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Crab Apple Whitewater |
800-553-7238 |
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Downeast Whitewater Rafting |
800-677-7238 |
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Maine Whitewater |
800-345-6246 |
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New England Whitewater Center |
800-766-7238 |
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AAA Whitewater Information |
800-348-8871 |
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Northern Outdoors |
800-765-7238 |
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Professional River Runners of Maine |
800-325-3911 |
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Unicorn Rafting Expeditions |
800-864-2676 |
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Wilderness Expeditions Rafting |
800-825-9453 |
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MagicFalls Rafting Company |
800-207-7238 |
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Moxie Outdoor Adventures |
800-577-2544 |
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North American Whitewater Expeditions |
800-727-4379 |
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Three Rivers Whitewater |
800-786-6878 |
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| Sections |
Ripogenus
Gorge and Big Eddy |
|
Location |
Piscataquis
County, near Baxter State Park, north-central Maine |
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Driving Time |
Portland—3.5
hours; Quebec City—4 hours |
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Difficulty |
Class
III-V (Rip Gorge); III-IV (Big Eddy) |
|
Trip Length |
10-14 miles (16-22 km);
Ripogenus Gorge—2 miles (3 km); Big Eddy—8 -12 miles (13-19 km) |
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Trip Options |
Paddle
raft; half-day and one day |
|
Season |
May—early October |
Ripogenus Gorge is one of
the most scenic whitewater stretches in all of eastern America.
Incredibly beautiful and primitive, it is located at the beginning
of the west branch of the Penobscot rafting trip. During the first 2
miles of the steep-walled granite gorge, the Penobscot has several
drops including the intense Class V Exterminator and Cribworks and
the exciting Class IV Staircase and Big Heater rapids. Cribworks,
which received its name from an area where early log drivers
constructed lattice-like log walls along the banks to keep floating
logs in the main channel, is the most difficult rapids on the river.
Below
Rip Gorge are less strenuous whitewater and alternating flatwater
called the Big Eddy section. This 12-mile (19-km) stretch abounds
with interesting Indian names, such as Class IV Big
Amberjackmockamus Falls and Nesowadnehunk Falls. Here rafters
parallel Baxter State Park and enjoy spectacular views of mile-high
Mt. Katahdin. Along these calmer stretches of the river, the chances
of seeing moose, bald eagles, and osprey are excellent. Some
outfitters begin their rafting trip on the Big Eddy to Big
Pockwacamus Falls section and after lunch shuttle back to run the
more difficult Ripogenus Gorge. Anyone wishing to avoid the Class V
Rip Gorge can raft only the calmer Big Eddy.
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