penobscot adventures whitewater rafting

It doesn't get better than that. It was our second time this summer. We really loved it. It's pretty intense if you ask your guide for a lot of action. The last time, I got was I asked for I can tell you that much. As requested, Bob was our guide. He is really amazing and I highly recommend him. My suggestion : you should always wear a wetsuit (not only when the weather is cold), because if you fall in the water, you won't be bruise as much (if you hit a few rocks). Also, Baxter State Park is great. The nature is really pretty. Worth every penny.

My husband and I booked this trip as a wedding anniversary celebration and it was an absolutely amazing way to spend the day! Our guide, Will, was BEYOND fantastic at explaining everything to us in an easy to understand way. He struck the perfect balance between stressing how important it is to be careful and safe, but also making us feel like we were very capable and equipped to handle whatever happened. This was definitely a pretty intense way to try rafting for our first time ever (we were on the "Ultimate" trip), but with good instruction we realized we had the proper tools to navigate through all of it and felt SO exhilarated once we were going down the river! We were given many opportunities to give feedback on the intensity level of the trip and whether we wanted to step it up or down…and shocked ourselves by actually wanting to ramp it up as we went along! We really enjoyed the fact that there was a little 15-20 minute stretch of downtime to just enjoy the views and tranquility as well. And we thought the lunch that was provided was delicious!!I would highly recommend Penobscot Adventures, and specifically Will as a guide…especially if you are nervous! He put a lot of effort into knowing the names of the people in his boat, and observing how comfortable each person was with what we were doing. The attention to detail he showed made us feel very safe for the entire trip. My husband and I actually ended up being in the very front of the boat even though I'd started out terrified, and I wouldn't have had it any other way! By the end I was disappointed when the boat didn't get completely overrun by water when we were doing fancy tricks in the water! Can't say enough about how great this was - really hope we have the chance to go back some time!

One of the most incredibly thrilling and visually stunning adventures of my life. What an amazing group of people, who really give you the feeling they're a family of rafting enthusiasts, and not just a business. My group had the good fortune of being with Albie (who is an absolute DOLL) and the next 8 hours proved to be one of the most memorable experiences of my life. I strongly suggest not wearing anything cotton, and if you have water shoes - wear them. The guides will give you expert safety tips before heading out (and trust me, when you've been spit into class 5 rapids, they come in handy) and if you're lucky, Will will give you a nice little "changing into my river clothes" show on the bus ride over. I loved everything about this team, and look forward to seeing them all again soon. Choose Penobscot Adventures - you won't be disappointed!

First time, scared to death, can't wait to do it again! Brain rocks, Will & Don rounded it out. My first trip, my first flip, wouldn't float with anyone else!!!

My first time ever white water rafting and definitely something checked off my bucket list. Our guide (Jesse) was super fun, talented, and made this an awesome day. I would have never have thought I could do this but wow, what an incredible feeling going through those rapids. Definitely something not to be missed. We did the full day excursion, both upper and lower and it was incredible. Thanks so much Penobscot Adventures.

We recently went to Millinocket for a team building excursion which included rafting on the Penobscot River. What a blast all around. The tour guides were great. They knew the water and the area very well and added a lot to the experience more than just getting us down the river.I never would have tried rafting but after this experience I will defiantly be back. :)

WOW! Can not have asked for a better adventure! We did have a slow start on 7/31/14, due to mechanical issues. (but the crew more than made up for it!) We did the whole river this time but after the amazing time we had on the Upper with our guide Jessie, I would make the choice to do the Upper twice the next time, and oh yeah there will definitely be a next time!!! While we casually drifted between the rapids on the Lower, we were treated to a bit of a history session by our guide, we also got to view and photograph so many Bald Eagles, even a couple in a territory dispute! The views of Katadin Mtn were breathtaking! Lunch was very good, and plentiful! Brian, you did good! :) Every thing about the Upper is more than you can imagine! Jessie was so knowledgeable about the ins and outs of the river and its hidden attributes (dangers :) ) that even though I was a bit skeptical at times as to whether we would stay in the raft, I did not question his judgement or direction! HE, JESSIE made this an amazing trip! If you want to have an exciting trip and knock another one off your bucket list, just give these guys a try! You can rent wet suits and sock, very reasonably there. Also you might want to bring a towel to leave on the bus, if you tend to get a bit cold after being in the water. The water temp in July while chilly was not awful and if you should get to enjoy a dip, you won't even notice before you get hauled by in! As expected after you look at the a map of the area, the bus ride is a little long, and the roads are a bit rough.

