Baskehegan Stream - May 17-21, 2025

The crew - loaded up and ready to go

The forecast called for rain on Saturday, and Sunday, and Monday and Tuesday, but it didn’t matter. This trip on the Baskehegan had been on the calendar since March, so we weren’t going to miss it no matter what the weather.

Baskehegan Stream arises in Carroll, ME and flows generally north for around 40-miles to Bancroft where it joins the Mattawamkeag River. We would be paddling the section through Baskehegan Lake from White Farm Road in Topsfield to the dam in Danforth. Originally, the plan was to paddle down to the bridge in Bancroft, but more on that later.

Put in on White Farm Road

We met at Jonathan’s in Wiscasset Friday night so we could get an early start Saturday morning. There was a steady drizzle on Saturday as we loaded the boats and gear and headed out. It was about a 3-hour drive from Jonathan’s house to the river, about 6.5-hours from my house in Woonsocket.

White Farm Road is a dirt logging road owned by a local logging company. The put in is just below a bridge and a pretty waterfall. After unloading our boats and gear we ran the shuttle up to Bancroft. We finally got on the water at around 4:00.

Wading through the shallows

This first section of the river tends to be shallow. With recent rains, we hoped the river would be up, but it wasn’t. We frequently ran aground and had to get out to wade our heavily loaded boats. Fortunately, it was a short trip down to the first campsite – Upper Baskahegan Campsite. Day 1 paddling – about 2 miles.

We unloaded our gear and quickly got the tarp and tents set up. We gathered wood as Jonathan prepared dinner – his classic fried fish with Maine guide potatoes. After dinner we sat around the fire until 9:45 when we called it a night.

Beaver lodge in the Big Bog

There is something to be said for staying warm and dry inside your tent as the rain is falling outside. I woke up at 6:00, but with the rain I didn’t crawl out of my tent until around 7:30 when I heard Conrad making coffee. The rain was expected to fall until noon, so we had a soggy breakfast and packed up a soggy camp.

We got on the water around 11:00 for our trip through Big Bog – the large wetland that feeds Baskehegan Lake. There were beaver lodges everywhere, but surprisingly few birds or other wildlife. The river twisted and turned through a marsh with very little solid ground. We took a break for lunch in our boats.

Crossing to Long Island

We arrived at Baskehegan Lake and found it flat and calm. Fog was rolling in and out as made the crossing to the Long Island Campsite. Day 2 paddling – about 9-miles.

The rain and fog continued as we set up camp. By 6:00, tents and tarps were up, and wood was gathered. Time for cocktails. Dinner was Ellen’s chili, and desert was Jules’ brownies. It was another early night. I was in the tent around 9:30.

Tents with extra tarps for the rain

I woke up at 2:30 to a torrential downpour. Everything was dry in my tent, so I fell back asleep and woke up around 5:00 to rain and gusting winds. The plan was to get an early start, but it didn’t look like that was going to happen, so I went back to sleep. I woke up again at 7:00 to another torrential downpour.

I finally crawled out of my tent around 7:30 when I heard Jonathan lighting the fire and making coffee. We cooked breakfast and started taking down camp in the rain. We finally got on the water at around 11:00. This was to be our biggest paddling day – around 12-miles down to the Narrows Campsite on Crooked Brook Flowage. We would be paddling into 10-mph headwinds with gusts around 25-mph.

Crossing to Round Island

We launched and headed out on the crossing to Round Island – about 1/2-mile. The going was slow, and the wind was kicking up small waves, but everyone made it across fine. From there, we did another 1/2-mile crossing from Round Island to North Point. Once again, it was a slow crossing, but everyone made it across fine. Finally, we had to paddle about a mile along the shore to the outlet for Baskehegan Stream.

We ran the broken dam as we left the lake and reentered the river. We continued to fight a strong headwind as the river twisted and turned thorough another large wetland. We were cold and tired when we pulled into the Anvil Meadows Campsite for a break at around 3:00. Rather than paddling on, we decided to call it a day. Day 3 paddling – about 8 miles, about 4 miles short of our goal.

Tarp is up at Anvil Meadows

With the decision made to stay, we got to work setting up camp and gathering wood. I was the chef for the evening and made lasagna in the Dutch oven. Everyone was tired, and we were in the tents even earlier – a little after 9:00.

Tuesday was the first morning that the rain didn’t keep me in the tent. I got up around 6:00, started the fire and the coffee, and started taking down my tent. With the truncated day on Monday, we knew that we needed to get an early start today. We had a quick breakfast, broke down camp and loaded the boats for the final leg of our trip. We are on the water at around 8:30.

