We had a fantastic guys weekend up at Northern Outdoors in early May 2012.
We caught the first release of the season (6500 CF) on the Kennebeck which made for some pretty good white water. Greg Caruso, our guide, gave us a great ride and was a lot of fun! Back at the lodge we enjoyed some great local brew and delicious food. The staff were terrific and we can't wait to plan our next trip!
Sean M
Nashua, NH
Rating: 5 *****
Most college students think that spring break is has to be sitting on a beach some where with a tropical drink in order to be fun. They are wrong.
Northern outdoors hosted a class over spring break for 16 Johnson & Wales students that was unforgettable. The accomodations were perfect, our trip was planned out impecably, and the staff was more than we could have asked for. Our entire class had the best time we could have imagined.
We were treated with respect and friendliness during our entire stay. This trip changed my mind completely on what a spring break should be like. Can't wait to come back for a visit!
Sara S
Providence, RI
Rating: 5 *****
I'm not gonna lie.. I have never white-water rafted, finally succumbed to peer pressure, and was absolutely dreading this trip. I hate being cold and wet and this trip had all the makings of just a miserable time.
After a 4 hour drive we finally reached the middle of nowhere. What a breath of fresh air! The accommodations were spot-on, the lodge was such a comfortable and relaxing place to chill out, the beer was great, everyone that I came in contact with from the staff to the other adventure-seekers could not have been a more enjoyable experience. The rafting was totally awesome and our guide was just a super friendly, experienced thrillseeker.
I can't wait to come back for round two on the Dead! Thanks for a much needed wonderful and relaxing weekend of adventure and fun.
Don W
Atkinson, NH
Rating: 5 *****
We love Spring, and we love to offer Spring Value Season here at Northern Outdoors. Why? Because it is one of the best ways to get more people to western Maine to experience in-person the very real excitement and fun of rafting on the river, while offering direct, i.e. "non-virtual" connection to the friends and family guests want to be with!
Our press release on Spring Value Season went out this week:
Read the full press release on Northern Outdoors' Value Season here.
Cheers! We hope to see you soon!!
Russell, Suzie, Jim, and the "Maine Gang".
The State of Maine's Department of Inland Fisheries and WIldlife released the 2011 preliminary deer harvest numbers recently, with a total harvest of 18,839 deer by resident and non-resident hunters. The total harvest was down 6% compared to 2010, but that number is primarily due to the important deer population management strategy of reducing Any-Deer Permits to protect the doe and fawn populations.
The report goes on to say that the Youth Day Harvest increased 21%, with a great turnout of youth interest in deer hunting. Archery hunting also jumped with a 29% increase in harvest during the Expanded and October seasons.
Perhaps, most relevant for hunters, the MDIFW reports that Maine's deer are coming out the mild 2011-2012 winter in very good shape! MDIFW predicts the outlook for the 2012 deer hunting season will be excellent. If you are thinking of joining Northern Outdoors for a Guided Trophy Whitetail Deer Hunt, please contact us early, since key dates for these hunts book 6 or more months in advance.
Northern Outdoors 3 & 5 Day Guided Hunting Packages
www.MaineDeerHunting.com Visit our exclusive Trophy Whitetail Deer Hunting website
Read the full press release from Maine's Dept of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
My wife and I had a chance to stay at Northern Outdoors a couple of weeks ago and what a wonderful experience we enjoyed!!.We stayed in one of their rustic cabins which had all natural furniture to help set the relaxing mood for the weekend. We sat by the gas fireplace and watched the snow gently accumulate on the porch outside while we let the stress of the city life melt away with the warm glow of the peaceful Maine woods setting.
The first evening we went down to the BEAUTIFUL main lodge which has a massive rock fireplace and two leather couches to relax on. We met a great couple from VA.who had driven all the way up to ride the snowmobile trails which can be accessed right out of your cabin. We laughed alot about the fact that they were snowmobilers and we were snow shoe'ers.They travel in the fast lane and we choose to travel in the slow lane !! Northern outdoors offers both means of travel: bring your own means of travel or your can rent right there.
