northern outdoors rafting day trips

We have come there for a few consecutive years for a group snowmobiling trip. We have always had a great time. While we still enjoyed ourselves and it won't prohibit us from visiting again (unless it becomes a constant occurrence). First the lodges are great, especially traveling with a group. But the heating systems, last year and this year we were kept awake with the racket the heating systems make, it's not your common banging pipes. It's actually startling and hard to fall back asleep...then to only get startled back awake about 45 minutes later, so bring ear plugs. (Also bring a sponge for dishes, unless you like using a face cloth) But other than this they are great cabins. My other concern, and more of something that would certainly make us think again if it's a occurrence is the condition of the sleds. We had one that required service 2 hours into it, the woman that came out was very nice but it was not resolved. The sled was almost backfiring and leaking fluid, we replaced the spark plugs and just hopped for the best. The other issue was with my sled, I lost one of the handles (I sat in the back seat). I had to ride the next 4 hours with only one handle. I realize this sled was from another company (they didn't have enough), but this made it a semi-miserable ride. I'm more sore today from having had to hold on with one arm the whole way. At a minimum it would have been nice to get our gas comped or a voucher for a drink, instead we got shrugged off like these issues were noting big. We have to save money to come on these trips so this is actually quite disappointing to have to deal with.I have mixed feelings because we really do love coming here and spending time with friends, so I'll try again and review the outcome. I plan on trying them this summer for the rafting.

David:We agree with you, it's a great idea! Not quite sure how we can help you wrap that gift, but we'll do everything we can to help you and your kids enjoy it next summer.Enjoy the holidays and thanks for being a part of the Northern Outdoors family.Best,Russell

Our family took the Dead River raft trip with our grand daughter as the raft guide.It was the best rafting trip ever.We have been on rafting trips on three other occasions, but this was the most exciting. First class outfit all the way with people helping people when in need. Be prepared for the last two rapids...be sure to watch the side show and video after the dinner.

Exhilarating times are to be had at Northern Outdoors. Blood pumping, eye bulging, adrenalin racing good times. But, don't come there to be the macho man, because it might the girl sitting next to you that saves your "skin". After breakfast and a thorough explanation of your upcoming day's events, you leave for the mighty rivers. We rafted the Kennebec the first day and the Dead River the second day. Northern Outdoors can set you up to raft 1,2, or 3 rivers. Our set-in points on both rivers were within 40 minutes of the lodge. Both take-out points were only a seven minute bus ride back to the lodge. Besides the anxiety that has been building since you said yes to going on such an adventure, your heart starts pumping faster as the guide tells you all about the hazards, obstacles, pit falls, etc. You are told what to do if you fall out, the size of the rapids, the CFS (Cubic feet per second) flow of the water that day from the dam, how to hold your paddle (it is not an oar), and more. The bus ride to the set-in is bumpy, so it helps to stir up all those butterflies in your stomach. Further debriefing, life vest check, helmet check, and picture ops, are followed by the walk to the raging rivers. Once you are all dropped in the river, you see how much in control of the raft your guide is. With the help of about 8 people, he/she handles that raft with pinpoint accuracy. As you start to settle down, the guide begins to tell you about the upcoming rapids. Your heart starts to beat faster again, you head into the rapids with paddles digging into the raging waters. Sometimes you look down and there is no water below you, but you continue to paddle because the guide keeps on yelling, "Dig in, dig in", then, "Hold on!" You raise your paddle out of the water, grab your rope in the middle of the raft and get plunged up and over one wave and then down into the massive wall of water. The raft bends and buckles and then glides down the river without a hitch (sometimes). I fell in at one point and loved it! I was pulled back into the raft by my son before I could even utter, "That was awesome." Others in our wave of 16 rafts were luckier than I was, for they fell in or jumped in more than I did. A gourmet meal awaits you half way down the Kennebec River or at the lodge if you went down the Dead River. I highly suggest both rivers, but raft the Kennebec first and then experience the Dead. The real daring souls partake in the Tri-fecta, a combination of the Kennebec, Dead, and the Penobscot Rivers-three rivers in three days. I now have a new goal! See you next year.

