St. John (Wolastoq) River Canoe Trip
Canoe the St. John River (known by the Wabanaki as the Wolastoq, which means “beautiful river”) with experienced master Maine guides from Mahoosuc Guide Service.
Canoe the St. John River (known by the Wabanaki as the Wolastoq, which means “beautiful river”) with experienced master Maine guides from Mahoosuc Guide Service.
| Date(s) | Price(s) |
|---|---|
| May 15-21, 2023 | $1,850 |
The largest of Maine’s rivers, the Wolastoq (St. John), is reminiscent of the great rivers of the Canadian North. From Baker Lake, the river begins as a small stream, gradually growing in size and power as it flows near the Canadian border. The Wolastoq (St. John) is a great river to learn or refine river paddling techniques because the rapids become successively more difficult as we voyage north to our takeout at Dickey Landing. The river winds through some of Maine’s wildest and most remote country, so it’s no wonder the lynx chose this area to be their last home in the eastern lower 48 states. Other wildlife commonly seen on the Wolastoq are bald eagles, river otters, beavers, and majestic moose. To view the trip itinerary, click here.
The St. John River, also known as Wolastoq, is within the southernmost extent of the great Boreal Forest. This is the wildest, most remote country left in the eastern U.S. and contains the highest density of Canadian lynx in the lower 48 states. For many avid wilderness paddlers, the St. John River is a must on their bucket list.
A Journey from Baker Lake to the Canadian Border
The St. John River’s Canoe Trip starts at Baker Lake and becomes more impressive as it goes north. Starting as a small, meandering stream, the river gradually grows in size and power as it flows near the Canadian border. It is very reminiscent of some of the big Canadian rivers that we have paddled in the past.
Progressive Rapids for Skill Development
As you paddle down the St. John River, you’ll encounter rapids that become successively more challenging. This unique feature makes the river an ideal progression for novice paddlers looking to learn river canoeing skills and experienced canoeists who want to refine their river paddling techniques. By the end of the St. John River trip, you will be much more competent and confident in your river canoeing ability.
The St. John River’s remoteness is home to diverse wildlife, which offers many opportunities for wildlife viewing of North Woods animals.
North Woods’ Mammals
As you embark on the St. John River canoe trip, keep an eye out for the elusive lynx, the last of their kind in the eastern lower 48 states. This rare sighting adds a sense of wonder to your journey through Maine’s wild landscapes. Other common sightings on the St. John River trip are moose, river otter, beaver, white-tailed deer, and, if you’re lucky, a glimpse of a black bear or coyote.
Birds and Waterfowl
The St. John River is also a haven for birdwatchers, with bald eagles and osprey often seen along the river corridor. The St. John River country is also the southernmost extent of many Boreal bird species, such as the Rusty-Winged Black Bird, the Boreal Chickadee, and the Black-Backed Woodpecker. Common waterfowl seen along the river include Common Mergansers, Goldeneye ducks, Wood ducks, and Black ducks.
Join Mahoosuc Guide Service on the St. John River canoe trip and experience the thrill of encountering diverse wildlife in their natural environment. Our guides will help you spot wildlife, enriching your wilderness adventure and creating lasting memories.
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!
Meet 7:30 a.m. in Medway.
Drive to Baker Lake put in.
Review strokes/poling techniques depending on water level, practice river
maneuvers (eddy sets, ferries, etc.).
Travel 7 miles of Class 1 & 2 rips to camp at Turner Bogan or Baker Branch.
Fishing up Turner Brook in evening.
Pole/paddle mostly calm water, small rips.
Stop at Baker Branch cabin where Kevin spent winter ‘79 trapping.
Knowles Brook River Drive Camp.
Stop & look over old logging equipment at Knowles Brook.
Camp at Knowles Brook or Lower Ledge Rapids.
Pole/paddle to Nine Mile Bridge.
Explore history of Nine Mile area cabins and border patrol cabin.
Camp at Nine Mile or Upper Seven Island.
Pole/paddle to Seven Island.
Stop and explore old settlement of Seven Island.
History of settlement.
Continue on to lower Simmons Farm Campsite.
Pole/paddle to Big Black Rapids.
Scout and run/line Big Black depending on water level.
Native American history of confluence of Big Black.
Camp at Big Black or Long Rips in p.m.
Late start to allow for early a.m. fishing.
Pole/paddle to Fox Brook Rapids.
Camp at Fox Brook.
Early start pole/paddle to Big Rapids.
Scout Big Rapids and run/line various sections depending on water levels.
Take out at Dickey Landing mid-day.
Return to Medway around 4-5 p.m.
Deposits are non-refundable. No money is refundable from 0-14 days before the trip starts. Within 14-30 days before the journey begins, money is non-refundable. You may apply the amount to another trip for one year (on a space-available basis) minus your deposit. If you cancel within 14 days of the starting date, money is non-transferable and non-refundable. We go in all conditions, including rain and thaws. If extreme weather conditions prevent you from traveling to Maine for your trip, you may use the total amount less the deposit for another year from the starting date. You may purchase vacation insurance to cover this possibility. If you have to cancel due to Covid related issues, we cannot give a refund, but we will lock in the trip’s price and give a 2-year credit for any of our trips.
We only cancel a trip for safety reasons (i.e., flooding, bad ice, extreme windchill or lack of conditions – not enough snow or ice.) We may need to cancel canoe trips due to safety issues such as extremely high or low river water. If we need to cancel, we try rescheduling people to another trip. If we need to compensate for safety or lack of conditions, you may use the total amount toward another Mahoosuc trip for two years or receive a 50% refund and apply the other half to a Mahoosuc trip for two years.
If you have any symptoms of Covid before your trip, please test yourself before arriving at Mahoosuc Guide Service and contact us to reschedule your trip.
Tips are appropriate for your guides. If you would like to recognize how hard they worked to provide a safe and reliable trip for you. A standard amount is 5% – 10% of your trip cost. At Mahoosuc, we split tips evenly among whoever works on the trip unless people want certain amounts to go directly to specific guides. In this case, they should give it to them individually.
Since I was a teenager it was always on my bucket list to paddle the Allagash. In 2018 I retired from a burdensome career and signed up to paddle the river with Mahoosuc guide service (mgs). It was better than wonderful. All I had to do was show up. They provided all the gear and it was good stuff. The river was beautiful, the sights, smells, scenery, distant mountain views were gorgeous. Polly and associate guides were wonderful and fun to be with. They were attentive, careful, observant and caring and brought campfire cooking to an epicurean level. In March 2019 I went on a dog sled winter camping trip with Kevin and Polly and several other guides. It also was great. Safety was paramount. The dogs were eager, energetic, focused and affectionate. The camp was something out of a Jack London novel. Each tent had a small wood stove and was roasty toasty warm. Food was great and plentiful. Kevin and Polly are so much fun to be with. They always made sure I was warm, well fed and happy;
Then in May 2019 I went on a two night canoe trip with my wife and another couple and they are not campers. We had a great time. The four of us, two lady guides (Polly and Jean) and we saw loons and moose and beaver and sunsets.
And then in August I went with MGS to paddle 170 miles on the Yukon river in Alaska. I am getting older, if I don’t do this stuff now, when will I?? It was better than wonderful. I reminisce about all these trips every day. Time is short, life is short, I need to pack it in. Once this pandemic is over, Polly and Kevin will not be able to get rid of me. Polly and Kevin are the models of Maine Master Guides against whom all others should be compared.
