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Staff photo by David Leaming
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A group of white-water rafters paddle on the Kennebec River. |
Rafting season, which runs from late April through mid-October, is one of Maine's most popular outdoor pursuits, with more than 90,000 people running the rapids annually.
Guides take rafters down three rivers in Maine. The Kennebec is popular with families and beginners; the Penobscot has the hardest, most challenging rapids, and the Dead has the longest stretch of Class III-IV whitewater in the East. Most of the activity occurs where the Dead and the Kennebec meet, near a town called The Forks.
The state regulates traffic on the rivers. Rafting companies are allotted specific times to start river trips. All the rafting rivers have dams on them and releases occur at scheduled times throughout the season. The Dead, in particular, is only good after a highwater dam release.
Fisheries officials condemn bill requiring boaters' helmets
Officials opposing the bill say most accidents cause facial injuries that helmets would not prevent. Speak up: Should whitewater rafters be required to wear helmets?
[4/6/05]
Whitewater rafting gets adrenaline rushing
Rafting gives you a little exercise and a day on the water with family or friends that you aren't likely to forget.
[6/16/04]
Proposal to limit rafting on part of Penobscot raises some hackles
Outfitters of 'double trouble' whitewater trips object to Great Northern Paper Co.'s plan.
[10/13/02]
Stairway helps rafters
INDIAN STREAM TOWNSHIP — Dropping down 163 steps into the Kennebec Gorge, a new steel stairway is a monument to the upper Kennebec River's evolving recreational industry, say raft company owners.
[9/7/02]
Guides hope drought talk will dry up
Deirdre Fleming: Rafting businesses are still hurting because of forecasts of a dry summer.
[7/16/02]
Merger brings North Country Rivers, Maine Whitewater together
BINGHAM — The trend in mergers has splashed down in Bingham, by way of East Vassalboro. A recent deal has brought white-water rafting outfitter North Country Rivers, of The Forks, together with competitor Maine Whitewater, of Bingham. The deal makes North Country the state's third-largest white-water rafting outfitter.
[5/13/01]
Adventure Afloat: The adrenaline and adventure that's found on the river
A firsthand account of what it's like to navigate the rapids, taking a raft down the Kennebec River. See the video and photos.
[6/25/00]
Season opener
The whitewater rafting season is just two days away, and a record number of people will experience the sensation of rocketing down one of Maine's three rafting rivers.
[5/6/99]
Rafting the rapids
Regulating the rafting business puts legislators and outfitters in rough waters.
[August 1997]
RaftMaine is an association of 14 professional whitewater outfitters. On the RaftMaine Web site, you can find links to those outfitters, FAQs, weather information and more.
At Maine Guides Online you can find a guide or guide service to take you whitewater rafting.
American Whitewater has a comprehensive list of Maine rivers and information about each river.
At Maine Guides Online you can find a guide or guide service to take you whitewater rafting.
Maine Rivers is an advocacy group devoted to all of Maine's rivers. On the Web site you can get information and contacts for Maine river associations, events and more.
The Forks Area Chamber of Commerce offers information about rafting in the "Forks" area.
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