Just returned home from an end of summer trip with family and friends to the Forks in Northern Maine. Perfect way to end the summer before the kids go back to school. Booking the trip was very easy for all three families with two of the families sharing a huge 4 bedroom cabin and one family staying in the logominiums. Cabins were very clean with lots of space and well equipped. We never ate any meals in cabins as the quality and price of food at the restaurant was great and the local beer at the brewpub outstanding. Dan and Brandi were our guides on the river for our group of 14 ranging in age from 12 to 54. They made everyone feel safe and enjoy the day. All the guides were excellent. Our day on the river was incredible as it was sunny and 85F with refreshing water temperatures. Rafting was a great adrenaline rush for all but not too crazy for the smaller kids. Great fun rafting through the rapids, swimming through the lighter areas, and finishing off with water fights. Lunch provided on the river was excellent as well.Overall one of our best family&friend trips ever!!Everyone wants to make this an annual. Well done Northern Outdoors.

I took a trip for a bachelor party this week and had a blast at the Northern Outdoors. Ryan our guide was a great guy and even came out for beers with us after we returned from the trip. The rapids are very fun nothing too overwhelming for the first timer but certainly exhilarating. I would definitely recommend using them if you are looking a fun trip on a great river with great views, fun tours guides and a great way to spend a sunny saturday afternoon. The tour lasts 4-5 hours includes bus to and from launch point, a great lunch and some great stories from your tour guide as you cruise down the river.

14 city girls decided to spend a little time in the woods of Maine and white water raft! Mary and Erica were our AMAZING guides and the trip would definitely not have been the same without them! First of all, we are crazy, a little inappropriate at times, and define loud and obnoxious, BUT.....we were allowed to be ourselves the entire time, and Mary and Erica fit right in with us! We were so grateful to have such fun guides who were able to keep us safe, entertain us, educate us on the waters and the features around us! We will definitely be back, and we can thank Erica and Mary for that!!!!-Love the 14 crazy girls from Boston!

A wonderful way to bond as a family...so much fun. We can't thank you enough. Our guide was Emily, very sweet, open to questions, bright, and fun. We can't wait to come back next year mmm I think we'll try the Dead River. Thanks again for the adventure.

We had an awesome rafting trip this weekend!! Erica was our guide. She was very sweet, intelligent, and made our trip tons of fun. We had lots of laughs and lots of adrenaline based antics. Our sister boat had Emily as a guide and had the same results. When we rafted up...it was like a two for one:). The employees at Northern Outdoors are genuine folks whose attitude and actions make you feel like one of the family. Great job girls....Boom!! Irish Polish curse and see you next year!

I was one of 7 girls that decided to try a white water rafting trip!! We were all so nervous but, we worried for nothing!! All of the people at Northern Outdoors were helpfull and accommodating. We stayed in a logominium which was clean and neat. Our rafting guide was funny and experienced and we made it safely to the end. The guides prepared a yummy cookout half way down the river. The food was plentiful and delicious. Northern Outdoors makes sure there are plenty of pictures and a video for everyone to purchase to remember your trip by. I would highly reccommend Northern Outdoors for anyone looking for a great time!.

This was my first time going on this girls weekend "glamping/rafting" trip and I had a blast. The rafting trip was amazing, well organized with a delicious lunch and lots of laughs. The cabin accommodations were perfect! I will definitely be back again next year!

