Chewonki Foundation: Thoreau-Wabanaki Trail Canoe

Explore the historically important canoe routes that Henry David Thoreau and the Wabanaki guides traveled during their treks to Maine in 1857. The native Wabanaki, or “people of the dawn land,” have traveled these waters by canoe for thousands of years. On our expedition, we do as the ancient Wabanaki and Thoreau did, using canoes and our own curiosity to explore this place of legends. Find out more!

This trip begins at Rockwood on the northwestern shore of Moosehead Lake. We paddle the expansive waters of Moosehead, passing Kineo Mountain, and continue on to Northeast Carry where the group reaches the West Branch of the Penobscot. We spend three days canoeing down the West Branch of the Penobscot River before portaging into the Allagash Wilderness Waterway via the notorious Mud Pond Carry. We travel east from there, exit the Allagash at Telos Dam, and then paddle through the northernmost region of Baxter State Park on Webster Brook, which Thoreau referred to as somewhat like ”navigating a thunder spout.”

After Webster Brook, we voyage down the East Branch of the Penobscot River to Whetstone Falls, paddling through the magnificent Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. This beautiful area offers challenging whitewater paddling for participants to enjoy as they hone their camping and whitewater canoeing skills. To learn more about the complete route of the Thoreau-Wabanaki Trail, go to thoreauwabanakitrail.org.