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.
Dave, our guide, did a great job and gave us a wonderful ride down the river. The food was good and plentiful. The various beers were excellent!
The lakeside cabin had good showers and more than enough room for the four of us. I do wonder if what happens if all the beds occupied. When the people were all awake, the common area would have to be very friendly if all were inside.
The WiFi connection at the brew pub was iffy. Sometimes it just went away. I averaged about a 15 minute connection, which let me check e-mail once a day. My younger son couldn't download his weather charts - too big. (meteorology student that eats, sleeps and breathes weather.) The older boy needed to download some large updates and couldn't. He did manage to do some coding that didn't need internet. He couldn't test them, tho' because he needs an internet connection to test the app on an iPad.
Then again, we're on vacation! I was really kind of glad that my husband wasn't constantly interrupted by e-mail downloads on his Droid.
We had a great time rafting. Had done the Penobscot earlier this summer and was very impressed with how the trips have improved. Went over the Nesowadnehunk Falls FOUR times! The younger kids in our families wanted to try rafting themselves, so we tried the Kennebec. Not as dangerous or challenging, but still a great trip that impressed our 10 and 11 year olds as well as the adults. Swimmers rapids are excellent.
We discussed with our guide my 16 year old son's metal plate that is implanted in his chest and how it shouldn't be a health problem, but mentioned that compasses point to it. Without missing a beat Sarah (our guide) suggested it is probably a chick magnet! During our lunch, the video guy caught wind of it and staged a quick interview that left a couple of young girls 'sticking' to his chest. I hope everyone liked it as much as my son did.
Northern Outdoors is the only outfitter I've trusted for 25 years to take my family and friends rafting, and I expect to continue for many more.
This was my second time to the Penobscot River and I had a blast! The cabin tents were very convenient to stay in and the raft guides made the trip very memorable. Especially the raft guide I had, Mo. He was great at explaining things to us, being patient with us when we weren't paddling together :) and most important, making the trip something I will never forget and want to do again the future. I think he enjoyed getting us wet and playing jokes on us cause I think I heard him say MANY times "it was an accident," as a rapid splashed in our faces and I looked back to see a big grin on his face! But things like that will be things that I remember most.
I'd recommend the trip very much to anyone who hasn't tried rafting before and is just out for the challange of another rapid.
Had a great, great weekend with my old college buddies. We sandwiched two hysterical nights of camping around an outstanding day of rafting on the Penobscot. Perfect weather, great guide, gorgeous scenery (moose included)- it was an incredible trip.
Next year's adventure is already in the works....can't wait.
I organized my Kennebec River rafting trip with a bunch of folks (16 of us!) from work, and Northern Outdoors yet again provided an amazing trip for us! The camping facilities were great, the brewery (and pool, and hot tub, and games) was top-notch, and the whitewater rafting trip and guides were a blast! Our lunch on the river served by the guides was just what we needed at that point during the day, too. Overall, I would say this year's trip was a resounding success.
4 of us non-swimmers decided to try out white water rafting - we had heard from our friends that Northern Outdoors is a great company for this, and we signed up for the Penobscot River Rafting trip.
The Northern Outdoors rafting crew are superb at what they do. A big thanks to Todd, who expertly guided us through the whole rafting experience.
The rapids and waterfalls were great, and the surrounding Mt. Katahdin altogether made it a stunning setting.
I highly recommend Northern Outdoors for a thrilling rafting experience and will definitely be back for another rafting experience with them.
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.
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
Northern Outdoors is THE BEST! I look forward to my rafting every year (as I have for about the past 15 years). There is no other company that I'd go with other than Northern (we tried others early on), or place I'd stay other than the POC, rafting the Penobscot. It's a tradition. So much so, that this year I brought my daugher for the first time - I told her that she would know by lunch time if either it weren't for her, or by then she would already be thinking in her head, "can I get here AGAIN this summer". She chose the latter.
I tell everyone about your outstanding reputation, professionalism, what a good bunch of people you all are, about all of the friends I've made there, and of course the memories made- SO MUCH FUN! I just love you guys! Of course, the experience would not be the same without our Moe - we request him every year and look forward to spending the day with him. What a great guy!I can't say enough - everyone there rocks! We already have the date saved for next year and wouldn't miss it for the world. I say every year, "one of these times, I'm just not going back home". Maybe you can find a job for me up there some day! LOL!
Take care all, and thanks again for another outstanding experience. All the newbies we brought are hooked and will be back as well! : ) I'm attaching a picture - not sure where the other 1/2 of our group was, but this is 6 of our 12 (and one of me & my girl).
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!
In this week's Maine whitewater rafting video, we're honored to highlight soldiers of the Wounded Warrior Project as they take on the mighty Kennebec River. Project Odyssey Number 21 participated in three days of adventure at Northern Outdoors with the final day being a Kennebec River rafting trip.
The Wounded Warrior Project provides direct programs and services to meet the needs of injured service members. The vision of the project is to foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded warriors in this nation's history.
Thanks to all U.S. service members and a special shout out to the warriors of Project Odyssey Number 21 that went Kennebec River rafting with us. You guys are awesome!
My friends and I rafted with Northern Outdoors earlier this season and couldn't resist but to come back for more. We had very high hopes that our trip would be just as good this time around. Our adventures on the Penobscot, however, far exceeded our expectations. Jayson, who navigated us down the river, as well as the rest of the staff, was nothing short of amazing.
The Class IV and V rapids made for exhilarating rafting and drifting time allowed for raft games and swimming. The Penobscot is a must-do for any rafting enthusiast. We're anxiously awaiting a return trip!
I just wanted to say what a great experience I had white water rafting with your crew on July 20, 2011. I had never been white water rafting and I really didn't know what to expect. That being said I had climbed Katahdin on the Monday prior and one of my pals said "If you can cross Knife's Edge, you can white water raft" so I figured he was right.
Your staff were wonderful. Very friendly and easy to talk to. I felt in the best of hands and never doubted for a minute that things would go well. The food was great, the trip was perfect. I came off the river wanted to turn around and do it all over again.
I certainly hope and plan to return again soon. I love Maine and you folks provide exactly what the whole Maine experience is all about.
A boys weekend for fathers and sons- 8 in total. All rafting virgins.
The staff was very friendly and informative, the accomodations worked out great and the rafting experience was incredible! Our river guide Dawn was such a big part of the great experience we all had, she personally helped me out of dicey situation while "swimming the rapids" and was overall just awesome- love her!!
Everyone in my group couldn't say enough positive things about the entire trip- we'll be back and I'll recommend Northern Outdoors to anyone interested in whitewater rafting.
We had an eclectic crew from all corners of the globe (Malasia, Poland, U.S, Austria, China) and we all had a great time rafting and intend to do so annually. Logan lead our raft w/ a casual confidence that made it easier for our inexperienced rafters while still very fun for those of us on our 10 trip w/ you. The food was very good, the camping perfect and the bathhouses clean. Far and away the best bang for your buck vacation.
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