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The Allagash Wilderness Waterway is a 92-mile-long protected stretch of lake, shore, and river corridor established in 1966 by the Maine State Legislature and managed by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Recreation, Department of Conservation. Set in the middle of a working forest, the Waterway includes a 400- to 800- foot, state-owned, restricted zone within a privately owned forest extending one mile on either side of the watercourse. Managed to conserve the Allagash's natural beauty and undeveloped character, the Allagash Wilderness Waterway was the first state-administered component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
Paddling the Allagash is an excellent choice for those who are new to wilderness canoeing and eager to test their skills in a "semi-wilderness" environment before venturing into the northern reaches of Canada. It is also a great place for a seasoned canoeist to introduce a novice to the sport. In addition, the Allagash can serve as an alternative to a true wilderness expedition during years when a larger trip is not financially feasible for your group.
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A traveler in the waterway can expect many wilderness moments, but the area is best described as semi-wilderness, due to the rather extensive network of dirt roads that cross the river at various points. Although the roads don't necessarily make paddling the Allagash River safer than traveling on a true wilderness river, they do provide more opportunities for either a self-extraction or a ranger-assisted extraction in the event of an injury or an emergency at home.
These roads can also be helpful to canoeists who may not be able to paddle the entire waterway due to time constraints. Various put-ins along the route allow you to tailer your trip to the time you have available. The longest Allagash trip (98 miles) is from Telos (tea-loss) Landing to Allagash Village on the St. John River. Ninety-two miles of this, which stretches from Telos Landing to West Twin Brook, is the official state-controlled Allagash Wilderness Waterway. The river from West Twin Brook to Allagash Village is owned by private individuals and paper companies. We paddled a 92-mile section from Chamberlain Lake to the village in nine (9) days, which enabled us to take an entire day off. Canoeists typically paddle the entire length of the waterway in 7 to 10 days.
Roughly 3,000 people visit the waterway each year from May 1st to October 30th. We chose to paddle the route at the end of September to increase the likelihood of solitude, to escape most of the insects and to catch the onset of autumn. The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands maintains over 80 campsites along the waterway in order to minimize the impact of visitors on the land. Visitors are required to stay at these campsites and each site is equipped with a stone fire ring, a well-maintained privy and at least one picnic table, complete with an overhead pole for hanging a rain tarp. The ground at many of the campsites we stayed at was quite hard, so I would suggest bringing a very thick sleeping pad. Click here to see an Allagash campsite.
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Trout fishing on the waterway is challenging in the summer due to the warmer water, but even in September, trout were an elusive quarry. The majority of the fish we caught along the route were river chubs, which resemble a large shiner; the largest was about 12-inches in length. Brook trout, like the one pictured to the left, were found only in cold deep water and we had our best luck at a point where a fast running cold stream entered a deep section of the river and where the river passed under a bridge. We landed some nice trout, to include a beautiful 16-inch fish, on both spinning tackle and a fly rod. Be sure to check current fishing regulations by contacting Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife at (207) 287-8000. Licenses can be purchased online at: http://www.maine.gov/ifw/
The area that surrounds the Allagash Wilderness Waterway is called North Maine Woods, which is best described as a region and an organization. Two fees are charged when you register at a North Maine Woods (NMW), Inc. gate. The first is collected by NMW, Inc. for access to the waterway on its network of well-maintained dirt roads. The second is charged by the Waterway for each night of camping. To obtain information concerning checkpoints, hours of operation, general regulations, land use and camping fees visit their website at: http://www.northmainewoods.org or contact them at: P.O. Box 425, 41 Main Street, Ashland, Maine 04732, (207) 435-6213.
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Travelers planning an Allagash trip should also contact the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands at the following address. The Bureau will provide you with a map of the waterway, in addition to other useful information.
Allagash Wilderness Waterway
c/o Bureau of Parks and Lands
Northern Region Headquarters
106 Hogan Road
Bangor, ME 04401
(207) 941-4014
Click here to visit their website.
The Maine Forest Service maintains direct radio contact with Department of Conservation Rangers stationed at six Waterway Ranger Camps along the canoeing route. Their number is (207) 435-7963. Visit the MFS online.
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MAPS/GUIDES: The DeLorme Company in Yarmouth, Maine sells a nice water resistent map of the Allagash & St. John River systems which doubles as a guide. The guide text, written by Gil Gilpatrick, on the back of the map provides detailed descriptions of the region and the waterways. The map, which costs about $7.95, can be purchased by calling the DeLorme Company at (800) 561-5105. Additional guides for the Allagash, as well as the map, can be purchased on Gil's web site at http://www.gilgilpatrick.com. You may also find the map and guides at a bookstore in your area.
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VEHICLE SHUTTLE: We utilized the services of Allagash Outfitters to shuttle our vehicle from our put-in at Chamberlain Lake to our take-out at Allagash Village. The outfitter charged a very reasonable price and our vehicle was parked in a lot just a short distance from our take out point on river-right just past the bridge. Allagash Outfitters can be reached at (207) 398-3277. Ask to speak with Mr. Wilmer Hafford. A complete list of businesses offering shuttle services, canoe rentals and guiding services can be found in the Business Links section of the North Maine Woods, Inc. website.
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SAMPLE TRIP ITINERARY: Producing a trip itinerary should be standard practice for any type of wilderness or semi-wilderness journey. At a minimum, information concerning the purpose of your trip, the dates of travel, the names of team members and their emergency contacts back home, trip communication and logistical details, as well as exact information pertaining to your intended route of travel, should all be part of this document. The itinerary should be left with family and friends, carried by each member of the trip and mailed, when appropriate, to police, park rangers or search and rescue organizations or agencies that have jurisdiction over the area you will be traveling through. A sample copy of the itinerary we used for our Allagash trip is attached in "Rich Text Format" Click here to view the itinerary.
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WATER LEVELS: The U.S. Geological Survey's NWISWeb Data site provides real-time data regarding the water level of the Allagash River. Click here to see the gage height (in feet) and the discharge (in cubic feet per second) of the Allagash River near Allagash, Maine.
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| Connecticut paddlers make their way to Round Pond.
The Allagash Alliance Group pledges to provide support and assist the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands in matters relating to the Allagash Wilderness Waterway and promote the general well-being of the public by helping to maintain the unique and varied characteristics of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, for this and all succeeding generations. The group provides volunteers, promotes awareness and secures funding in support of these pledges.
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40 photographs from our trip can be seen by clicking on the links below:
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