Had a great experience White Water Rafting for the first time. This place is definitely a more calm…read moreexperience, I've seen many videos of much more extreme rafting but this was a good start. Would definitely recommend for those who don't want something too intense but still will have a good time. They also take pictures of you while on the raft that is sent to your email almost right away. Tom was our guide and was great. The best personality, really easy to joke around with and talk. He does try to freak you out before you start but it is so fun. He makes sure you have a good time and get the most out of the experience. The place itself is also a camping ground and other activities. It doesn't have a bathroom but it does have an outhouse and changing room. For the actual rafting everyone gets on, you have the option after the first round you can go on the duck which is like your own kayaking experience or get in the front as the princess of the boat. We went 4 rounds of rafting, the last round definitely was the most intense and fun. After the rafting you can choose to go tubing. Tubing was definitely a little intense since you go down the same river. We go stuck at the end, the current was crazy strong but thankfully there were kayakers and paddle boarders who come regularly to come help us.

The staff and service I encountered at Northern Waters Outfitters in Errol, NH was the most…read moreunprofessional that I have ever experienced in my 30 years of wilderness travel. After a 2 hour paddle to my campsite on Lake Umbagog, I unloaded my kayak and discovered that the kayak had taken on significant water due to a leak in the rear bulkhead. There was a gallon or two in the compartment, along with my belongings. It was a mess. And the added water weight explained why the boat was dragging. I left numerous polite voicemails and wrote several emails over the next 24 hours, describing the problem and requesting a replacement boat. No one returned my calls, and the one email I received indicated I'd get a replacement kayak brought to me that day. But it never arrived. With an impending storm, we thought it was risky to attempt to paddle back in a boat that was already leaking, and with no replacement boat, we decided to be safe and cut our trip short to avoid paddling in the rain. So, our trip was cut short due to the leaking boat provided by Northern Water Outfitters. More so, it was cut short due to the complete lack of response to the problem. When I arrived back at Northern Waters Outfitters, I had to hunt down someone to assist me (as it had been when I'd initially rented the kayak). When I explained what I had been through to the staff member, he belittled me and insinuated that I was not "patient enough" when waiting for the replacement boat. Note: We had been waiting all day the previous day, at the campsite. We had not been able to kayak around and enjoy the lake on our trip, because we were waiting for the boat, and because it didn't feel safe. I was forced to cut my trip short as I did not feel safe returning with a leaky boat, along with taking in rain (no spray skirt was issued). This staff member was rude and condescending. He again stated, with an attitude, "I was bringing you the boat". When I explained that my concern was based on my extensive experience and knowledge as a wilderness guide in the past, he reacted by mocking me for being a "world renowned expert" (which I never claimed to be) and continued to belittle me. At that point, I told him I expected a refund for the full rental period. He responded with statements such as "you'll get your refund" "whatever you want, expert". His attitude was perplexing, as I'd been extremely patient and polite for the duration, despite the circumstances. While I was issued a refund for the rental, no one from Northern Waters Outfitters had contacted me with an apology or to learn more about how they could have prevented this situation in the first place. Based on the condition of their boats, their customer service, and disregard for my safety, I cannot recommend this outfitter to anyone who is seeking to rent kayaks in Errol, NH. I see that this business has good reviews in the past. Perhaps the owner needs to take note of who he's leaving in charge.

Grafton Notch State Park occupies 3,129 acres (1,266 hectares) surrounding Grafton Notch, the…read moremountain pass between aldpate Mountain and Old Speck Mountain. The drive to it along ME 26 was beautiful, despite the intense and brutal heat on the day of our first visit. There are roadside turnouts for both Mother Walker Falls and Screw Auger Falls; the water flow at the falls was markedly curtailed due to the current drought conditions. You'll find signage that explains this area's glacial and geologic history. The trails leading to the waterfalls are short and well-marked, with uneven rock and forest flooring. Tip: Apparently Screw Auger Falls is so named because it looks as like someone took a giant auger and drilled large quantities of rock out of this quite sizable granite rock formation formation Tip: Dogs are allowed here for no additional fee. They're permitted throughout the park and on the trails; but not on the beaches I totally enjoyed everything I saw here on my first visit, and have already gone back a week ago. I expect to make visiting this very special destination a regular habit :-)

