Maine Outdoor Journal
Ski Tracks
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Canoeing the St. Croix River
Aug 24, 2009 08:13 PM
Categories: Trips Town: Vancelboro
It’s nice to find new places to canoe, with easy put-ins and take-outs.
I had head about the St. Croix River in eastern Maine, but never had done it until last week. It’s a great stretch of flowing water that separates Maine and New Brunswick, Canada.
I accompanied outfitter, Blaine Miller, Master Maine Guide and owner of Allagash Guide, Inc., of Norridgewock on a recent four day trip that began in Vancelboro and ended up some 30 plus miles downstream at Kelleyland at the Grand Falls Dam take-out. It’s a great trip when time is limited. It’s also a nice easy family canoeing or kayaking trip where you can enjoy some easy white water and picturesque scenery. There are very few camps on either side of the border and you won’t be bothered with the noise of vehicle traffic.
Miller had made prior arrangements to transport our vehicles to the take out at Grand Falls Dam.
Our party consisted of four other canoeists, Katie Little, MD, from New Hampshire; Guy Whidden and his son, Brad from Maryland.
We passed through several sets of Class I and II rapids on our trek, with an exciting set of Class III rapids at Little Falls. The Class I rapids were challenging and fun to run our canoes through.
Our limited wildlife sightings included a couple of Bald Eagles and Osprey. We expected to spot some moose and deer, but the heat may have kept them deep into the underbrush, as water temperature in the river was just about bath tub warm.
There are many campsites along the way, maintained mostly by volunteers, according to Blaine Miller. Some were clean however we did encounter a few spots that some prior campers didn’t use the ‘leave no trace’ courtesy of camping.
It was nice not to have to put up tarps over the dinner tables, as no rain was forecast for our entire trip. We had many photo opportunites, especially of the setting sun during our last night at our campsite.
For additional information on some exciting canoe trips with Blaine Miller, check out www.Allagashguide.com
There’s a touch of fall in the air, but plenty of time to get in a couple more canoe treks. It’s also time to get into that exercise program that you’ve been putting off for skiing.
About the photos ... by Dan Cassidy
Guy Whidden, right and son Brad shove off from the Vancelboro landing site. Blaine Miller is in the lead canoe
Our first campsite "The Cape", where Katie Little and Blaine Miller take some time to relax
Brad Whidden enjoys a dip in the St. Croix River
Blaine Miller gets ready to shoot the rapids at Little Falls on the St. Croix River
Steak night prepared by Blaine Miller that includes Caribou and beef rib-eys are on the dinner menu
A camp fire is a nice way to end an evening on the river
Katie Little prepares to shove off our canoe for the down river trek
The end of another day on the St. Croix River. It can't get any better than this with the sun setting in the western sky
I had head about the St. Croix River in eastern Maine, but never had done it until last week. It’s a great stretch of flowing water that separates Maine and New Brunswick, Canada.
I accompanied outfitter, Blaine Miller, Master Maine Guide and owner of Allagash Guide, Inc., of Norridgewock on a recent four day trip that began in Vancelboro and ended up some 30 plus miles downstream at Kelleyland at the Grand Falls Dam take-out. It’s a great trip when time is limited. It’s also a nice easy family canoeing or kayaking trip where you can enjoy some easy white water and picturesque scenery. There are very few camps on either side of the border and you won’t be bothered with the noise of vehicle traffic.
Miller had made prior arrangements to transport our vehicles to the take out at Grand Falls Dam.
Our party consisted of four other canoeists, Katie Little, MD, from New Hampshire; Guy Whidden and his son, Brad from Maryland.
We passed through several sets of Class I and II rapids on our trek, with an exciting set of Class III rapids at Little Falls. The Class I rapids were challenging and fun to run our canoes through.
Our limited wildlife sightings included a couple of Bald Eagles and Osprey. We expected to spot some moose and deer, but the heat may have kept them deep into the underbrush, as water temperature in the river was just about bath tub warm.
There are many campsites along the way, maintained mostly by volunteers, according to Blaine Miller. Some were clean however we did encounter a few spots that some prior campers didn’t use the ‘leave no trace’ courtesy of camping.
It was nice not to have to put up tarps over the dinner tables, as no rain was forecast for our entire trip. We had many photo opportunites, especially of the setting sun during our last night at our campsite.
For additional information on some exciting canoe trips with Blaine Miller, check out www.Allagashguide.com
There’s a touch of fall in the air, but plenty of time to get in a couple more canoe treks. It’s also time to get into that exercise program that you’ve been putting off for skiing.
About the photos ... by Dan Cassidy
Guy Whidden, right and son Brad shove off from the Vancelboro landing site. Blaine Miller is in the lead canoe
Our first campsite "The Cape", where Katie Little and Blaine Miller take some time to relax
Brad Whidden enjoys a dip in the St. Croix River
Blaine Miller gets ready to shoot the rapids at Little Falls on the St. Croix River
Steak night prepared by Blaine Miller that includes Caribou and beef rib-eys are on the dinner menu
A camp fire is a nice way to end an evening on the river
Katie Little prepares to shove off our canoe for the down river trek
The end of another day on the St. Croix River. It can't get any better than this with the sun setting in the western sky
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