Despite its name, paddling the New Meadows River is a sea kayaking experience: entirely saltwater, entirely tidal. Stretching eight miles from north to south, the New Meadows River is fairly well protected and has an abundance of islands, including several owned by the state Bureau of Parks and Lands and designated as part of the Maine Island Trail.

A friend and I made a half-day excursion here yesterday afternoon, starting at the Sabino boat landing in West Bath, crossing west to Three Islands, venturing south behind Long Island and crossing east to enter the Basin.

Portland kayak enthusiast Nadya Pearson paddles near an island in New Meadows River.

There are several good accesses for day paddlers. There's the official boat launch on Bath Road (Old Rte 1) east of Cook's Corner in Brunswick, and Sabino, a town-owned landing in West Bath. Some paddlers use Seaspray Kayaking in West Bath (rentals, tours, lessons, paddling supplies, etc offered). Seaspray also operates a satellite location out of Sebasco Estates, near the mouth of the New Meadows. Other access options include a boat yard in Cundy's Harbor.

Nadya Pearson approaches an island for a picnic lunch.

Because it's located so conveniently, I'd recommend that any first-time visitors to the New Meadows River stop at Seaspray first or at least check out their website, which is seaspraykayaking.com.

Despite its name, the New Meadows River is a sea kayaking experience.

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