Grafton Notch State Park, one of Maine's scenic byways, is always going to have a really special…read moreplace in my heart: it's the first time I stepped on the Appalachian Trail! And, I don't know, you don't forget that do you? Screw Auger Falls - Anytime I get the chance to play on rocks and waterfalls, I'm going to! The Bear River has areas of expansive smooth rocks that may or may not be accessible (depends on how much water is flowing). On one side, there's a tinier waterfall; the other side, the gorge where Screw Auger spills down. The rocks here are so interestingly carved and worn because of the years and years (and years) of water washing over them. Mother Walker Falls Turnout - I think this is where The Abandoned Road is, an interesting stone stairway, a wee cave, and some information about "this section of Bear River in the deep gorge below is called Mother Walker Falls. Roaring over broken rocks and falling into little pools, the river gradually drops a total of 98 feet." You can't see much because of the density of the trees. Moose Cave - This is a 1/4 mile loop of mostly packed surface, stairs, some boardwalks and planks, and a few steep drop-offs. There's a reindeer moss garden before Moose Cave which was formed when a great slab of granite broke away from the mountainside. Supposedly at some point an unlucky moose got trapped here. Eyebrow Trail/Table Rock - So now we get to some hiking. I did some research that suggested Table Rock (2380°, 2.4 miles; specifically going orange to blue to white [AT]) was slightly easier than Eyebrow (2600°, 2.1 miles; specifically going orange to white [AT]). Either way, you get to spend some time on the AT, and some folks are here just to step foot, snap a photo, and move on. We decided to do Eyebrow Trail and it was one of the toughest hikes I've ever been on in the best way possible; it ignited a passion in me I didn't know I had! There were areas where you had to scale the mountainside with an iron cable bolted into the ground; other areas where you had to climb vertically on a rock surface via an iron ladder. The summit's views reminded me of areas of the Highlands in Scotland; and, I don't know that I've ever smelled pine so raw and cold and crisp before. I will never forget this hike; maybe sometime I can come back and do Old Speck (4180°)! Spruce Meadow Turnout - We stopped here to have lunch. If you walk a little further then where most of the picnic tables are, there's a lone table facing an expanse of stunning mountain. It's a good place to have a good meal with a good friend. Scenic Turnout - There's not much that here, a trio of signs/placards that talk about the area. What a beautiful Maine spot this is!

I have been on many white water rafting trips but yesterday's trek down Maine's Rapid River was the…read morebest. Our expert guide Beech was knowledgeable, and safety-minded. If you are looking for a great family day on the water in Northern NH give ELC a call.

Nothing to say except... beyond the expectation! Excellent! Staffs are super friendly, helpful,…read morefull of energy!!! Thank you everybody :) Thank you Zac for an awesome photos, you are so good with your paddling! Special thanks to Arron! He was so fun and helpful and so much energy in him!

I, along with my bridal party, had an awesome time tubing with Maine River Runners this weekend…read more Highlights are as follows: -Friendly staff from beginning to end -Tubes with headrests -Cooler floats that allow you to bring your own snacks and drinks -Straps that allow tubes to stay connected to each other and/or the cooler float -A river that actually moves I would highly recommend this company for a successful tubing experience.

Outstanding experience for a second year. It has been a summer tradition in the making. We love…read morethat you end the river trip at your car. The convenience of ending the day to change right at your belongings is key. We loved the river experience bringing our own lunch and beverages and stopping on the bank to enjoy the nature. The water temp was perfect and flowing. We did the 4 hour trip. It was ideal with kiddos ages 7-10. The owners are knowledgeable, friendly and attentive to details. We can't wait for another trip through River Runners. Oh and the support staff at the end bringing the canoes back up to the garage work their tails off. Love the hustle and work ethic they brought !! Well done!!

We could have stayed all day just admiring the beautiful view, enjoying the sun and the refreshing…read morebreeze. I wish I could live on this pond in the summertime. It really is big enough to be a lake and it goes by a couple of different names. It was quiet with just a few people around. A boat ride around the pond is ideal to fully appreciate the beauty of of the area.

Beautiful New Hampshire park bordering Maine and not too far from Canada…read more Great fishing spots, hiking trails, and mountain/water views. Definitely check it out!

I hesitate to let the secret out about this campground, but the staff is so nice and the facilities…read moreso well kept that they need a good shout out and a big thank you! We're already making plans for next year to return. The lake is pristine and secluded, there are canoes available and remote sites on the lake where you can canoe or kayak out yourself or get dropped off. True wilderness camping in the great north of NH. I do want to mention that we camped with a 18 ft. rPod camper trailer and had no issues at all with access to a good choice of beautiful well kept sites. I read a few negative comments that make no sense to me. Everybody is different I guess. One of the best camping experiences we've ever had.

Hiked up to Mount Waumbek via Killkenny Ridge Trail. 7.2 mile out and back. The view at the top is…read morenot very vast, but you can enjoy the forest. In the late September I really enjoyed fall colors. Besides, this forest is very light which I liked a lot. Although this is a couple of feet under 4000 foot, still listed in the 4000footers! My blog about this hike is here at https://himebackpacker.blogspot.com/2020/09/mount-waumbek.html

Maine beauty at it's finest! Really wish we had gotten here about a month sooner, temp would have…read morebeen a little warmer (it was in the 30's thankfully) and we would have had a ton more color than what was left on the trees. But, none the less, this is still an amazing place to visit. Easy hike up the side of the mountain (it really never is overly steep)... I'd say the difficulty rating would be moderate (at best). Nice views of the stream as you hike your way up. You can even get off the path easily to take shots up stream of the Step Falls. As you hike closer and closer you can hear the rush of water passing through the space that was eroded down on the steps. Amazing views looking up and amazing views looking down into the valley area once you reach the top. I would say you can go at your own pace, but it is entirely possible to do this in 90 to 120 min round trip. Maybe 3/4 of a mile all the way in to the top with a pretty groomed trail all the way through. Good place for kids and several people even brought their pups along for some fun. Check this one out!