I am so happy with my experience with them. Our guide was amazing. The scenery was beautiful. Lunch was yummy. Every staff member we encountered was friendly, knowledgeable and I'm pretty sure a great sense of humor is a job requirement! I adored everything about it and my 58 year old mom had a blast. Our wonderful guide made her feel so safe and confident. I have never had so much fun and unlike many places this is an all day event. I've gone rafting before and it's over so quick. By the time you are done you are pleasantly exhausted. It even hailed and thunderstormed at the end and was still fun. I doubt you can find a better rafting experience anywhere.

I organized a trip to Maine for myself and 3 friends.None of us had ever been whitewater rafting before and after some research and a few phone calls I decided to go with Penobscot Adventures. Chatting with Maureen on the phone is what really sealed it for me. She was so accommodating and offered lots of additional information and provided us with a booking for the campsites too. Day of was amazing. Our guide was Jesse and he hands down was the best. We were 6 beginners in our boat and everyone walked out unscathed and we still managed to do some things that no other boats had done. We also had a few nervous people in the boat as well as a woman who had just recently gotten out of a wheel chair. Jesse did a great job keeping everyone in the boat.I sat at the front which was amazing. I'd definitely volunteer to be up there if you're not a nervous person.

Two moms and four teenagers. All had a good time. Big Joe easily plucked us from the water when we got swept overboard...and is a nice guy too! He took good care of us. The natural waterfall was fun, plug your nose! If you wear contact lenses a pair of goggles would be a good idea, if they allow them. We did the half day soft adventure...with two class 4 rapids and one class 2-3. Plenty of adventure for first timers. Would return to this company.

My husband and I have wanted to try white water rafting for years and we finally bit the bullet this year. We purchased a Groupon deal for Penobscot Adventures for a full day of rafting. Maureen the owner was very helpful with the booking process. We arrived at 8am to check in and receive safety instructions from SeaBass for the large group. There were 8 rafts going out, a larger than normal group. We were paired in a raft with 4 young men attending Northeastern Univ and our guide Meg La 'Don'. Everyone boarded onto 2 buses and headed to the lower falls to raft Class II to Class IV rapids. We hit a class IV rapid right off the bat. It was exhilarating and fun. Don was a great guide, explaining how to best maneuver the raft. We stopped on the lower Penobscot natural water slide and we got to slide down this cool rock slide and plunge into the cold pool of water. The first part of the day on the lower Penobscot included a few rapids and a lot of floating with the view of Mt. Katahdin in the background. We stopped midday and feasted on a deliciously prepared meal of grilled steak, chicken or Veggie burgers, veggie rice, bread and butter, chocolate chip cookies and punch. After lunch, we boarded the buses again and drove up to the McKay Hydro Station, where the Class V rapids are with Ripogenous Gorge and the Cribworks. This portion of the trip is NOT for the faint of heart, it is for thrill seekers and involves big adventure! Our raft did flip over on the Class V 'Cribworks' portion of the river, but thankfully no one was hurt and everyone will have stories to tell for a lifetime. Penobscot Adventures gave us very important safety instructions and those came in 100% handy when the raft flipped on the highly technical Cribworks section. Don our guide was instrumental in keeping me safe, along with several other guides on the other rafts pulling in my husband onto their raft during our mishap. The co-owner Dan was taking pictures along the shore from our entire day, so we have great pictures to remember our fun and exciting day on the Penobscot! This is a first class rafting company, I'd recommend them to anyone looking to go rafting. Now this 50 year old couple can happily cross this off our Bucket List!!

