It was the first time I've ever planned a trip like this for my family. I can tell you this....we WILL be back next year and with additional family and friends. We had a blast! Zack was a terrific guide and made the trip even more enjoyable! In fact we all hope that he will be available next year to take us on our next guided tour! Five Stars from the Nickerson Family! We haven't stopped talking about our trip yet!
Thank a bunch and see you next year! Christie, Vanessa, Arianna, Katelyn & Jessie!
Our trip to Northern Outdoors was AWESOME! We had 7 kids and 4 adults. The kids had never rafted before and ever since our trip they have been bugging us to go back. My 10 yr old said as soon as she's 15 she is going to raft the Penobscot! She will too!
We used everything, the hot tub, pool, game room, dance floor, store, and the restaurant and we loved it all!!
We are already planning our trip for next year and have added at least 3 more families to our trip. We will also be requesting "Luke" to be one of the guides. He was just amazing! The two men in the raft both went overboard at different times and each time he had them back in the boat in 5 seconds. I still can't believe how fast he had them in the boat. He always had our safety first. The kids have been telling their friends all about him.
Thank you for a great 2 days! We have some great memories that will last a life time and hopefully we have started a summer tradition with the Northern Outdoors!!!!
Our trip to the Northern Outdoors was AWESOME! We had 7 kids and 4 adults. The kids had never rafted before and ever since our trip they have been bugging us to go back. My 10 yr old said as soon as she's 15 she is going to raft the Penobscot! She will too!
We used everything, the hot tub, pool, game room, dance floor, store, and the restaurant and we loved it all!!
We are already planning our trip for next year and have added at least 3 more families to our trip. We will also be requesting "Luke" to be one of the guides. He was just amazing! The two men in the raft both went overboard at different times and each time he had them back in the boat in 5 seconds. I still can't believe how fast he had them in the boat. He always had our safety first. The kids have been telling their friends all about him.
Thank you for a great 2 days! We have some great memories that will last a life time and hopefully we have started a summer tradition with the Northern Outdoors!!!!
Great place - this is our second trip this summer. We came back a second time with two of our kids, because the first time was so good. We've already told friends about your place...
Our guide was James - he is really good at what he does. Hilarious, engaging, committed to people having a great time.
Your staff overall is fantastic - they coordinate so many details to create an end-to-end fun day. Lunch on the river is elaborate, and such a nice part of the day. Couldn't ask for more.
One area for improvement - we were part of the overflow group. Felt a little like second class citizens, mostly at the end of the day for the media show. Seems like Northern Outdoors doesn't have a solid second setup for these presentations. The guides struggled for maybe a half an hour to find equipment that worked. Was a bit of a buzz kill - because when it is done well, the slide show is a fun end to the day. Its a good day to laugh about the adventures, and connect with new friends. And, the guides seemed bummed - they put a lot into making the images and the video, to make the day fun ( and maybe have photo sales targets?)
So - a relatively minor, but important point. Easily fixable by an organization so committed to details - as yours is!
A couple girlfriends and I enjoyed a girls get away recently with Northern. Everything was terrific (even if it did rain!). Everyone was very professional. Meghanne was our waitress at night and one of the raft guides during the day! Victor was our guide and was awesome, making our trip truly enjoyable. The water was very warm and the lunch was delicious. Amazing they could set up and break down that quickly.
We will definitely be back next year with more girls - and maybe we'll let the guys come too this time!
We had a fantastic 3 days with Northern Outdoors! From the lodge staff, to the waitstaff, to the guides, and even bus drivers, we thank you all for being so nice and helpful. This was our first time with Northern Outdoors, and we were very pleased to have chosen such a professional company.
We stayed in the tent cabins, which were clean and the site fit our needs. The buffet breakfast was superb, and the waitstaff very pleasant. We took the float trip our first day there, and enjoyed a nice relaxing afternoon on the river.
Our second day was the Kennebec white water rafting trip, and we thoroughly enjoyed having Brent as our guide. He spoke to everyone individually to get to know them and to make sure we all felt comfortable. During the trip, he gave clear and informative directions. As an experienced guide, if anyone hadn't quite gotten wet enough during any part of the trip down river, he knew exactly when to turn the raft the other way...so everyone got an equal share in the drenching! (LOL) We also had the opportunity to have a nice conversation with Sandi, another guide, as she was cooking lunch. It was wonderful how personable everyone was, and how well organized the trip, lunch, and all aspects of this experience were.
Thank you to everyone for making this such a memorable experience. We're looking to do it again next year, and to bring along some friends who have never been white water rafting before.
We had a blast. This was my family's third time staying and rafting with you. Always a great experience! We brought other family and friends with us this time and they were all impressed by the professionalism of your staff/guides, the cleanliness of your cabins and all the great services and amenities that you offer.
Brandi was our guide and she was terrific! She absolutely made everyone feel like they were well taken care of and also made each one of us feel special. My 14 year old nephew was really impressed by "our" marine. We could not have hand picked a better guide for our group. Even with some of us unintentionally "swimming", myself included, we had a great time. In fact going over only made the trip more exciting.
