Chewonki Foundation: Umbagog Whitewater Kayak

Umbagog is a unique trip for aspiring paddlers to learn whitewater kayaking and outdoor skills in one of Maine’s most scenic regions. Find out more!

Umbagog is well suited to campers with little or no previous experience in wilderness living and whitewater kayaking but have a strong desire to learn whitewater kayaking techniques. Throughout the three weeks, there is a progression of instruction, beginning with skills learned in flat water on the lake and eventually moving up to paddling the Rapid River’s challenging whitewater. The Rapid River is also home to Smooth Ledge, one of New England’s best kayak surfing spots. We spend plenty of time here, as participants acquire the skills of surfing and practice freestyle playboating.

We stay at a base camp in Sunday Cove on Lake Umbagog and travel a short distance to the Rapid River each day for whitewater paddling. Lake Umbagog and the Rapid River are located in western Maine, on the New Hampshire border, and are surrounded by a vast area of scenic, wild, lands. Here participants learn much about the natural world around them, commonly sharing their outdoor space with loons, bald eagles, ospreys, and moose.

Each evening we return to the Sunday Cove base camp. Participants learn and practice outdoor skills such as cooking, woodcutting, fire building, and wilderness ethics. Everyone will gain the knowledge that is important to living responsibly and comfortably in nature. There is time for reading, writing, swimming, and relaxing in this beautiful setting.

The essence of Umbagog lies in the experience of living simply and embracing new challenges, allowing for self-discovery and personal growth. This is an amazing opportunity for participants to live in a remote natural area, feel a part of it, and grow within it.