The Kennebec Explorer 2018 Visitor's Guide to Maine's Kennebec Valley | Page 50

shifting season brings the fly fisherman.
Intrepid anglers looking to stand waist-
deep or float atop a kayak in the frigid
waters feeding the Kennebec River in
pursuit of spring trout hungry for
a post-winter meal.
The Forks
With four seasons of adventure sport,
are you packed yet?
It’s amazing how far a place can come
in 40 years. During these past four
decades, The Forks has grown, if not
in size or population, but in reputation
as the home of white water rafting in
Maine. But it is way more than that.
With the popularity of adventure sports
growing by leaps and bounds each
year, The Forks has kept pace with
demand, adding services and trails
at every step of the way.
Here the confluence of the Dead and
Kennebec Rivers offers sportsmen of all
kinds and skill levels the opportunity
of a lifetime. Rafting, fishing, hunting,
ATV & snowmobile riders, hikers, bikers,
trail runners, long-distance backpackers.
To make things even better, for the
soft-adventurer we have an easy half-
mile trek to the region’s crown jewel
and Maine’s highest waterfall Moxie
Falls. Whatever the need calls for, our
We are rafting
legion of local guides are here to provide
gear, meals, and lodging for adventurous
visitors in all four seasons.
Winter thrills
Each year, long before the rafts hit
the gorge, this place has seen its first
and second seasons of adventurists.
Wintertime, starting back in December,
brings snow and with it the thrill of long
days spent riding well-groomed trails
through the deep woods, across lakes,
and climbing peaks. Snowmobiling here
is a community like none other. Our
trails are like none other. The experi-
ence is like none other. The number of
Nordic skiers and snowshoe hikers also
continues to grow in proportion to the
growing number of trails that crisscross
the area.
Spring trout fishing
Once the snow (and mud) are gone, the
In The Forks, rafting season kicks off
in May. Around this time of year, it’s
green and cool, the trails firm up, and
springtime starts to feel a little more
summery. People come here to go
white water rafting and for many, it
is the experience of a lifetime.
The 12-mile Kennebec River trip begins
on Indian Pond and roars through the
spectacular Upper Kennebec Gorge,
with rapids up to Class IV. Even more
challenging, the Dead River provides
the longest stretch of continuous
white water in the East.
There are many rafting companies and
guides in the area, each well suited for
different kinds of passengers. In fact,
several offer good-quality accommoda-
tions in addition to home-cooked meals
and an experienced crew.
The pleasure of paddling
Despite being known for rafting, there
is quite a bit of other paddling here as
well. The Bow Trip is a welcome respite
from the heaving froth of tubing. Wyman
Lake is a 12-mile long widening of the
Kennebec River that makes for ideal
paddling and fishing.
On the ATV trails
Once the weather warms up and the
mud dries, trails begin to firm up and
visitors with ATVs begin to make their
presence known. Wherever you go,
ATVs can be heard in the distance and
moose safaris become more available.
With access to hundreds of miles of
trails, there is nothing better than a
day spent riding on the trail.
48 Make a Plan: KennebecValley.org
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