Quick Details
Maine’s southern Midcoast region, stretching from Phippsburg to Pemaquid Point, features a dense network of river estuaries, long peninsulas and rocky islands. One of the largest watersheds in the state, the Kennebec-Androscoggin river system, pours into the ocean here, creating long, sandy beaches, expansive marsh grasslands, strong tidal currents and a vibrant marine ecosystem. This complex system of waterways, along with plenty of island campsites, creates endless opportunities for exploration by sea kayak. This three-day trip involves camping on the Maine Island Trail while navigating through a diverse mix of these coastal environments.
You’ll start this trip on the Kennebec River near Bath, Maine, a scenic town known for its long history of shipbuilding and home to both the Maine Maritime Museum and Bath Iron Works. From there you’ll paddle down the river towards the ocean. Tidal currents are strong in this area, so your guide will choose a route that takes maximum advantage of the tidal cycles. You may trace the flow of one of the tidal rivers that connects the Kennebec River to Hockmock Bay, or you may follow the Kennebec all the way to Popham Beach, which faces the open ocean. Eventually, you’ll paddle along the exposed coastline and watch the swell crash against the basalt bedrock.
Finally, you’ll approach Knubble Bay and the Sheepscot River and will paddle into one of the region’s many scenic harbors, such as Wiscasset or Boothbay Harbor, where our van will be waiting to drive the group back to Portland.
The itinerary will depend on the conditions and the group. You can expect to paddle for several hours each day, with many breaks along the way. There will also be plenty of time for exploring and relaxing on the islands. Your guide will choose a route that takes maximum advantage of the wind direction and tidal currents, while ensuring that the group moves at a pace that is comfortable for all participants.
You’ll meet your guide and the other participants at our retail location at 233 Warren Avenue in Portland at 8:00am on the first day of the trip. After checking in and unloading anything you plan to bring on the trip, our staff will direct you to where you can store any extra bags for the duration of the trip. Overnight parking is available behind the building, accessed via Hicks Street. Next your guide will offer a brief overview of the itinerary, select a kayak for you, help you pack your boat and deliver a brief paddling lesson. Your group will then load into our van for the roughly 1-hour drive north to the Kennebec River. Next, it’s time to hit the water!
We ask participants to pack a lunch for the first day of the trip, but after that all meals are provided, along with snacks and drinking water, tea and coffee. Portland Paddle also provides all the necessary kayaking gear and dry bags for packing your belongings. Tents are provided at no extra cost, though some people prefer to use their own. There is a small rental fee to use a sleeping bag and sleeping pad if you are not able to bring your own. Cold water paddling gear such as wetsuits and neoprene booties are also available for rent, and are recommended early in the season (May & June) when the water is still especially cold.
On the final day of your trip you can expect to arrive back at our main site in Portland by 4:30pm.
Please Note: Tents are included in the cost of this trip, but we ask participants to either bring their own sleeping bags and sleeping pads or rent them from us for a small additional fee.
You don’t need to have experience with kayak camping or long sea kayaking trips to join this trip. This trip can be a great fit for first-time kayak campers. However, since the group will paddle for several hours each day we ask that each participant meet the following requirements:
If you are lacking any of the requirements, we suggest signing up for one of our lessons or guided day tours before booking this trip. That said, your guide will provide basic instruction, and there will be plenty of opportunities to improve your paddling skills along the way.
If you are lacking any of the requirements, we suggest signing up for one of our lessons or guided day tours before booking this trip. That said, your guide will provide basic instruction, and there will be plenty of opportunities to improve your paddling skills along the way.
If you would prefer to book a private trip that is just for your group we would be happy to make that happen. A private trip allows your guide to customize the itinerary to fit the interests and experience levels of those in your group. It’s also a good option if the dates of our public trips listed on the calendar above don’t work for your group.
To get more information and request a private trip please submit the form on this page.
CLICK HERE for a detailed packing list and tips on packing a sea kayak!
For an in depth sample trip itinerary CLICK HERE!