Does anyone know if in high water you can paddle Baskahegan Stream from Baskehegan Lake all the way to the Mattawamkeag River? Thanks in advance for any advice.
Art
Art
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Baskahegan Stream (Maine) route question
- Thread starter Art D
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Here's an outfitter in Danforth that seems to run trips on it. Probably a great source of information and possibly a shuttle resource if you need that.
canoethewild.com
Maybe some of the folks up that way could weigh in if they have some familiarity with their service or the stream itself. (sounds like it's very water-level dependent)
Maine Canoe Trips, planning, outfitting, guiding, families and groups welcome - Canoe The Wild
Canoeing Adventures for the First Timer and Seasoned Paddler on Maine and Canadian Rivers. Fully guided and outfitted day trips, overnight and longer by Registered Maine Guide Dave Conley.
canoethewild.com
Maybe some of the folks up that way could weigh in if they have some familiarity with their service or the stream itself. (sounds like it's very water-level dependent)
Here's an outfitter in Danforth that seems to run trips on it. Probably a great source of information and possibly a shuttle resource if you need that.
Maine Canoe Trips, planning, outfitting, guiding, families and groups welcome - Canoe The Wild
Canoeing Adventures for the First Timer and Seasoned Paddler on Maine and Canadian Rivers. Fully guided and outfitted day trips, overnight and longer by Registered Maine Guide Dave Conley.
Maybe some of the folks up that way could weigh in if they have some familiarity with their service or the stream itself. (sounds like it's very water-level dependent)
What's the etiquette around asking a guide service for information when you're not using their services?
Hi Art,
The River is paddleable for 39.5 miles from rt 6 to Mattawamkeag River, There is a good description of the river in the AMC “River Guide, Maine” second edition, which you can buy on Abe Books for $5 used. That book covers just about all the rivers in Maine. It’s somewhat dated (1986) but like most things in Maine, nothings changed much.
The River is paddleable for 39.5 miles from rt 6 to Mattawamkeag River, There is a good description of the river in the AMC “River Guide, Maine” second edition, which you can buy on Abe Books for $5 used. That book covers just about all the rivers in Maine. It’s somewhat dated (1986) but like most things in Maine, nothings changed much.
Thanks so much! I'll get the book.Hi Art,
The River is paddleable for 39.5 miles from rt 6 to Mattawamkeag River, There is a good description of the river in the AMC “River Guide, Maine” second edition, which you can buy on Abe Books for $5 used. That book covers just about all the rivers in Maine. It’s somewhat dated (1986) but like most things in Maine, nothings changed much.
View attachment 133349
Hmm. The one thing that does change in Maine is ....trees. Watch for strainers. You can bet no crew has been out to clear them so speak to the outfitter.
Our neighbors have a newly arrived tree snag. Its about 12 feet high ( roots ) and twenty feet long. The water is about five feet deep. They did not welcome it as it now sits at where their dock goes in the summer. It blew in from up lake on a storm. We want to escort it out somehow.. Yes a hijack pm me if you have ideas. We have chainsaw.. waiting for the lake to freeze over enough to walk on.. Its too cold to swim in. No one has a boat ( boats) to pull it ala oxen.
Our neighbors have a newly arrived tree snag. Its about 12 feet high ( roots ) and twenty feet long. The water is about five feet deep. They did not welcome it as it now sits at where their dock goes in the summer. It blew in from up lake on a storm. We want to escort it out somehow.. Yes a hijack pm me if you have ideas. We have chainsaw.. waiting for the lake to freeze over enough to walk on.. Its too cold to swim in. No one has a boat ( boats) to pull it ala oxen.
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I often ask local outfitters for information and I think it's OK to do as long as you don't deceive them as to your plans and you don't take advantage of them. I wouldn't have them plan the whole trip, for example, but it would likely be ok if you planned the trip and asked their opinion (maybe even stressing that there is no obligation to answer). I'd also try to use them for whatever needs you might have in the area, be it a shuttle, some odds & ends before the put-in or some coffee and a hot shower at the take-out.
Now, having said that, Robin's book certainly seems like the place to start.
Thank you. This sounds right.
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I used the information in that book to do a 3 day trip on the seldom paddled Pleasant River in eastern Maine. I posted a trip report in the Wooden Canoe Heritage Assc. web site. Not long afterward, I got an email from the webmaster of the site stating that he had received an email from someone claiming the river was too dangerous to paddle and the trip report should be taken down, something about peat bogs. Nothing was done when the concerned paddler refused to elaborate. I think it had more to do with the great native brook trout fishing I encountered.
The moral of the story, take local info with a grain of salt.
The moral of the story, take local info with a grain of salt.
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Understandable. I, too, go to great and nefarious lengths to keep my favorite fishing spots off the radar.
I've paddled from the "dirt road (5 3/4 mi)" in the AMC River Guide to Danforth in medium water (late May, ~1400 cfs at the gauge). Some wading was necessary, both in the stream to Baskahegan Lake and the stream from the lake to Crooked Brook Flowage, but it was no biggie. Should be a breeze in high water. It was a good short trip, I would do it again. Although the big lake gets a lot of use, mostly motorized, I don't think many people paddle the stream. As YC says, look for fresh strainers, that comes along with the wilderness karma of a less popular route.
Dave Conley used to coach the canoe team at the high school in Danforth, and I learned about the trip talking to him at a local race. Several campsites on the river were constructed by Dave and his students, see the second map here. Back pre Covid there was a race on that route, hopefully it will return.
This is awesome info. Thanks so much. I'm imaging a trip from Route 6 that travels Baskahagen Stream to the Mattawamkeag River to the Penobscot, taking out on Verona Island near Bucksport. Looks like 140 plus miles. Not all wilderness, for sure, but I imagine even the voyageurs of old looked forward to paddling into town once in a while.
That sounds like an awesome trip. Honk when you come through Bangor!
Five years ago it would have been hard to find campsites on the lower half of that trip, but now with all the work the Penobscot River Paddling Trail people have done there should be good options.
Five years ago it would have been hard to find campsites on the lower half of that trip, but now with all the work the Penobscot River Paddling Trail people have done there should be good options.
I paddled the Pleasant River in eastern Maine 20 years ago. The section below the lake was challenging. The fishing is certainly good. We had a good time. Definitely cool that you paddled it.
