CANOE WITH DAVID

Allagash Wilderness Waterway

Chamberlain Bridge to Allagash Village



The North Woods of Maine are far removed from the rest of the bustling northeast, and they have changed little since the 19th century. That is why canoeing the Allagash River, a state-protected wilderness waterway, is a little like time travel. Over 92 river miles (148 kilometers), we notice few signs of civilization, save for a few dusty bridges, a historic lumber camp, park rangers and the occasional distant rumble of a logging truck. Renowned for its beauty and adventure, the Allagash offers something for everyone.  On this 92 mile ribbon of lakes, streams and rivers surrounded by mountains and lush forests, we discovered an area rich in native American history, as we visited places like Umsaskis Lake and Musquacook Stream. The forest is home to moose, bobcat, bear, and other wildlife.  The route traveled is a mixture of large lakes and a swift river, offering a wonderful variety of paddling experiences and plenty of opportunities to hone our camping and canoeing skills.  One of the many highlights of this adventure was seeing Allagash Falls, a 40 foot drop of cascading water. We paddled the entire 92 mile Allagash River, starting from Chamberlain Lake Bridge and ending our trip just short of the small village of Allagash, Maine.  We spent the first half of the trip paddling across the three Allagash headwater lakes, Chamberlain, Eagle and Churchill Lake.  The trip required making four portages. We ran the famous nine mile Chase Rapids, the most taxing section of whitewater on the Allagash River, dropping into Umsaskis Lake.  The second half of our self-guided trip was paddling the lower portion of the Allagash River, which included the sites seen from Long Pond and Round Pond as pictured in this book.



Caution! Experience in camping and canoeing is required