This was my very first rafting. The paradox is that I was in this place 5 years ago, but I could not get on the boat because of the weather. Exactly 5 years later, I come here, to the same place, with almost the same group of friends, and the next 6-7 hours pass incredibly. I want to mention one person without whom this trip would not have been so incredible - Sean. I know that everyone says this about their guide, but they just didn't raft with Sean. Then they wouldn't say that. I will not tell you how the briefing went, how we rode the bus, etc. Nothing was interesting about it (but the instruction is essential and clear). After getting into the boat and learning all the commands (it took about 5 minutes), we were immediately thrown onto the rapids of the 5th level. These were unforgettable emotions at the very beginning of our trip. I think this is what sparked us, and we wanted more "fire and flame." In general, we sailed the first part without losses. Then there was lunch. Very tasty! The steak and rice were free! The second part was more relaxed, except for a few thresholds. On one of them, we were thrown so hard that two people and a GUIDE!!!! flew out of the boat. The rescue mission was quite successful, and in a minute, everyone was already in the boat. In general, emotions overwhelm me so much that I was ready to repeat everything immediately the next day. Unfortunately, we had to drive back to Boston. But I promise we will come back to you next year. Sean, get ready. Next time we definitely need to turn the boat over. Our entire Russian team sends you huge greetings and thanks for the unforgettable emotions! Na Zdorovie! read more

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Group Damage Report: 5 Overboard passengers 1 Lost Rainbow flip flop 4+ Bumped heads 1 Dislocated thumb 7 Whitewater rafters who were disappointed that it was over \O/ \O/ Save me! _____/_\______/_\______ _ / { } ' ###\\^^^~~~\O/~~~\O/~~~~~~\O/~~~~~~~\O/~~\O/~~~ We had a super fun guide named James who purposely tipped us out of the raft on the first fall. I was only annoyed because I lost one of my Rainbows and subsequently walked around sans one shoe the rest of the day. Sigh. I liked his style of teaching, which was more of a "Let's try it and learn along the way" rather than "Practice this, practice that." In the shadow of Mt. Katahdin, we drifted down the Penobscot River on nothing more than a giant balloon. The trip started off with class 2 and 3 rapids on the lower portion of the Penobscot River. It was complete with a stop by a huge natural water slide and more rapids before lunch. There's a couple hours of drifting and really taking in the beauty of wild Maine (which was a welcome and green relief from concrete NYC), so if you know all of your raft-mates, it's slightly more pleasant. We played games and riddles for a large portion of the drifting time. Poor James got stuck with playing our games too. A BBQ lunch is provided by Penobscot Adventures and it included all-you-can-eat steak or chicken or veggie burgers, pasta salad, an AMAZING rice dish that I would gladly consume again, bread rolls, cookies, sugary lemonade, and of course, water. After lunch, we piled back onto the buses for the best part of the whitewater rafting trip - the class 5 rapids. With names like Turkey Shooter, the Exterminator, and the Cribworks, can you really go wrong? The class 5 rapids were infinitely more fun than class 3 and 4. From now on, it's 5 all the way, baby! I wonder if I can convince my friends to make this an annual trip.... read more

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We have done the Penobscot Whitewater Rafting Adventure 3 times over the last 5 years and enjoyed our day every time. The entire staff including the guides and owners, Maureen and Daniel, provide excellent customer service, detailed safety instructions, tasty lunch, and an amazing experience on the water. While all three guides we had the pleasure of going down the Penobscot river with were nothing short of tremendous, we have to give a special shout out to Sawyer. Not only did we connect with him on a personal level and enjoyed every second of being able to chat with him during our down time, he went above and beyond to ensure we had an exhilarating trip. It truly was an amazing day and we look forward to coming back next year! Thank you Maureen, Sawyer, and crew for another incredible rafting experience that left us with so many family memories! Stanchfield/Fruin Family read more

I thought these guy's were great. On the river we bumped into quite a few companies, but ours really seemed to be superior. Our guides were sensitive to the needs of the boat, knew the river very well and delivered exactly what we wanted. As a college age group we wanted thrills and spare the leisure cruise. We certainly got that as they gave us extra time to "surf" the rapids and did the more challenging sections twice as opposed to a lazy river experience for the first half. When a few boat members were too shaken to go on the guide offered to let them off in a safe place or modify the route which I think is important.The clubhouse you leave from and come back to is very nice and has drinks and a hot tub. The lunch really leaves a lot to be desired and the guides are expected to cook as well. Overall, I was very pleased with our guides and the experience we had. read more

Our guide Will took a buddy & I out for our first river boarding excursion over the holiday weekend. Couldn't be happier with the experience. He was energetic and a great teacher, we had a blast and were thoroughly exhausted by the end of the day (in a good way!). Highly recommend. read more

