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Categories: Fun & Games; Arts & Culture; Sports & Recreation; Outdoor Adventures; Local Highlights
Located in northern Maine is the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, a 92-mile ribbon of lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams. American writer Henry David Thoreau, who visited the Allagash area in the 19th century, wrote that "in wilderness is the preservation of the world." Enjoy the primordial elements of nature at Allagash.
Officially designated in 1966 as a "wilderness," the Allagash is a great spot for intermediate rafters and canoers. The predominantly flatwater and Class II rapids offer opportunities for families with children over the age of 12 to careen down the open water. For an all-out odyssey, bring the right gear and do the entire stretch. Start at Telos Lake and pick-up at West Twin Brook seven to ten days later.
For shorter trips, keep the locks, the railroad, the rapids, and the falls in mind as noteworthy attractions. At Chamberlain Lake, explore the 1841 earthen lock dam that diverts the flow of lake water into the east part of the Penobscot River. Paddle over to an old cable tramway that, on a good day, transported a half-million feet of logs three-quarters of a mile from Eagle Lake to Chamberlain Lake. Don't miss the abandoned railroad, which once hauled 125,000 cords' worth of pulp between Eagle Lake and Umbazooksus Lake annually. The remains of two hulking steam engines are plopped down on the shores of Eagle Lake. The river then takes you to scenic, 40-foot Allagash Falls, 13 miles from where the Allagash joins the St. Johns River. Continue on the other side of the falls if you have the stomach for it.
Between Churchill Dam and Umsaskis Lake, watch out! Along this nine-mile passage, you'll find Chase Rapids, a segment some avoid and others seek out. Run the rips or bail. Should your nerve fail, a portage service is available at scheduled times from the waterway ranger at Churchill Dam.
Access into Allagash is either by floatplane or private road. North of Baxter State Park and west of State Road 11, three million acres of land are privately owned. Be prepared to pass through a series of toll checkpoints on the way in. Floatplanes are an option on certain bodies of water. Call the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands for more information. You can get out on these waterways only after "ice-out," the date on which the waterway is finally clear of winter ice. In these parts, you'll have to wait until May 15. If you want to swim, go in July or August. If you want to be the only one on the water, go in September. Boaters may hike to fire towers along the shoreline for an elevated look at the landscape or, after obtaining a license, fish for brook trout, togue, and lake whitefish (best fishing is in June). Hunting is permitted in designated areas in season. As in most wilderness areas, campsites are primitive, with tables, outhouses, and firepits.
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