Kennebec River Gorge rafting begins at the Harris Station Dam below Indian Pond and continues for 12 miles (21 km) through nearly unspoiled forest wilderness to West Forks, where the Dead River joins the Kennebec.

     Demanding Class III-IV+ rapids start in the upper Gorge, almost immediately below the dam, and remain quite intense for nearly the first 5 miles. Notable rapids include the breathtaking Three Sisters, Alley Way, and Magic Falls, the largest drop on the river. During the summer, hiking and swimming at Dead Stream Falls and the 90-foot Moxie Falls add a special memory to the trip.
     Rafting on the Kennebec River is the result of controlled water releases at the Harris Station Dam by the Central Maine Power Company. Normally seven days a week during the rafting season, these releases provide Kennebec Gorge paddlers with some of the best continuous whitewater and large waves in the East. The Kennebec's rolling waves and surprisingly warm summer waters are also ideal for individual paddling in inflatable kayaks.

Family Rafting on the Kennebec
Many Maine rafting outfitters offer half-day family whitewater rafting on the more gentle Kennebec waters called the Carry Brook section, immediately below the Gorge. By special arrangement with outfitters, children usually five years and older, after watching their parents begin the Class III—IV+ below Harris Dam, may travel with drivers to rejoin their parents halfway down the river at Carry Brook. The 6-mile (9.5-km) Class I-III Carry Brook section, having much of the same wilderness scenery as the more demanding Gorge, offers time for swimming easy rapids and gentle waves on warm summer days. Inflatable kayaks are an enjoyable option for family trips.