Dead
Location: Western Maine (about 120 miles north of Portland; about 200 miles north of Boston).
Length of trip: 16 miles in four hours.
Season: About 20 dam releases a year between May and October (high-volume releases in spring and fall; low-volume recreational releases in July and August).
Weather: Daytime temperatures in spring climb into the 60s and 70s (F). Youll find warmer days in summer (mid-80s), cooler in autumn (50s and 60s). Be prepared for blackflies in May and June. After Labor Day the water remains warm and the crowds thin.
Lodging: Cabins, cottages, B&Bs, and motels in Bingham, Caratunk, and Jackman.
Boats: Kayaks, paddle rafts.
Rapids: Class III and IV in spring and fall, Class II and III in summer. The temperature of the clear water ranges from 65¡ to 70¡ in summer.
Special features:
- Longest stretch of continuous white water in the East.
- Runs through remote, serene woodlands.
- Starts relatively slowly, then builds to heart-stopping Poplar Hill Falls.
- Wildflowers in spring, fiddlehead ferns in May.
- Glorious autumn colors blazing against a backdrop of green pines.
- White-tailed deer, moose, black bears, ospreys, bald eagles.
- Good trout fishing at confluence of Dead and Kennebec Rivers.
- During high-volume releases, suitable for experienced paddlers. During low-volume recreational releases, suitable for river runners of all levels, seniors in good physical condition, families, and the physically challenged who are comfortable in and around the water.
Nearby excursions:
- Appalachian Trail.
- 90-foot Moxie Falls, New Englands highest waterfall.
- Moosehead Lake.
For a list of outfitters:
- Maine Publicity Bureau, Post Office Box 2300, Hallowell, Maine 04347-2300; +1 207 623 0363 or 800 533 9595, fax +1 207 623 0388. Ask for the guidebook Maine Invites You, which includes a list of outfitters. Try to book at least eight weeks in advance.
For more information:
- Raft Maine Association, P.O. Box 3, Bethel, Maine 04217; 800 723 8633.
|