It was great to get out on the river and under the sun. We caught sight of a bald eagle and had a gorgeous view of the mountain. I've had a blast on past experiences whitewater rafting, so I was familiar with the vibe that's expected. Our guide this trip was new, and that's fine, but they weren't comfortable guiding us. At one point the guide stated they "didn't have the right paddle" to surf in the water with all the other boats. The guide wasn't comfortable helping us under the mini waterfall highlight along the trip and stated several times their anxiety about moving along-we weren't slow. It was hard to have a guide not very energetic/into the trip while seeing other guides who were fully rocking out. Next time, I would look into requesting a specific guide. For the nearly thousand dollars we spent between us all for the experience, it was lacking. With that said the scenery is breathtaking and we made the most of a nice day. read more

Our group of 8 went out last weekend with Penobscot Adventures. I've rafted several times over the years but this was the first time through them , doing class V and this river. Everything was great from booking the trip with Maureen to our amazing rafting guide special Wil. Wil was just amazing !!!!! Best guide I've ever had. He was calm, fun and explained everything - you just felt comfortable in his boat. Our group was up for an adventure and he certainly provided one. The lodging was great too. Stayed at a cabin right on site and walked over to the Inn & pub for dinner. Can't wait to go back!! Highly recommend using them. read more

My girlfriend and I recently went on a trip to Maine w/ a large group of friends strictly to rafting with Penobscot Adventures. Some of the group had been going for 2 years prior and spoke about how great of a trip and company this was. We were not dissapointed. This was an unbelieveable trip full of excitement and was made even better by the great staff of Penobscot Adventures. The owner Dan was as friendly as can be and very professional. Our raft guide, Nate, aka Dr Jones, was very skilled, friendly and very helpful when my girlfriend had a minor injury. We had an absolutely outstanding time and will definitely be going back next year. With the motivation, education and dedication of Dan and his staff, there would be no reason to use any other company. read more

Whitewater rafting at its best! The best guides ever, we had Big Joe and he was outstanding! So friendly and knowledgeable! He is super down to earth and easy going! Would totally do it again!! We did the all day trip and it was so worth it! The lunch they serve was amazing. The river rice was on point! This was a very wonderful overall experience from the rafting to the food and our favorite was the people! I'm not sure what other places in the area offer but I wouldn't even bother because we had such an amazing time with P.A. We will definitely return when we come back! read more

Penobscot Adventures certainly does not fit the descriptions of the two "critics" on here. I went on a rafting trip with Penobscot the first weekend in May of this year. Mind you, they don't normally go rafting in May but they booked a special trip just for my party and even helped us out by arranging for the campground to be open as well. I, too, have rafted the Penobscot River previously and was very much looking forward to the trip, I wasn't disappointed. We booked the Penobscot Ultimate and went rafting two consecutive days. The first day was a little cold but fun nonetheless. We were supposed to do 3 runs of Gorge but unfortunately the trailer broke so we only got 2 in. Although we were a little disappointed at first, 2 trips worked out perfectly as the water level was very high and we were all tired from the adrenaline rush anyways. At no point did I ever feel as if my life was in danger. We enjoyed a great steak and beans dinner that night and anxiously awaited the next days adventure. Day two's weather was anything but beautiful, it was about 50F and raining the entire day but the trip was on. We suited up and went for the falls to go surfing. Never before have I ever done anything quite as incredible. To be held in place at the base of a waterfall, feeling the power of the water, was simply amazing. We surfed for a solid half hour or so and then continued on our way. We stopped where the glacial river joins the Penobscot and went for a swim down the waterfall there (the water was a brisk 39F). The final push was another run through the Gorge where we again stopped to have lunch. It was pouring out still and all of us were freezing so the crew took care of the cooking and equipment while we warmed up in the van. Despite the horrible weather we had, our two guides continued to keep us positive and made sure we got our money's worth. Dan took a video throughout the trip and set it to music so that we could see just how big the rapids were. He even gave us the videos for free (normally $20 or so a piece) because the trailer axle broke! At the end of the trip he offered to have us come back later in the summer for HALF-OFF so we could enjoy rafting in warmer weather! For those of you looking for a good time on the water, where you hit some big rapids and feel safe while doing so, I would definitely recommend rafting with Penobscot Adventures. A guide can only do so much to ensure you have a good time rafting, after that it depends on your attitude and willingness to let loose and have fun. Some people just can't enjoy themselves and it's better they stay off the river anyways! read more