At the end of the day we met Brandi's daughters. Two wonderful girls who couldn't have been nicer and also represented Northern Outdoors beautifully.
We are already talking about a trip next year, and you can be sure it will be with Northern Outdoors and Brandi! Thanks to everyone there who contributed to our fantastic time. Oh yeah, Trevor was our server that night in the restaurant and he was terrific too.
I have to admit, I was worried our two teenage boys would get bored without the television and the xbox for three days, but I'm happy to say I was wrong. We all had sooo much fun.
The grounds are beautiful! I think the best part of the trip was how nice everyone was. From the front desk staff to Nicole of the restaurant to Sandy, our wonderful rafting guide, and also to the other guests. It's obvious the employees love what they do and the guests can feel this so everyone was in a good mood. We didn't hear anyone complaining, not even the kids and no one was rude.
We felt like we were part of a big happy family, and we wish we could have spent our whole week of vacation in Northern Outdoors.
We have rafted with Class VI Raft company on New River in WV twice and with 2 different raft companies in Ohiopyle, PA so we have some others to compare our trip to. I am happy to say Northern outdoors was able meet all of our expectations and gave us a wonderful time.
We were very happy with the float trip and raft trip too, with the way your company brings the younger members to the lower rapid area of thr river so we were still all able to raft together. That was never an option with those other companies.
The logdominium we stayed in for 2 nights was a very nice accommodation as well.
Thanks for a wonderful adventure during our 2011 Maine Family Vacation. Penny & Kevin D Cortland, OH
My 15 yr old son and I had a great time rafting the river and loved it so much we may come up again before school starts! I was very nervous ahead of time but our guide, Logan, did an awesome job making everyone in the boat feel safe and comfortable. Yes, I'm a proud Mama!!
The lunch was great, the guides, in general, very capable and entertaining, slide show and video provided an hysterical look at the variety in "Faces of Fear, Exhilaration and sheer Joy"
My goal was to have fun and see a bald eagle. I was lucky to achieve both...and then some!!
Thank you Northern Outdoors for a memorable day in beautiful northern Maine.
Our group consisted of two adults and six 15 year old boys. We left home on a thursday morning and headed to Moxie Falls prior to heading to Millinocket...a few hours out of our way, but the boys had had such a great time there last year when we rafted the Kennebec that we had to go again. On our way to the Penobscot we traveled many beautiful back roads and saw some wonderful sites.
The bunk houses we stayed in were very comfortable. The view of Mt Katahdin reflected on the pond was magnificant.
Moe was our wonderful gifted guided. He made sure our trip was exciting!! And we found another magical place to visit next year. Blueberry ledges....very close by....short hike ...natural water slides and whirlpools...can't wait to go back next year!!!!
Having rafted both the Penobscot and Kennebec, the excitement of the Penobscot surpasses our experience on the Kennebec. With first-time Penobscot rafters with us, we were mildly concerned that we may be biting off more than they could chew. NOT! Our guide was great - extra points for inviting multiple shots at the Nesowadnehunk Falls - perhaps we should have stopped after 2 successful maneuvers?! I though his coaching was good; raft chatter makes it as we had strangers in our raft at the start, but not at the end.
I read the glowing reports about the center at The Forks and it isn't the brewery that makes our trip! The Penobscot Center is beautiful and fits the bill for us to sit, relax and watch the slides and video of the day!
Thank you! A great way to spend time as a family making Maine memories to talk about for years to come. More next summer? Hope so!
My daughter asked for a rafting trip to celebrate her 15th birthday, and we're all glad she did - our Northern Outdoors experience exceeded our expectations!
We arrived the afternoon prior to our trip and thoroughly enjoyed the facilities (pool, hot tub, pub & brewery) before retiring for a restful evening in our spacious 4-person cabin tent.
Our guide Blaise was outstanding, and set the raft up for a great ride through every feature the river offered. Lunch was perfect - as first outfitter on the river Northern Outdoors has the best lunch spot by a long shot!
The perfect weather and 5000 cfs flow made for an incredible family experience that completely satisfied my family of 4 - who came into the trip ranging from "very nervous" to "bring it on". There are not many adventure experiences out there that have the "range" to accomplish that.
The entire package was a great value, and one of the most satisfying family adventures we have ever had (there have been many). My 17-year old son now wants to take the training course and work as a guide while in college.
Thank you, Northern Outdoors - we will be back, bringing friends!
We came up with a group of 14 people and camped in the cabin tents across from the main building. The campsites were good size and the cabin tents were extremely clean and roomy. We rafted on a Sunday, there were about 16 rafts on our trip that day. Every person who we met that worked at Northern Outdoors was polite and helpful, and they all worked hard at multiple tasks. They got us equipped and ready to go down the river in no time.
