White Water Rafting ME – Penobscot River Trips

1. Whitewater Rafting Full River Trip – Penobscot River

The Full River Trip begins on the lower river with Class I to IV rapids, allowing rafters to enjoy the views and smaller surf holes and waterfalls before indulging in a riverside BBQ lunch. In the morning get to know your boat, your river guide, practice your skills, enjoy class I-IV rapids and have fun in the water slides. In the afternoon after your riverside lunch, we move to the upper river where you can practice all the fun skills you learned in the morning in the fun and more adventurous Class IV and V rapids of the upper river.

The Upper River portion of the Trip runs along the scenic Penobscot Gorge through a narrow, granite walled canyon taking in 10 named rapids including two advanced Class V rapids known as the Exterminator and the Staircase. The afternoon is exhilarating and fun and a blast to watch on the big screen when you return to the Penobscot Outdoor Center and get to view the “big moments’ of the day with your friends and family.

White Water Rafting on the Penobscot River in Maine is one of the most spectacular, fun and challenging whitewater river experiences in the eastern United States and has become our most popular river to raft on. The Penobscot River boasts a reputation of exhilarating rapids and breathtaking scenery.

2. “Soft Adventure” Trip –

If it’s your first time white water rafting or you’re thinking you just want to have fun in the raft with your family or friends, then our full-day, soft adventure trip on the West Branch of the Penobscot River is the ideal guided trip for those interested in an introductory whitewater excursion. This is a relaxing and flexible river experience.

Guests will enjoy fun rapids on the West Branch as well as time to “play” on the river. This may include “surfing,” climbing under waterfalls, swimming, playing in a natural water slide, or just sitting back and enjoying the magnificent scenery and Maine Wildlife including up close views of Maine wildlife. Trip includes our riverside BBQ lunch and covers the class I-IV rapids of the Lower River.

Class: I-III: Minimum Age: Entire Trip (10 and up), Lower River below Nesowadnehunk Falls (ages 8 and up). This means children over the age of 8 can join the trip after the falls, which is a class IV.

3.  Double Trouble Trip

This whitewater rafting experience is so much fun, we want you to experience it twice! This high adventure trip is run on Saturdays in June, only on Thursdays during the summer, and then on weekends in September we “double” the fun on the Penobscot for thrill-seekers craving the ultimate whitewater experience. If you want the best whitewater rafting in Maine, then a “Double Trouble” trip with NEOC will provide great value and excitement for your entire group. The “Double Troubles” run the Ripogenus Gorge stretch of the West Branch of the Penobscot River not once, but twice in the same day! Nowhere in Maine will you find this much Class V whitewater. The Upper Penobscot River, at one point dropping over 70 feet per mile through a narrow, granite walled canyon into two advanced Class V rapids known as the Exterminator and the Staircase.

Class: V: Minimum Age: Double Trouble River Trips are for ages 15 and up.

 

4.  Family Rafting – “Family Float” Trips:

This is the perfect white water rafting trip for ages 4 to 104! As part of our commitment to family adventure, the New England Outdoor Center has specially designed this river trip for visitors who want to be on the water but aren’t ready to take on the rapids. It is an introduction to the beauty and wilderness of the Penobscot River as well as a playful excursion for the whole family.

Guests will spend the day on the river, swimming, floating, paddling and playing. We can even show you how to use our individual inflatable kayaks as we travel together from below Nesowadnehunk Falls to Abol Bridge. Along the way, we will visit natural waterslide, take a short hike, and learn about the river’s natural and cultural history. We will provide a riverside lunch so you can leave your worries behind and just enjoy the scenery, wildlife and each other. The personal attention from our family friendly Maine guides will ensure an unforgettable, safe rafting experience that everyone, of all abilities and ages will enjoy.

Class: I floating/light paddling, no whitewater, sit-on-top inflatable kayaks, swimming

Minimum Age: This is a custom trip on the Lower Penobscot River – Family Float Trips (ages 4 and up

 

5. Lower River Trip

Our lower River Trip – this starts at 7:45 and the trip runs the lower river with Class I to IV rapids, allowing rafters to enjoy the views and smaller surf holes and waterfalls before indulging in a riverside BBQ lunch.

 

6.  Penobscot Gorge Trip

This trip is named after the Penobscot Gorge which the trip runs through. Typical check in time for this trip is 10:30am at the Penobscot Outdoor Center. After sigining in you will travel to the river in time for the river side BBQ lunch. After lunch you will take on the upper river, at one point dropping over 70 feet per mile through a narrow, granite walled canyon into two advanced Class V rapids known as the Exterminator and the Staircase.