Just returned from a day long weekend trip with these guys and I am itching to go back. Overall the experience was memorable, enjoyable and thrilling. I never felt like I was in danger as the guides went out of their way to make us feel safe and have a good time. After arriving and signing our papers, grabbing our paddles, helmets, and flotation vests we got on a bus to the lower half of the river. A crash course in paddling preempted our first waterfall. Nothing OMG class 5 rapids to begin with, but enough to get splashed and the adrenaline pumping, for what's to come after lunch. A lot of floating calmly down the river was had. For the uninitiated, I suppose this approach is better to get people comfortable with white water rafting. Lunch was pasta salad, bbq chicken, fried rice, and bread. Nothing over the top, nor should it be, however personally, I really have a sweet tooth for the rice. I definitely felt satiated for the second half of the day. We bussed it further up river to where the big current was released and put in the rafts. Another crash course in taking instructions ensued, and next we hit the Exterminator, a class 5 rapid! We even tried to surf a rapid, knowing beforehand, that in all likelihood we'd probably flip it, but the boat consensus was to go for it no matter what, and guess what? We flipped! This may be the worst possible consequence of confronting the power of nature (and 3200 GFS), and yes, it was scary the instant we started to get knocked out of the tipping boat, but in hindsight I've got to say it was the best part of the whole trip. No lies. I'd consider myself a below average adrenaline junkie, extreme sports fanatic, but getting tossed out of a boat, and living to tell about it was the ultimate high that day. Our guide, Will, was an expert on the ebb and flow of the river, and a cool guy in general IMO. His knowledge of the the Penobscot and it's mercurial attitude towards those who attempted to ride it was humbling. To say that he knew the river like the back of his hand was an understatement. He was the first one to fish me out of the water when we overturned, knew all the best parts to surf, and talked to us like qualified Olympic rowers right from the start. I could definitely sense a camaraderie between the guides, which filtered its way down to everyone in the boat. Honestly if you come expecting to have a good time, you will. The post-rafting video was corny, as you'd expect, but hit the right marks, and the photos somebody was taking from land were very well done from a photography perspective. I'd do this trip again. read more

On a glorious Maine day in August, my husband, two teens and I embarked on our rafting trip with Penobscot Adventures. We were a little late in arriving, but the company was very pleasant about it. Another family was later still, so we didn't feel too bad. Our guide was Bob, who was also responsible for the thorough safety talk we listened to before boarding the bus for the river. Having taken a 5 day raft trip down the Colorado on our honeymoon 20 years ago, I was not expecting too much adventure even though my husband and son had taken the same Penobscot trip last year and raved about it. I was pleasantly surprised that the river was so much fun. A big part of that was because of Bob's expertise and knowledge of the river. He prepared us for what was to come and enhanced what was there, doing his best to allay the fears of our 4 boat mates, 3 of whom were clearly not comfortable with white water rafting. The natural waterslide was great fun. Surfing in the rapids was really cool and obviously a learned skill for the guides. Even portaging the boat up to take a second trip down some rapids was fun. I was thrilled that it was a perfect day for floating along next to the boat and even taking a few minor rapids outside of it. We were thrown from the boat at the beginning of the trip, but knew what to do and were quickly pulled back in after a solo adventure through some white water. My 15 year old daughter was thrown a second time in some pretty major white water, but loved it!! While Bob had a great sense of humor and handled our 18 year old son's quirky banter well, I would not say he was comedian-like, as another reviewer suggested. We found him intelligent and entertaining, but completely appropriate and his knowledge of the Penobscot and rafting in general was obvious. Other than horrendous mosquitoes at lunch, which I doubt they could have prevented, our trip was a huge hit, particularly for our 15 year old daughter who may just be hooked for life. I would not recommend the full river trip for most children under 13. read more

Found a groupon for this on a trip out east this past summer. It was an awesome adventure! We actually had some little kids on our boat so the guide went a little softer, but aside from that it was great. There was a part where it wasn't safe for the younger children to be on the boat and we went into the level 4 and 5 rapids and that was a rush. I would definitely recommend this place. It's seems like they have great customer service since they accommodate people of all ages and make sure everyone has a blast! I'd be interested in going with a group of entirely adults to see if we could ever flip :) Also, the guide we had was super helpful in telling us about the hiking paths around so we did an impromptu trip the next day because of it! read more