Running the small rapids

This section of the river was a lot of fun with short sections of flatwater separated by quickwater and easy rapids. We took turns picking lines through the rapids. Eventually, we reached Crooked Brook Flowage, which is the dead water above the Danforth Dam. We passed the Narrows camp site – our intended campsite from the day before.

We crossed the flowage, and paddled along the shore down to the Danforth Dam into a 15-mph headwind with gusts around 30-mph. It was a real slog. We pulled into the boat ramp at around noon. Day 3 paddling – around 7-miles.

Take out at Danforth Dam

It was clear that we didn’t have time to do the portage and 7-mile trip down to Bancroft, so we needed to get a ride back to our cars. Fortunately, there was a guy sitting in his truck in the parking lot. We struck up a conversation and he offered to give Jonathan a ride - problem solved.

This trip was definitely a case of Type 2 Fun. It was cold, cloudy, windy and rainy. We spent most of our time cold and wet. We were paddling heavily-loaded boats through shallow water and against strong headwinds. But in the end, we pulled together and made it work. We only paddled 26-miles total, but the camping and comradery was still great.

 

Links:
My Pictures
My Video

Planning for Spring Camping - Baskaheagan Stream

There’s finally a camping trip in the works. I only did a couple of overnight trips last year, and work is making it tough again this year, but we now have a spring trip on the calendar - the Baskaheagan in Maine.

Jonathan described this trip as an undiscovered gem with numerous campsites that allow for an easy 3 or 4 night trip. It’s mostly flatwater and lakes, but very pretty and remote. The trip is dependent on water levels and can typically be paddled from early May to early June, and in the fall when the water level is sufficient.

Based on Jonathan’s experience last year we can expect a somewhat boney run to the first campsite on the river. Then river/lake to the first island campsite. Then lake and quickwater to the second campsite. After that there is a short carry around the dam in Danforth followed by some class I/quickwater to the takeout above a class III pitch.

Here is the plan:

• May 16th – we all gather at Jonathan’s in Wiscasset.
• May 17th – pack up for the drive up to the White Farm Road put-in in Topsfield. Run the shuttle, and then paddle down to the Upper Baskaheagan Campsite for the night - 1.5 miles.
• May 18th – continue down Baskaheagan Stream to Baskaheagan Lake. Camp at either the Long Island or Round Island Campsites – 9-miles not including any exploration of the lake.
• May 19th – continue across Baskaheagan Lake and renter Baskaheagan Stream. Camp at the Narrows Campsite near Crooked Brook Flowage – 12 miles.
• May 20th – continue down Baskaheagan Stream to the take-out at 2000 Road in Bancroft with a portage of the dam in Danforth – 10 miles. Pack up and drive back to Wiscasset for the night.
• May 21st – get up early and drive home.

So far the group is me, Jonathan, Conrad, Ellen, and Jules. Should be a lot of fun. Here's hoping for water, nice weather, and not too many bugs.

Ideas for Spring Camping Trips

I got an email from Jonathan with some suggestions for our spring camping trip. His thoughts were pretty ambitious.

Allagash

Indian Pond Stream or Churchill Dam to Allagash Village. Put in depends on wind forecast. Five or six nights. Lakes and moving water.  Class II at Chase Rapids. Shuttle to/from put in to Allagash Village. Again last week in May – 8-hour drive from Woonsocket.

The Allagash Wilderness Waterway is Maine’s best known canoe trip and has attracted paddler’s for more than a century. Henry David Thoreau ventured into this region more than 150 years ago by traveling into the Allagash via the Mud Pond Carry from the West Penobscot watershed. One of the great appeals of the Allagash River is its combination of large, glimmering lakes with a swift moving river. Sourced by some of the largest lakes in Maine, including Chamberlain Lake, Eagle Lake, and Churchill Lake, the Alligash allows many options of multi-day canoe tripping throughout the 102-mile waterway.

Baskahegan Stream

Undiscovered gem in Northern Washington County. Newly established camp sites on Baskaheagan Stream and Lake. Three or four night trip. Short portage at Danforth (with resupply possible at a general store). Slow water and lakes but very pretty and remote. Self shuttle possible.  Second or third week in May – 6-hour drive from Woonsocket.

Mostly a flat water trip, this remote soft adventure is available from May to mid-June and in the fall when the water level is sufficient. A great 1-4 day canoe trip with several put-in and takeout options. Beginning off route 6 near Topsfield, you’ll paddle 7.75 miles down a remote scenic stream and deadwater on your way to Baskahegan Lake.  After crossing the lake, continue down the stream with some moving water, some flatwater and great wildlife viewing. Popular take out is in Bancroft above the confluence with the Mattawamkeag River.

