Canoe the Wild

2027 Schedule

Below are scheduled trips for the 2027 season. You can sign up as an individual, with friends, family, or come as a custom private group (inquire).

If you come as an individual, you will have your own private tent and we will match you up with a paddling partner.

St John River Canoe Trip (more info)

One of Maine’s finest remote canoe trips, the Saint John River flows through a forest of balsam fir and spruce. Below Baker Lake, the Saint John has an unusually even gradient, and there are no portages. The trip from Baker Lake to the Town of Dickey is 105 miles and can be done in six days. Our trip begins at the outlet of Baker Lake. Later in the trip, we’ll take on Big Black Rapids (class III)  and on the last day Big Rapids (class III). We’ll be sure to brush up on canoeing skills and commands on the calmer parts of the trip to get you ready for these rapids.

  • May 11-16 (available)

cost per person $1795.000

Bonaventure River, Gaspe, Quebec (more info)

7 day whitewater canoe trip nestled in a forest of Black Spruce. We begin our trip at Lac Bonaventure high in the Chic Choc Mountains and end near the Bay of Chalour. Lots of lively class I-II whitewater with a few class III ledge drops. Must have good paddling skills. Note, this will be Dave’s, your head guide, 24th trip down the Bonaventure River!  (pictures of our 2025 Bonaventure trip) 

  • June  4-12 (room for 8)

Cost per person $2395.00

Allagash Canoe Trip (more info)

Our best trip for spotting moose with numerous starting and ending locations. Our 5 day trips start at Churchill Lake skipping the large headwater lakes. Our 7 day trip starts on Chamberlain or Eagle Lake and includes exploring the abandoned logging trains on the shore of Eagle Lake. We recommend the minimum age be 12 for 5 day trips and 14 for 7 day trips. We try and match up trips (families with younger kids with the same). Late August and September trips tend to be all adult trips.

Meals, we serve wild caught Alaska Sockeye salmon, local sourced filet mignon and other meats, a good mix of organic, lots of fruits and vegetables to name a few. We can accommodate for vegetarians and pescatarians. Gluten free folks will need to bring substitutes as needed.

  • June 17-21, (private trip-AWWF)
  • July 12-16 (private trip-Harris)
  • July 21-25, 5 days, (available)
  • August 2-6, 5 days (available)
  • *August 9-16, 8 days (available)
  • August 11-15, 5 days (available)
  • **September 6-10, adults only, 5 days with Down East Magazine, (available)

Cost per person, 5 day trips $1550, 8 day trips $2450.00, kids $200.00 off,  kids are defined as ages 17 & younger. NOTE, if the trip is marked private, it is a custom trip and not an open session trip to sign up on.

*Traditional trip from Telos chamberlain Thoroughfare to Allagash Village. **The September trip with Down East Magazine will skip Chase Stream Rapids and be a more leisure pace.

East Branch of the Penobscot River (inquire about a custom trip for your group)

Below the Grand Lake Matagamon dam is the scenic and rugged East Branch of the Penobscot River whitewater canoe trip with views of the Traveler Mountains to the west in Baxter State Park. The East Branch of the Penobscot River drains the region north and northeast of Mt Katahdin. 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. An extended canoe trip is possible from the West Branch to the East Branch via the Allagash Wilderness Waterway and Mud Pond Carry. This is the route taken by  Henry David Thoreau in the 1800s. This is a working trip and perhaps more about the portages then the paddling! Must be in good physical condition for portaging and able to shoulder and carry a 76-85LB canoe, personal gear and some of the community gear.

Dates: (Inquire)

Cost per person, 3 day trip: $1295.00, 4 day trips $1595.00

Distances and recommended days

  • Grand Lake Matagamon to Whetstone Falls, 27 miles, 3 days
  • Grand Lake Matagamon to Grindstone Falls, 38 miles, 4 days

St. Croix River Canoe Trip (more info)

Day tours & overnight trips, 3-5 days. Designated as a Canadian Heritage River, the St. Croix flows along the eastern Maine border with New Brunswick Canada offering great wilderness scenery, moderate whitewater, maintained campsites and fishing for small mouth bass. the St. Croix is well suited for families and groups of all ages with little or no experience.

  • July 15-17, 3 days (available)
  • October  9-11, 3 days, Fall Foliage Weekend, (available)

Cost per person: day trips $175.00, 3 day trips $995.00, 4 day trips $1195.00, 5 day trips, $1395.00, ages 17 & under $50 off on multi day trips.

NE Mistissibi River, Northern Quebec (more info)

The NE Mistissibi River is one of Eastern Canada’s best whitewater canoe trips. It features over 70 sets of rapids in 70 miles, many over 1 kilometer in length. When paddling in low to medium water, there is only one short portage and several linings, making this an excellent river to paddle or pole that is not too physically demanding. Scouting more difficult rapids prior to paddling provides helpful insight on how & where to run. Fish for Brook Trout and Northern Pike. Must have good whitewater paddling skills and be good on your feet!  Note, this will be Dave’s, your head guide 13th trip on the NE Mistissibi River and he knows it well.

Dates: (inquire) (pictures of our 2025 trip)
Cost per person is $2995.00, includes all equipment, meals while on the river, meets and ends in Doubeau/Mistissini, Quebec. For adults and ages 13-17 when taking part with an adult.

Moose & Wildlife Photography, Base Camp, North Maine Woods with Down East Magazine (July outing sold out so we added a 2nd one!)

Guaranteed to see moose! Over 60 moose sightings on the June 2026 outing! We partner with Down East Magazine on this adventure renting 2 cabins on a remote Maine lake in the North Maine Woods about a 1.5 hour drive from Ashland over mostly good gravel roads. This location is known for excellent moose sightings with over 60 moose sightings last June. Late June is prime for seeing moose and other wildlife. The best times to be on the water are at first light and afternoon/evening in solo kayaks. The area is teaming with birds, wildlife, moose and offers great landscape photography opportunities. Physical requirements involve being able to get in and out of a kayak, paddle your kayak around the small lake 1 to 1.5 miles and back. The fee includes meals, accommodations, North Maine Woods day use and overnight fees, transportation from Ashland and back, kayaks and assistance on and off the water from master Maine guide Dave Conley. Note, we are limiting the group size to 5 to avoid a crowd while paddling. Moose photo credit Laura Zimfirescu

See pictures of our 2026 moose and wildlife from this remote lake

Photography Workshop Summary