Northeast flat water trip suggestion

[Bioguide]

I'm looking for a trip suggestion for my 18 yr old son and myself to go on this summer. I'm thinking of a 4 day 3 night float trip and would prefer to stay on the same waterbody. I have a 16 foot Old Town Penobscot and we are well equipped otherwise. I'm familiar with the Adirondacks but I'm thinking of something a little more "remote" like the Allagash or even the Penobscot. Would anyone have any suggestions of a route/itinerary on either of these waterbodies they would mind sharing before I reinvent the wheel? Or perhaps have another suggestion/recomendation on some similar waterbody here in the northeast?

 

[sweeper]

Starting at Bissonette Bridge on the Allagash is a great trip and within your 4 day time frame.

You can drive in from the south and have your car shuttled to Allagash Village or drive to STJohn ME and be shuttled in.

Either way http://pelletiers.mainerec.com is the way to go.

 

[Robin]

Lots of free paddling around downeast Maine, no fee's. Grand Lake Stream area has some nice lakes to explore. The wind kicks these lakes up, but there are "wind" alternatives. 3rd Machias Lake is very nice, and paddle able when the others are windbound, lots of camping and I saw very few if any other people on two 3 day stays I was on 3rd. Good bass fishing also on 3rd. 4th Machias is also pretty wild, a few camps, but nothing to ruin the atmosphere. Not great fishing imo.
There are some real nice circuits around GLS and the fishing should be very good from what I have read.
Long ride, but it's all free, no camping fee's or road use fee's.
LaVerendrye in Quebec is really nice, fwiw
Connecticut river up by it's northern end is pretty nice, all flatwater.

 

[Bioguide]

...and I saw very few if any other people on two 3 day stays I was on 3rd. Good bass fishing also on 3rd. 4th Machias is also pretty wild, a few camps, but nothing to ruin the atmosphere.

Thanks sweeper and Robin. Robin I like your statement and I'm going to look into this area more. If you have any additional information on the GLS area i.e. your route I'd appreciate it.

 

[yellowcanoe]

West Branch of the Penobscot River. Start at Lobster parking lot. Paddle into Lobster Lake for a night
Return and go down the Penobscot for 26 miles to Chesuncook Lake . You'll spend one night on the Penobscot it moves but not whitewater

You can spend a couple days on Chesuncook Lske in the shadow of Katahdin or get off at Chesuncook Village.
Chesuncook is long narrow and can be rough or not. Save for the formerly inaccessible Chesuncook Village there are no cottages
A shuttle can be done by Allagash Gateway Campground to the Lobster put in. Not terribly expensive. Then your car is there when you end the trip at Allagash Gateway campground

Google west branch Penobscot and Maone bureau of Parks and Lands. Include the word map too and a PFD map of all the campsites will pop up
Unfortunately I don't know how to hot link on my phone

 

[Robin]

Thanks sweeper and Robin. Robin I like your statement and I'm going to look into this area more. If you have any additional information on the GLS area i.e. your route I'd appreciate it.

Here's a TR from a couple of years ago, it would have been a good circuit if the wind hadn't picked up. http://www.canoetripping.net/forums...is-pocumcus-maine-in-4-chestnuts-5-16-19-2013

There's lots of info on the internet, and a Maine Gazetteer is very helpfull

 

[redoleary]

The Northern Forest Canoe Trail website might give you some ideas.

 

[clemency]

Connecticut river up by it's northern end is pretty nice, all flatwater.

Maps etc. are here.

http://www.connecticutriverpaddlerstrail.org/

 

[yellowcanoe]

Moose River Bow Trip. Completely free and permit free too. Just go.
http://www.maine.gov/dacf/parks/docs/maps/holeb.pdf