Intro to Whitewater Canoeing
Learn how to paddle whitewater from experienced Maine Guides in a fun, supportive atmosphere.
Learn how to paddle whitewater from experienced Maine Guides in a fun, supportive atmosphere.
| Date(s) | Price(s) |
|---|---|
| June 13-15, 2025 | $550 |
| July 11-13, 2025 | $550 |
This course is designed for people with little or no whitewater canoeing experience. It is also highly recommended for anyone who has no formal training in whitewater technique. Price includes lodging but not meals (you will have access to a full kitchen for your meal prep), and paddling equipment. Participants are asked to arrive by 7 p.m. the night before your course. The course will cover the following topics: canoe design and handling properties, whitewater strokes, white water canoe equipment, safety, self-rescue, group management, throw bag use, river hazards, river reading and scouting, paddle signals, and maneuvers, including eddy turns, peel outs, ferries, side slips, and surfing.
For trip itinerary, click here
All our Maine canoe trips are fully outfitted and guided by Mahoosuc Guide Service’s owners Polly or Kevin. We provide all the food, camping, paddling, and cooking equipment, as well as a detailed clothing list to help you in packing for your trip. Most of our trips meet in Orono, Maine (just north of Bangor). We provide transportation to and from the river. Many of our canoe trips require no special physical conditioning. If you have any concerns about the physical requirements of a trip, please contact us.
We are experienced teachers and will help you master the art of canoeing by teaching paddle strokes and poling techniques. You will learn how to set up a warm dry camp, and if you want, how to cook and bake over an open fire. All our food is natural or organic, and we source much of our food locally. Natural history, wildlife viewing, and fishing will be covered as your interests warrant.
You are in safe hands with Mahoosuc Guide Service. With more than 40 years guiding experience from Maine and Quebec to the Yukon Territory and Alaska, we have an excellent safety record. We are certified in Wilderness First Aid and Wilderness First Responders. We carry a satellite phone for emergency communication!
Over the years my wife and I have been on wonderful guided trips on the Allagash and West Branch of the Penobscot with Polly. I also went on several other Allagash trips with her. All of these trips were unique and enjoyable. We found her easy to be with and eager to share her wilderness knowledge of the North Country gained through experience of thirty years. Both Kevin and Polly are the organizers, guides, teachers, chefs, story tellers, and friend to all on the trip. But, there was no doubt they are in charge of details that made a wilderness trip seem effortless – shuttle service, organized lists with necessary equipment to bring, menus and meals, safety measures, daily schedules, side trips, and in a pinch, a back-up plan if some unseen event required a change in plans. Our view of this level of professional guiding is that it provides an atmosphere where everyone can feel safe and therefore free to totally enjoy the wilderness experience. Beyond all of the above, I think a real plus for me is the opportunity to use the skills I already have – this makes a trip with Kevin or Polly special for all involved.