I travel a lot as part of my job and I must tell you the meals were DIVINE !! It was like going to a five Star restaurant in the Maine woods. One evening we enjoyed steaks cooked to prefection and the second evening we had their Dijon crusted tenderloins. The meal portions will satisfy any person's appetite,and more. If you have a sweet tooth make sure you save room for their desserts, again you won't be disappointed.
The lodge staff and wait staff at Northern Outdoors were very warm and friendly right from the moment we arrived, we were very impressed with the personal service we received. They couldn't do enough to make our stay more enjoyable. They told us of snow shoeing trails that met our level of experience,(we really enjoyed the trek up to Moxie Falls). After a great day of snowshoeing in the peaceful and quiet Maine woods we retreated to the couches in front of the fireplace and enjoyed a couple of beers (they have their own brewery right there) and reflected on our wonderful experience in the Maine woods.
If your looking for a place to retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city check out Northern Outdoors they represent the motto: THE WAY LIFE SHOULD BE WHEN YOU VISIT MAINE. It's a destination we certainly will be revisting!!!
Henry and Joan M
Augusta, ME
Rating: 5 *****
Planned a get-away weekend with out of state friends. They were interested in seeing Maine. What better way than coming up to Northern. This was not my first experience with Northern, so I was fairly sure, regardless of the 'on again-off again' weather that we'd have a terrific time at Northern, in a cabin, hovering around the Lodge when we came in off the lake.
I was not disappointed. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but the staff and facilities are uniquely Maine, representing the best of the outdoor attitude that we all love about this great state. Thanks to Suzie and all the staff for a great time!
We'll be back.
Steve B
Windsor, Maine
Rating: 5 *****
Our family enjoyed the accommodations and warm welcome from staff. The food was great as was the craft beer. Thawing by the fireplace was my wife's favorite activity but the kids preferred the hot tub.
Finally the snow storm hit and the conditions the next morning were heavenly. We had The snowmobile ride of the year!
Thanks to your staff for an excellent time. Especially Dan for watching over my shoulder a couple times to make sure my machines were ready to go. We will see you this summer.
Thank you Northern Outdoors staff:
Stephenson family
Chris S
Nashua, NH
State: NH
Rating: 5 *****
Hi Suzie,
My family and I stayed with you last weekend at Northern Outdoors. I wanted to let you know that we had an amazing few days. We haven't traveled together as a family in more than 3 years so it was a real treat.
We tremendously appreciated your staff's hospitality. Nick and Dawn in the bar were exceptional taking care of our needs. Even more I want to say thank you for sending Dan along on our snowmobile trip. It was unexpected but very much appreciated. He made our day so fulfilled!!. We never would have seen some of the amazing things we did that day without his knowledge and guidance.
Wishing you a successful rafting season and hope to stay with you again soon.
Warmest regards,
Jillian P
St. Thomas
Trail riding is pretty much done on The Forks trail system for this year. There is still some decent off trail riding around Pleasant Pond, Moxie Bald Mountain, and off the Shirley and Brochu Roads.
Thanks to all who rode the trails this year. We hope to see you again in 2013!
Jim Yearwood
Northern Outdoors Snowmobile Club
Just got back from a 3 day stay at Northern Outdoors. Trail conditions in The Forks area were outstanding. Groomers had the trails in superb conditions. Snowed every night to whiten things up with temps. in the teens to low twenties provided perfect trail riding all day long.
Great dinners served both nights satisfied the hunger and the local brews were quenching. I can't say enough about the staff. From the chef to the bartender to the front desk crew. We were treated like friends by all the Northern Outdoors employees. We came to snowmobile but the staff sold us on a white water rafting trip this spring/summer. Thank you very much! See you soon.
