Gorgeous Gorges • Cruise the Current to the Past • Capital City Charisma
What it's known for:
Rafting
Capital
Main Streets
Hiking
Rivers
About the region
To get to know the Kennebec Valley, you need only to follow the river that runs through it. That north to south journey through the valley’s 5000 square miles tells a story of recreation, culture, education and history that reveals a richly rewarding view around every river bend.
The fun starts in the Forks. That confluence of the Dead River and the Kennebec is a Maine whitewater rafting mecca, a place where the longest stretch of continuous whitewater in the East meets the Class IV rapids that roar through the spectacular Upper Kennebec Gorge.
Drift south and you’ll come to a world-class cultural attraction at the internationally renowned Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. By the time the water reaches Waterville, you’ll have education on mind, as you approach one of the top-20 liberal arts schools in the country and the gorgeous grounds of Colby College.
Your final stop before the sea is a look back at history in the capitol city of Augusta. You’ll feel a palpable connection to Maine’s past as you walk among the museums and halls of the State House Complex. But your journey to the town’s recently redeveloped riverfront will show you just how rich your future in the Kennebec Valley could be.
Towns & cities:
Augusta | Gardiner | Hallowell | Jackman | Madison | Monmouth & Winthrop | Skowhegan | The Forks | Waterville
Located on the Kennebec River, this central Maine city boasts two higher education institutions, Colby College and Thomas College, and a historic downtown filled with a variety of restaurants, shops, and services.
As we arrive in Hallowell we are chasing the sun along the hilly, white landscape that is mostly untouched except for a few places where snowmobile riders have carved out their adventures.
When I heard I would be spending a weekend in the Belgrade Lakes, I reached out to my old friend, river guide Taylor Steeves. Taylor has always had a passion for the Maine outdoors and a great sense of adventure, and I couldn’t think of a better person to help me chase down the best of this rustic region.
It’s a girls’ weekend in Belgrade Lakes and we are ready with bathing suits, bottles of wine, and a trunk that’s roomy enough to cart back a good antique find.