Debsconeag Loop Paddling Trail

From a post on CanoeTripping.net - 6-hour drive from Woonsocket.

The Debsconeag Loop Paddling Trail is meant to be traveled in a clockwise direction, west from Spencer Cove across Ambajejus and Pemadumcook Lakes and then north across the watershed divide to the Debsconeag Lakes to return southeast on the West Branch of the Penobscot River. From Third Debsconeag Lake there is an optional side-trip to Fourth Debsconeag. This route contains several portages and two major falls along the West Branch of the Penobscot. Videos from Maine Tripper - Part 1 and Part 2.

Machias River

Just below 5th Machias Lake or at exit of 4th Machias Lake to Machias Town. Four or five nights. Several (maybe) optional and one compulsory portages. Mostly moving water. Shuttle from Machias Town. Second week in May (Beware – may overlap with Mother’s Day!) – 6-hour drive from Woonsocket.

With the feel of a northern river, this scenic and wild waterway is downeast whitewater canoeing and camping at its finest. The Machias River is less traveled than the Allagash, Penobscot, and Saint John Rivers, and easier to access. The headwaters offer a series of scenic lakes and marshes, while the river offers numerous class I-II rapids and several technical class III rapids that can be lined or portage.

St. John River

Baker Lake to Dickie (no desire to start at 5th St John Pond!). Six nights. Moving water all the way with a Class III on days 4 and 6. Usually have one day for a layover. Shuttle to/from Baker Lake. Last week in May – 8-hour drive from Woonsocket.

One of Maine’s finest remote canoe trips, the St. John River flows 128 miles from its headwaters at the St. John Ponds to the Allagash River just below the town of Dickey. The trip from Baker Lake to the Town of Dickey is 105 miles and can be done in six or seven days. The river has an even gradient and no portages. Later in the trip is the mile-long Big Black Rapids, and downstream from the Big Black Rapids and near trip’s end, is the Big Rapids, which are 2 miles long. Most groups put in at the outlet of Baker Lake.  Best run mid-May to mid-June.

St. Croix River

Classic Down East trip - could be a three/four/five night trip depending on how much of the lakes are included. The core trip is 2 or 3 days from Vanceboro to Kellyland. Mostly moving water and class I with one class II+ (Little Falls). Plenty of campsites but in theory one is meant to stick to the US or Canadian side for camping. Bring your passport! C&C Canoe for the shuttle. Second or third week in May - 6-hour drive from Woonsocket.

The St. Croix River arises in the small town of Vanceboro from its sources in East Grand and Spednic Lakes, and continues to its outlet with the Atlantic Ocean in Calais. The river meanders through the beautiful forests of eastern Maine. Featuring over 25 distinct rapids, ranging from light rips to Class II+ such as Little Falls and Canoose Ledge and the aptly named Rocky Rips. Trips on the St. Croix River can rage from 2 to 8 days with the most popular being a 4 day trip from Vanceboro to Kellyland.  

West Branch of the Penobscot River

Roll Dam to Chesuncook Village - could work as a 3 or 4 day trip. We probably would not be able to self shuttle - 7-hour drive from Woonsocket.

Best time to go is June through early September. Headwaters begin above Saboomook Lake. Below Saboomook there are 2 miles of class II-III rapids, which makes for an optional full day of whitewater canoeing. Below Roll Dam, the river flattens and widens out. It is 6.75 miles to where Lobster Lake enters on the right. A trip to scenic Lobster Lake (3 miles) can provide for a relaxing trip with its sandy beaches and beautiful setting. From the confluence of Lobster Stream and the Penobscot, the river flows easily for 15 miles to Chesuncook Lake. Chesuncook is a 19 mile paddle offering views of Katahdin to the east and a stop at remote Chesuncook Village to check out the local history and visit ‘The Store’.

East Branch of the Penobscot River

Katahdin Woods and Waters - 7-hour drive from Woonsocket.

Below the Grand Lake Matagamon dam is the scenic and rugged East Branch of the Penobscot River with whitewater rapids and views of the Traveler Mountains to the west in Baxter State Park. It is a 27-mile trip from the Matagamon Wilderness Campground to Whetstone Falls with several mandatory portages around scenic waterfalls including Haskell Rock Pitch, Pond Pitch, Grand Pitch and Hauling Machine Pitch. 

Conrad suggested some trips that are closer and a little less ambitious:

• Magalloway to Lake Umbagog
• Mooselukmeguntic to Lower Richardson
• Saco
• Casco Bay or Beal Island and Maine Island Trail

I decided that I wanted to do all of them, but we seem to be leaning toward the Allagash in May.

We'll see...

Links:
Canoe the Wild Registered Maine Guides

Maine Trails Guide Service