Spring in Maine: Waterfalls and Watching Paddle Races
It’s officially spring in Maine, which means the snowmelt creates great conditions for chasing waterfalls and spectating iconic paddling events, including the annual Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race in Bangor on April 16 and the “Smalls to the Wall” whitewater kayaking event (above) at Smalls Falls in Rangeley on April 23-24.
Go Chasing Waterfalls
Hit the road with the family for a muddy hike in the woods to find some of Maine’s best waterfalls at peak water levels.
Moxie Falls, West Forks
Moxie Falls is one of Maine’s highest waterfalls with a 90-foot drop, with a short hike to the falls that’s just over half a mile from the trailhead parking area. When entering the Forks region from the south, turn right onto Lake Moxie Road just before the Kennebec River Bridge. Follow this road roughly two miles until you reach the parking area and trailhead for Moxie Falls. The family-friendly trail is well-maintained and is flat in the first half of the trail, and then includes wooden stairs and boardwalks for traversing the steeper uneven sections. There is a wooden viewing platform overlooking the waterfall.
Screw Auger Falls, Grafton Notch State Park
Perhaps the most easily accessible waterfall in the state, Screw Auger Falls in Grafton Notch State Park lies in a spectacular canyon along the Bear River in the Mahoosuc Range. Drive along Route 26 through the park and be sure to see the other well-marked scenic pit stops, including Moose Cave, a 45-foot canyon to explore with wooden stairs and platforms winding through the canyon. At the stop for Screw Auger Falls, there is a large parking area and several picnic tables and bathrooms nearby. A well-defined path with guard rails provides safe places for looking into the gorge, but take care if wet and with small children or pets.
Paddling Races & Events
Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race
The 55th annual Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race is set for April 16, 2022, which is considered one of the largest paddling events in the country.
Learn more from the event website:
The Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race, held annually on the third weekend of April, is the largest paddling event in New England and one of the largest in the country. Hosted by the Bangor Dept. of Parks & Recreation, the 16.5-mile race begins in the Town of Kenduskeag and ends near the confluence of the Penobscot River in downtown Bangor.
A total of 34 contestants paddled down the Kenduskeag Stream in the inaugural year of 1967. Although the number of paddlers varies from year to year, as many as 1,500 contestants have participated in a single race during the mid-1990s.
A great place to watch is Six Mile Falls, a Class II-III rapid depending on the water level that’s six miles northwest of Bangor on Route 15. Paddlers tend to start showing up here around 10 am. Many spectators and cars line up on the bridge overlooking the rapids. Other spectating spots are along the walking path in Kenduskeag Stream Park off Valley Avenue, and the canal bridges in downtown Bangor near the finish line.
Smalls to the Wall
Considered Maine’s premier whitewater kayak “steep creek” event, held annually in April at the Smalls Falls Rest Area in Rangeley, Smalls to Wall showcases extreme whitewater kayakers dropping down a series of waterfalls, with the tallest one at 20 feet high. Founded by Andrew Cooper in 2014, the event aims for a sweet spot in water levels and temperatures to ensure safety, which can be unpredictable. Be sure to check the event Facebook Page for last-minute updates on the schedule, which can be modified to ensure proper conditions.
Spectators are asked to remain behind the yellow caution tape on the designated trails to ensure safety.
