The Kennebec Explorer 2020 Visitor's Guide to Maine's Kennebec Valley | Page 48

deep or float atop a kayak in the frigid
waters feeding the Kennebec River,
will enjoy pursuing of spring trout and
salmon hungry for a post-winter meal.
The Forks
We are rafting
With four seasons of adventure sport,
are you packed yet?
Since the late 1970s when the last logs
ran down the Kennebec, The Forks
has grown, not in population, but in
reputation. It now proudly sports its
role as the undisputed 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 visitors of all
kinds and skill levels the opportunity
to try rafting, fishing, hunting, ATV
and 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
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. Winter
arrives early in December and brings
snow and the thrill of long days spent
riding well-groomed trails through the
deep woods, across lakes, and climbing
peaks with it. Snowmobiling here offers
an experience that is like none other.
The number of Nordic skiers and snow-
shoe hikers also continues to grow in
proportion to the number of trails that
crisscross the area.
Spring trout fishing
Once the snow (and mud) are gone, the
shifting season brings the fly fisherman.
Intrepid anglers looking to stand waist-
In The Forks, rafting season kicks off
in May. Around this time of year, it’s
green and fresh, 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. Several
offer good-quality accommodations
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
fishing. Moxie Pond is one of the love-
liest lakes for paddling in the state with
its unspoiled coves, islands, and views
of the surrounding mountains.
On the ATV trails
Once the weather warms up, 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.
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