Address: 303 Williams Rd , Bradford

    Registered Maine Guides Wildlife Watching Lakes and Ponds
  • Viles Arboretum is a no-fee 224 acre botanical garden which features miles of trails, a rotating suite of programs and events, a full service visitor center, and a variety of habitats home to flora and fauna of Statewide importance.

    Phone: 207-626-7989

    Website: vilesarboretum.org

    Address: 153 Hospital Street , Augusta

    Sanctuaries, Land Trusts and Refuges Trails and Routes
  • Historic house museum, public trails, and community event space in Ellsworth

    Phone: 207-667-8671

    Website: www.woodlawnellsworth.org

    Address: 19 Black House Drive PO Box 1478 , Ellsworth

    History and Maritime Maine's Heritage Museums
  • Good Trip Adventures is an inclusive and sustainable tour operator and guiding company in Acadia National Park. Go beyond the guidebooks for a national park adventure you can’t get anywhere else!

    Phone: 406-451-0455

    Website: goodtripadventures.com

    Address: For our tours we pick clients up at their location. , Bar Harbor

    Guided Experiences Adventure Boating, Canoeing and Kayaking
  • Discover your next paddling adventure on the Northern Forest Canoe Trail.

    Phone: (802) 496-2285

    Website: www.NorthernForestCanoeTrail.org

    Address: PO Box 565 , Waitsfield

    Kayaking and Canoeing Public Reserved Lands Wilderness Areas

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