Curtis B
S.Yarmouth, MA
Rating: 5 *****
We had a wonderful time with you! Our lodging (One of the larger cabins) was just perfect, and minutes from the lodge. The snow was not as great as we would have liked but no one can control that aspect!
The food/drinks/atmosphere of the brewery were great, and the two couples who were with us were happy as well. Everyone on staff was very hospitable and acted like old friends after our first meal there. We will be back for sure!
Simpsons
Bridgeville, DE
Rating: 5 *****
The big warm up we had on Thursday has put a hurt on the trail system. All portions of The Forks Trail System are currently passable. There are parts where you will have to “bob & weave” to stay on snow, and other sections have good snow coverage with good riding. For the most part, the trails are fairly flat. There are bare spots on some sections, and ice and slush can be anywhere. Ride with caution at all times. There is good off trail riding opportunities too.
• ITS 86 EAST FROM BERRY'S STORE HEADING TOWARD GREENVILLE: Rideable all the way to Greenville. Intown trail is in fair shape. Boise Road, Shirley Road and Brochu Road sections are all flat and fast. Short ½ mile Power Line section near Moxie Pond is rough with some stumps and rocks poking through, but easily passable.
• ITS 87 SOUTH HEADING TOWARD BINGHAM: Divide Road has numerous bare spots on the inside of most corners. Just have to stay on the outside of the corner to stay on snow. A little rough in wooded section for 1 mile around Moore’s Bog. Some short bare spots as you head south on ITS 87 toward Bingham. Check out the groomed spur trail up to the Moxie Mountain Lookout. Spectacular views of Sugarloaf and the Bigelow Range. Well worth the short detour.
• BALD MOUNTAIN TRAIL FROM ITS 87 TO ITS 86: Decent ride all the way through. This trail, combined with ITS 86 & 87, makes a nice loop ride to/from The Forks, with some beautiful mountain scenery.
• PLEASANT POND TRAIL: This club trail is groomed with good riding. One half mile rough section around the south side of Pleasant Pond. Good riding elsewhere.
• BREAKNECK RIDGE TRAIL: This trail is closed for the 2012 season, due to logging and several miles of plowed roads. It is illegal to ride on unauthorized plowed roads. Please respect the landowners wishes on this.
• KENNEBEC RIVER TRAIL FROM NORTHERN OUTDOORS TO ITS 86/87: Fair riding all the way through. Just a few short bare spots. Scenic trail along the Kennebec River.
For day riders, there is a FREE PARK & RIDE LOT at Northern Outdoors on Route 201, with groomed trail access. Lot is well plowed, very large and can accommodate trailers of all sizes. Food, trail maps and gas are available right at the Lodge.
Jim Yearwood
Northern Outdoors Snowmobile Club
A series of low pressure systems passed through the area over the last 2 weeks, dumping nearly 2 feet of snow on us. All 100 miles of The Forks Trail System are in great shape with plenty of snow. We are experiencing a one day warmup today (Thursday), but it will get cold again for the weekend. Hopefully the warmup won’t hurt the trails too much. Groomers will be out Friday and Saturday nights.
• ITS 86 EAST FROM BERRY'S STORE HEADING TOWARD GREENVILLE: Great riding all the way to Greenville. Intown trail is in good shape. Boise Road, Shirley Road and Brochu Road sections are all flat and fast. Short ½ mile Power Line section near Moxie Pond is still a bit rough, but has good snow cover.
• ITS 87 SOUTH HEADING TOWARD BINGHAM: Great riding on the Divide Road. A little rough in wooded section for 1 mile around Moore’s Bog. Great riding elsewhere. Check out the groomed spur trail up to the Moxie Mountain Lookout. Spectacular views of Sugarloaf and the Bigelow Range. Well worth the short detour.
• BALD MOUNTAIN TRAIL FROM ITS 87 TO ITS 86: Outstanding ride all the way through. This trail, combined with ITS 86 & 87, makes a nice loop ride to/from The Forks, with some beautiful mountain scenery.
