Maine Vacation - Canoeing (Millinocket, Norway: rentals, house, camping)

[sutpenson]

Hello,

My wife, dog, and I will be vacationing in Maine this summer. We already have a week booked at a house in the Quoddy Head area, but we'd also like to spend a few days canoeing on one of Maine's amazing lakes. So, which one would be the best for out-of-state folks (don't know the area well) with a small car (in other words, we can't go off-roading to some remote area). We would need to rent a canoe somewhere, and we'd plan on camping at a primitive site along the shore. I've looked at Millinocket, Moosehead, and Lobster. Is there one that would be better/best? Also, if you have any recommendations for canoe rentals, I'd really appreciate it.

There's so much to do in Maine and so little time! I don't know much about the state, so I'm having a hard time narrowing it down. Thanks in advance.

[moosehunter]

Greenville / Moosehead Lake area is awesome!!!!! places to eat-camp-canoe and relax!!!
lots of shops to pick up goodies at And places to rent canoes...see moose and other wildlife on your trip--enjoy~~~~~~

[Newdaawn]

What state are you coming from? I agree that with above poster and love Moosehead Lake. We never rented canoe there but there must be places you can do that. Check out Greenville tourism on Google or see if it has a chamber of commerce site. We always camped at Lily Bay State Park and found it to be great. Large and private campsites and only about 8 miles from the center of Greenville.

[Coaster]

Moosehead Lake is great as long as the weather cooperates. My brother and a friend spent almost a week stuck at Lily Bay State Park trapped by high winds and bad weather a few years back.

But you don't have to drive all the way to Greenville. Just down Route 1 from Quoddy Head, you have Gardner, Hadley, and Rocky Lakes. There's Lake Cathance and Meddybemps, or go a bit farther north and explore East and West Grand Lakes. Get a temporary fishing license and a rod and reel and catch your own supper!

[Maine Writer]

Frost Pond Camps is a great place to camp. The pond is small, it's nice to paddle and the fishing is good.

[sutpenson]

Thanks for your suggestions everyone!

We're coming from Virginia. And yes, I've read tha Moosehead can be dangerous, especially in a canoe. I'll keep these in mind and appreciate any more comments.

[maineguy8888]

I think that Mt. Katahdin is the most spectacular (and iconic) place in Maine.
That's just outside Millinocket.
It's stunning, as is that whole area.

[ADSLubec]

Originally Posted by sutpenson

Hello,

My wife, dog, and I will be vacationing in Maine this summer. We already have a week booked at a house in the Quoddy Head area, but we'd also like to spend a few days canoeing on one of Maine's amazing lakes. So, which one would be the best for out-of-state folks (don't know the area well) with a small car (in other words, we can't go off-roading to some remote area). We would need to rent a canoe somewhere, and we'd plan on camping at a primitive site along the shore. I've looked at Millinocket, Moosehead, and Lobster. Is there one that would be better/best? Also, if you have any recommendations for canoe rentals, I'd really appreciate it.

There's so much to do in Maine and so little time! I don't know much about the state, so I'm having a hard time narrowing it down. Thanks in advance.

You may wish to rent a kayak and paddle around Passamaquoddy Bay and the surrounding Quoddy area. We enjoy really smooth water most of the time. Very easy kayaking.


Alan

[Northern Maine Land Man]

If you rent a kayak on or near Passamaquoddy bay be very careful. They have huge tides that rush in and out way faster than you can paddle. I was a guide for many years. For your purpose I recommend the Down East Lakes. All of these lakes are interconnected and you can explore to your hearts content. There are campsites. Bring a map. Here's the list of lakes:

Scraggly
Duck
Keg
Bottle
Junior
Horseshoe
Norway
Pocumcus
West Grand

They have hundreds of miles of shoreline. Access is from Route 6 to Lakeville or Route 6 to the Maine Wilderness Canoe Basin. The alternative launch sites are Pocumcus Lake and West Grand at Grand Lake Stream. All these lakes have easy refuge if a wind comes up. West Grand is really big, but there are many coves and islands where you can get out of the wind.

[Kracer]

Stay off the big lakes unless you have practiced self rescue. A dog makes self rescue more difficult especially when the dog tries to climb on your head as you tread water. Dog ever gone canoeing?

Be aware of water temp as just wearing a pfd will help your hypothermic body be found more easily.

Plenty of nice quiet water river trips and smaller ponds you don't need to go off road to reach.

Read...'quiet water canoe guide, Maine' for suggested waters. Plenty of beautiful areas all over Maine.

Wear your pfd, might get one for fido as well.