Our guides were incredible! They brought us safely down the rapids and even customized our ride down as much as they could. We stopped for a fantastic lunch that our guides prepped, cooked, served and cleaned up in no time. It was incredible to watch these professionals work on the river and preparing a meal for 16 rafts full of people. Steak, chicken, salmon or veg burger, with vegetable fried rice, bean salad, gorp, cookies and beverages. Our group was spoiled because we had Mike as our guide Not only was he the best guide on the river that day, but he also brewed the beer served in the Pub. I recommend the IPA and the Porter.
Russell, if you really read this, not only do you have an impressive hard working crew, but everyone we met, and I mean everyone, smiled. The people who checked us in, the bartenders, our guides, Jim who helped issue gear, collect it, transport us, and who knows what else behind the scenes, everyone smiled. All the guides on the river were great, but in our humble opinion, none topped Mike. We hope to be back.
The Penobscot River is a true Class IV-V Maine whitewater rafting gem, and Northern Outdoors is well known for running this river as a classic top-to-bottom river trip. The only interruption? A welcomed grilled riverside lunch between the upper and lower sections of the Penobscot River. (Not everyone runs the Penobscot that way. Some outfitters run the bottom section first, then go up and run the top. It makes for a really different trip, so ask about that when researching a Penobscot river trip.)
We start by paddling through the granite-walled Ripogenus Gorge of the Upper Penobscot River with a series of steep drops followed by pools and rapids on the Lower Penobscot section. As you float down river between rapids, the scenery doesn't get any better than seeing Mt. Katahdin, Maine's highest peak and the dominant centerpiece of Baxter State Park.
Of the three whitewater rivers in Maine - the Penobscot, Dead and Kennebec - it's the Penobscot River that beginner rafters often visit after Kennebec River rafting. Of course, avid paddlers and adventure seekers flock to conquer the "Nob" first since it's a bit more technical and challenging. Either way, it's pure unadulterated top-to-bottom fun.
Big water, epic scenery and a trip that follows the natural flow of the current...it's classic Maine whitewater rafting.
We had a terrific time. Everyone we met was very nice and informative. The food at the pub was excellent (breakfast, lunch & dinner). The family package was very affordable and a no brainer with some of the meals included. The rafting trip was incredible as was the lunch (& entertainment).
With a spin on our almost annual Hold 'em 'n' Paddle firefighters rafting trip this year we had a GREAT time! This year's Hug 'em 'n' Paddle was planned as a "family trip". There were only two FF family's represented with 6 teenage girls and their FF fathers.
I know my girls have been hearing about our trips for years and were excited for months prior to the trip. They are aready looking forward to another trip maybe on the Dead River!
I am looking into a possible FF group, family group, AND "Triple Crown" group combined / extended trip for next year.
Thank you ALL @ N.O. for years of GREAT trips. (And Years to come).
As a Maine whitewater rafting guide, there's nothing better than guiding a kid on the river for their first time. Even from the very beginning of the trip, things like teaching them how to hold our perfect kid sized paddles to how to sit in the raft are moments of excitement. Some kids are nervous and other are full of anticipation. One thing is for sure, as the day progresses and we hit the whitewater, the pure thrill of adventure can be seen in their eyes, and the big smiles that follow are priceless!
Kennebec River rafting is perfect for kids and families. Kids can raft starting at age 8 by doing the lower portion of the river and by age 10 they are ready to take on the entire trip.
Here's what our recent guests from Windham, NH had to say about taking their 8 year old rafting with us for his first time:
"My 8 year old son is going to be a river guide like Brent! Northern Outdoors' plan for younger kids to be picked up at the half way point was awesome! My younger kids still felt a part of the trip and they loved hanging out with Jim!"
Kids enjoy rafting on the Kennebec River just as much as parents, and guides love taking kids on the river. Sounds like a win-win family vacation and the perfect mix for summertime fun, huh? Maine Adventure Vacations with Kids
I have been coming to Northern Outdoors for years. And out of them all this time was the best. Our cabin on the river was very comfortable and fun to stay at. Our guide Megan was great and fun to be in her raft for the day. You don't need to change anything everything was perfect.
When it comes to iconic scenery blended with the adventure of whitewater rafting, New England has a special place. It's called the Penobscot River and in particular it's a spot named Nesowadnehunk Falls and Nesowadnehunk Stream. This week, our Maine rafting video is all about being on the water and in the water while rafting this section of the Penobscot River.
Nesowadnehhunk Falls, a.k.a. The Falls, is a rapid of pure heart-pumping enjoyment. It's rapids like this that give Maine whitewater rafting such a great reputation. As you approach The Falls, the water is calm and as you leave The Falls the water is calm, but a natural ledge lies across the length of the river in between these calm sections creating a fantastically fun 12-foot drop. Your guide can take you surfing in this drop as well as run The Falls over and over and over again.
Nesowadnehunk Stream, a.k.a. The Natural Water Slide, is just cool...literally. All ya do is sit down, lie back and enjoy the ride into a refreshing pool of natural spring water. It's whitewater rafting, New England style.
Enjoy our Maine whitewater rafting video and better yet come enjoy some Penobscot River rafting with us too!
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