• PLEASANT POND TRAIL: This club trail is groomed with fine riding. One half mile rough section around the south side of Pleasant Pond. Excellent elsewhere.
• BREAKNECK RIDGE TRAIL: This trail is closed for the 2012 season, due to logging and several miles of plowed roads. It is illegal to ride on unauthorized plowed roads. Please respect the landowners wishes on this.
• KENNEBEC RIVER TRAIL FROM NORTHERN OUTDOORS TO ITS 86/87: Good riding all the way through. Scenic trail along the Kennebec River.
For day riders, there is a FREE PARK & RIDE LOT at Northern Outdoors on Route 201, with groomed trail access. Lot is well plowed, very large and can accommodate trailers of all sizes. Food, trail maps and gas are available right at the Lodge.
Jim Yearwood
Northern Outdoors Snowmobile Club
A series of low pressure systems have passed through over the past 10 days, dumping nearly 2 feet of snow on us. All 100 miles of The Forks Trail System are in great shape with plenty of snow. We are seeing a lot of happy riders out there and our groomers are out regularly smoothing things out. No major warm up in sight, so the trails will hold up well with prime riding for at least a couple weeks. Get out there while we have it!
• ITS 86 EAST FROM BERRY'S STORE HEADING TOWARD GREENVILLE: Great riding all the way to Greenville. Intown trail is in good shape. Boise Road, Shirley Road and Brochu Road sections are all flat and fast. Short ½ mile Power Line section near Moxie Pond is still a bit rough, but has good snow cover.
• ITS 87 SOUTH HEADING TOWARD BINGHAM: Great riding on the Divide Road. A little rough in wooded section for 1 mile around Moore’s Bog. Great riding elsewhere. Check out the groomed spur trail up to the Moxie Mountain Lookout. Spectacular views of Sugarloaf and the Bigelow Range. Well worth the short detour.
• BALD MOUNTAIN TRAIL FROM ITS 87 TO ITS 86: Outstanding ride all the way through. This trail, combined with ITS 86 & 87, makes a nice loop ride to/from The Forks, with some beautiful mountain scenery.
• PLEASANT POND TRAIL: This club trail is groomed with fine riding. One half mile rough section around the south side of Pleasant Pond. Excellent elsewhere.
• BREAKNECK RIDGE TRAIL: This trail is closed for the 2012 season, due to logging and several miles of plowed roads. It is illegal to ride on unauthorized plowed roads. Please respect the landowners wishes on this.
• KENNEBEC RIVER TRAIL FROM NORTHERN OUTDOORS TO ITS 86/87: Good riding all the way through. Scenic trail along the Kennebec River.
For day riders, there is a FREE PARK & RIDE LOT at Northern Outdoors on Route 201, with groomed trail access. Lot is well plowed, very large and can accommodate trailers of all sizes. Food, trail maps and gas are available right at the Lodge.
Jim Yearwood
Northern Outdoors Snowmobile Club
Always a great time at Northern Outdoors, everyone is very helpful and friendly. Ate at lodge, food is always good, our favorite is the prime rib. Trails were good considering not enough snow. Sleds were new and great, only negative was that there were only 6 sleds. We have in the past had anywhere from 3 to 11 sleds we have rented. Cabins are always clean and great place to hang out, unless of course you are sitting by the fire at lodge.
Hope to see you next year again.
Roseanne
Wallingford, CT
Rating: 5 *****
The 10” of snow we received last Friday has put our trail system back in great shape. We are expecting more snow on Thursday. Groomer operators report plenty of snow to work with. Cold temperatures are allowing the trails to set up nicely. Some short wooded sections are still a little rough, but overall the riding right now is the best it has been all winter. Enjoy it while it lasts!
• ITS 86 EAST FROM BERRY'S STORE HEADING TOWARD GREENVILLE: Great riding all the way to Greenville. Intown trail is mostly in good shape. Boise Road, Shirley Road and Brochu Road sections are all flat and fast. Short ½ mile Power Line section near Moxie Pond is still a bit rough, but has good show cover.