A few dads took our daughters on the Kennebec last August 2013 and they all asked to go back, so we ventured out 7/31-8/1/14 again. Once again, Northern Outdoors did not disappoint.We arrived late on Thursday so quickly got a beer and checked into our cabin (which all have new mattresses) and had dinner. They ran out of Big Mama Blueberry before we got there and we were kinda surprised, never happened to us before. Dinner was served timely, hot, delicious and reasonably priced. Thanks to Ryan for being a great server - not a bad River Manager either :) We hit the hay around 10 as we knew we had an early wakeup for a fun day on the Kennebec. I had put in a request for a couple of guides and was very fortunate to have Emily guide us for our raft of teenage girls. She was awesome and right up there with Dawn. Victor was trip lead and helped us out with securing a raft for the group. Had an absolute blast. Emily took us through each hit exactly as the girls asked and even had some surfing and backwards rafting fun. She was very helpful with the girls, educational and made the trip enjoyable and memorable. We ate on the river this year as the weather was beautiful and made for an even better experience. We came back, showered checked out the pictures and video and left for home. Another great quick trip and we will return. This was my 12th trip and more to go. The girls want to hit the Dead next year,Thanks again to a great group of guides and people. Love Northern Outdoors.

This is my 3rd time rafting the Kenebec with Northern Outdoors. I've gone in my 20's, without kids, once with my wife and son and now with my wife and 2 daughters. First, try and go with 8 people. That way, you will have a raft to yourself. 10 can fit, but 8 is perfect. If you want to stay in the log cabins or the "logominiums", reserve early. If you are OK camping, you can go last minute. We stayed in the hard platform tents and found them adequate. The rafting is awesome, so keep that your focus. The resort is nice, but if you are there as a family trip, you may find the college crowd a little loud and boisterous. If you are a 20 something, you will definately have a blast. If you are a family, you will still have lots of fun, just be aware there will be some drunk 20 somethings stumbling back to the campgound when the bar closes at midnight. Do not party late the night before. River rafting tired and hung over will ruin the trip. The time to have fun is the night after the rafting. It is worth staying the extra night to enjoy the resort. The restaurant is a nice break from cooking all your meals at the camsite. The food is not gourmet, but will hit the spot. The beer is brewed on-site and is quite good. The place is in the middle of nowhere, but worth the trip. It is a great confidence booster for your kids.

I'm about a year late providing this review. I'm just planning to book our second trip with this company for this August and I thought I really should throw in my 5 star rating for this place. We rafted the Kennebec River with these folks last year, August 2013, it was the first time rafting for everyone in our group and we all had a great time. Two of the kids in our group, both aged 9, were too young to raft the whole river. They accompanied us to the put-in then boarded the bus again with one of the adults in our group, drove about 20 minutes and then waited to join up with us farther down the river. You encounter most of the rapids, and all of the class IVs on the first part of the run, then about an hour into the trip you stop for lunch which is where we picked up the 2 younger kids. So the whole group was together for the lunch (which was terrific - choice of steak, chicken and salmon I think, plus rice and pasta salad) After lunch everyone carried on down the river where you also had the option to use inflatable duckies, float along in the water beside your raft (the current carries you along at a nice pace) and relax a bit. The scenery along this river is wonderful, even for someone who's from the Maritimes and is used to this type of wooded setting. They have someone in a kayak who films before and during the run and takes still shots of each raft at certain locations on the river. They put together a nice video and slide show which they'll show at the lodge when everyone gets back and which you can purchase to take home(fairly expensive - seems to me I paid around $50 for the video and about 10 still shots of our raft). A really well run operation. Guides and staff were all friendly and knowledgeable, all in all a really great experience. Can't wait to go again this year.

I wouldn't keep coming back if it wasn't a great trip! Seventh time down the Penobscot with Northern Outdoors. ALWAYS a pleasant experience and unbeatable fun! They really have this down to a science from check-in, equipment distribution, relaying information, perfect balance of anticipation and safety in their pre-game speech, great lunch, guides full of area information and history, outstanding video & snapshots for future purchase. The Northern Outdoors guides cannot be beat. They very obviously love their job and it shows with their enthusiasm from 7:00 a.m. right through the final goodbyes at the end of the day. Their confidence and knowledge of the river puts any anxiety at ease and makes for a great day!!I wouldn't go with any other outfit.