Thanks for the review, I'm glad you enjoyed your visit with us. It's awesome to hear that the guides are providing a great experience.

We did the full Ponobscott river . This was my first time on class 5 rapids . The guides know what they are doing ! We went rafting with friends and family including my parents who are in their 60s . We started on the lower (easier) portion of the river then after lunch we did the class 5 rapids .Our guide was very mindfull of our safety and tailored the trip to our abilities . Here is the nitty grity of our trip . You start at 8 am . You fill out waiver forms , get fitted with life jackets and helmets, wetsuits are optinal at this time of year but next time I will bring microfiber shirt for warmth .You then get a security lecture from the owner that will probably scare the bejesus out of you . He does not sugar coat or gloss over the potential dangers of the river .You then make your way to the bus . As stated , you start lower half of the river .Stop for lunch on the side of the river grilled steak and chicken . It was a decent meal .You then take a bus to do the top half of the river . The sceanery all along the river is breathtaking , you do have long floating periods were you can look around. You end your trip on the water around 4 pm . You then take the bus back where you will be asked to dunk your equipement in soapy water .

I went rafting on the Penobscot River with family and friends. This was my 3rd rafting trip, but my first time on the Penobscot. Maureen, the owner, was EXTREMELY accommodating and helpful. This company has excellent customer service and is a great choice for those who are coordinating a group because Maureen allows each group member to book and pay for his or her reservation directly instead of having the group coordinator make the reservation and payment for the entire party. This saved me a lot of headaches! She is also available by phone and email for hours beyond "regular" business hours. The rafting experience itself was good. The Penobscot river is BEAUTIFUL and has great whitewater. The trip literally takes all day. We met at 7:30 to get prepped for the trip, and did not return until late afternoon. My only complaints are related to the itinerary: There is a pretty long and bumpy drive to the river, which the guides unsuccessfully try their hardest to make pleasant. You raft the lower river first, which only has 2 or 3 major whitewater segments (beginning with a 12 ft. waterfall--several people fell out their rafts at this point), but there is definitely a lot of rowing to do. You break for bathrooms and lunch. WARNING: The outhouses are DISGUSTING, and there is no where to wash your hands before you eat. By this time, you are tired. After lunch, before you have time to digest your food thoroughly, you get back on the bumpy bus and try to hold your food down and stay awake while you ride to the put in for the more intense part of the river. I must say--there are some awesome rapids in the second half!!! However some are pretty technical and require precision and are not for the faint of heart. There is also a lot of time between rapids in this half of the trip. I think it would be better to raft the upper half and then the lower half instead of the other way around, to end the trip on a relaxing note (since you're already tired by the afternoon). I think that many of the other companies do it in that order for a reason. Just a suggestion.I've had better experiences rafting the Kennebec River with the U.S. Rafting company in The Forks, but Penobscot Adventures is pretty good, too. And the views from the Penobscot are unbeatable. My 10 year-old rafted the lower river only and asked to do it again the next day. A friend of mine, who was a first time rafter, also had a blast!!!

I've only been on a class one river before. This river (lower) portion includes 1-4. Our guide did a fantastic job teaching us what to do. Good thing. Some people did fall out. Everyone was fine. This Lower Penobscot River tour included a natural water slide. This 41 year old lady loved it! We had a level 2 rapid, a couple 3's, and a couple 4's. Very manageable! Even for a scaredy cat like me. Lunch was fabulous. Choice of steak or chicken with sides. I asked if lunch was always like this. They said it was something like this. After lunch, the rest of the people went to do the upper river with class 5's. Not for this scaredy cat. I prefer class 3's. This company did a fantastic job. Tyler was a wonderful guide. Thanks!