• ITS 87 SOUTH HEADING TOWARD BINGHAM: Great riding on the Divide Road. A little rough in wooded sections for 1 mile around Pleasant Pond, and 1 mile around Moore’s Bog. Great riding elsewhere. Check out the groomed spur trail up to the Moxie Mountain Lookout. Spectacular views of Sugarloaf and the Bigelow Range. Well worth the short detour.
• BALD MOUNTAIN TRAIL FROM ITS 87 TO ITS 86: Outstanding ride all the way through. There is a logging operation on the south end at Heald Stream, with a 1 mile section of shared, plowed road. Be careful through there.
• PLEASANT POND TRAIL: This club trail is groomed with fine riding. One half mile rough section around the south side of Pleasant Pond. Excellent elsewhere.
• BREAKNECK RIDGE TRAIL: This trail is closed for the 2012 season, due to logging and several miles of plowed roads. It is illegal to ride on unauthorized plowed roads. Please respect the landowners wishes on this.
• KENNEBEC RIVER TRAIL FROM NORTHERN OUTDOORS TO ITS 86/87: Good riding all the way through. Still a bit rough for the last mile into town, but not bad at all.
For day riders, there is a FREE PARK & RIDE LOT at Northern Outdoors on Route 201, with groomed trail access. Lot is very large and can accommodate trailers of all sizes. Food, trail maps and gas are available right at the Lodge.
Jim Yearwood
Northern Outdoors Snowmobile Club
This is our 10th year coming up to Northern Outdoors and everything was just as expected - GREAT!! Even though the snow was limited in areas where we sled, it was an overall great experience!! We rented your new 2012 sleds and they ran great! No problems whatsoever!! Staff were friendly and courteous as we have come to expect over the years of coming to Northern Outdoors!!
We will see you next February! Thanks for a great weekend!!
Maryellen L
Trumbull, CT
Rating: 5 *****
Northern Outdoors Snowmobile Lodge
Staffing went above and beyond to accomodate us. Everyone enjoyed the trip despite marginal snow conditions. Rental sleds were great food was also very good. Will definitely try to organize another family trip next winter. We may try to do a rafting trip sometime prob late summer.
Thanks to the great staff for an awesome time had by all....The Hodge Family Group.
Mike H
Methuen, MA
Rating: 5 *****
Once again, we came up to Northern Outdoors for our Annual 'Guy's Weekend' Snowmobiling Trip! This is something to which we look forward to every year - as our group has been sledding at Northern Outdoors for the past 10 years. As usual, we had a terrific time and we are already planning our 2013 trip! And of course, the Northern Outdoors staff was warm, welcoming, and hospitable... as always!
However, we did experience an issue that we felt we should address to you: We had nine (9) sleds reserved from you for our group. Northern Outdoors itself provided us with all but three (3) sleds, which were provided via another sled outfitter. While it is certainly appreciated that Northern Outdoors was able to accommodate our sled needs by using another outfitter (since you did not have enough of your own sleds to accommodate a group our size), the problems that we experienced with those sleds greatly affected one of our two (2) sledding days. These three (3) sleds were not comparable to the quality and functionality of the sleds provided by Northern Outdoors.One of them even broke down on Coburn Mountain, rendering our trip to Jackman cancelled, while our entire group had to stand by, idle, for several hours, waiting for replacement, and thus our planned trip was not possible that day. We were bummed out, having to stay local and nearby with our sleds.
We know how hard everyone at Northern Outdoors works to make its visitors feel welcome and enjoy their stay. This is why we felt that you would want to know about this issue. This is the only reason why our rating was a 4 and not a 5. We certainly value our relationship with you and respect you enough to share both our positive and negative experiences. Thank you again for the quality of your hospitality and your exceptional services.
Joseph D
Dedham, MA
Rating: 4 ****
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