First I would like to mention I did read Andrew F.'s review of Penobscot Adventures after booking a rafting trip. So needless to say I was somewhat apprehensive about my trip. I booked a Penobscot Utlimate (two runs thru the Rip. Gorge). I spoke with a very kind women named Maureen and explained to her that I was a solo rafter looking to join a group that needed 1 extra. I prefaced the conversation with a few requests. 1. I wanted to be in a raft with 4-6 people at the most. 2. I requested a guide who would purposely (not recklessly) take aggresive lines and "go big" . She said she had a trip opening on the 15th of Aug. that fit the bill. I told her I was very flexible and if she couldn't sort out my requests I certainly would/could understand and I would try another company. I told her I didn't want to drive 7 hours and end up in boat of 8 or more its simply not the ride down the river I wanted. She assured me that this was not going to be a problem even going as far as to give me the name of one of her top guides. So I was very suprised to find out that morning that I would be in a raft with not 6, 7 or 8 people but with 9!! I thought about bitching but decided that I would make the best of it simply because I wasnt about to turn around and drive 7 hours back home without at least giving it a try. The guide was a young lady from Washington State who was friendly enough and at least talked a good game. The first run through Rip. Gorge and the Crib was hardly a class V experience as the guide took very conservative lines especially into Extermo. After a very good but extremely heavy lunch (steak) I approached the guide and asked if she could be a bit more aggresive on this run. She said she would try. We did take a pretty good hit on Extermo. but missed the Staircase altogether. Then the "fun" began. We/she missed the Turkey Chute by a solid foot and flipped the raft. Game on! I swam the entire Crib missed the Room of Doom and preceded to swim the Arches before being fished out half drowned, with a sprained ankle and a smashed knee. Myself along with another rafter were done for the day due to our injuries. Thats rafting I know....but damn at least help me off the bus, help carry my gear, drop me off closer to base camp...something!!! I was left to hobble back to base camp using a paddle as a crutch. I thought that was very uncool. So all in all I will be rafting again but it will not be with Penobscot Adventures. With a plethora of choices in these hard economic times you would think customer service would be at the top of the list. Do what you to tell the customer you are going to do or they will go elsewhere ....Business 101. Sorry Dan and Maureen you lost a future customer. The company would be better served by addressing the concerns of those who didn't have a great time or had some issues rather than getting people to post praising the efforts of the company while attempting to rebutt every little negative thing said. I have no axe to grind and I did compliment Maureen and the lunch was great, I bought the DVD. I know the risks involved but damn, you know you got two rafters with knee injuries help them out of the bus you had to help them in its common sense. I have been rafting for over 20 years and simply not all companies are equall and this one is NOT perfect. Did I have fun,,,,hell ya. If you havent had to swim a class V you havent been rafting, People who actually reference Yelp will see through a company soliciting rebuttal reviews. read more

We visit Maine every other year for our family vacation. We usually stay in and around Bar Harbor/Acadia. This year I decided to branch out and visit Millinocket - mainly for the moose and Baxter. As I visited different sites to find things to do; whitewater rafting kept coming up. I saw there were several places offering this service. I originally had NO interest in doing this as I was terrified! As the months of planning went on I decided to call a few of these places and "just see" what they said. I thought I owed it to my husband and two teen girls:) When I called Penobscot Adventures it was actually still winter time. Maureen was incredibly helpful (unlike some other places who laughed at me for calling ahead so early). She explained all the options of trips, her personal experiences as a mom taking kids, referred me to their site for photos to help me visualize, etc. I was very impressed with her sincerity and honesty. We decided to book it. Our family did the Lower Penobscot River Soft Tour in late June. Our guide was Bob and he was FANTASTIC!!! We were met in the lot as we drove in and given instructions. Next, going through the office we received our gear and safety instructions. I had MANY questions and Bob didn't rush me or make me feel stupid. There was another guide with a group of young men who had just come off the Appalachian Trail. They talked that they had used this company many times and I'd be very safe and happy. So our two raft groups boarded the van and off we went. Our tour began with a trip down a waterslide!! Bob gave us the different options and we chose with him what we were comfortable with. I was grateful that even though he could have totally done any of the options and we would have been fine (maybe wetter), he gave us the "control" to make me particularly more comfortable. After that first run, I realized one thing. This guide KNEW this river and every crook and turn and by himself was doing it all. There were times my paddle didnt' even hit the water. I had complete confidence in him and relaxed and enjoyed the trip. I posted on TripAdvisor as well, and the one thing I mentioned there about this tour, I'll say again here. It was very personal. We were able to ride the slide again if we wanted, we surfed (as much as we wanted) we went to a swimming/slide ledge place. I watched as another group came by and it was very regimented. HUGE boats with tons of people all dressed the same and there were no choices and no repeats. They even hollered across to our guide for some technical help. Another reason I felt safe! It was an extremely windy (and actually raining a bit) day so when we got to the long part of the trip our guide and the other Penobscot guide put our two boats together. I was again impressed with the planning and safety. Our two tours had stayed close together and watched out for each other the whole time. Now it paid off. Once we were done riding together over the flat area we separated again to enjoy the last rapids. It was so incredibly wonderful! I have dozens of photos and my friends have all marveled that I went. I kept saying it was THIS PLACE - Penobscot that made it so great for us. read more

I would like to write a review about our experiences with Penobscot Adventures. We have been repeat customers for 4 years. We always bring a full raft of people to enjoy the experience of riding the rapids. We travel from just outside Boston and enjoy making the trek to Maine every year. Going back to the beginning, I did all my research online - what would we do without computers and the internet! After reading up on all the companies in the area and what they offered we were confident in choosing Penobscot Adventures. It is not always about price, even in today's economy. You have to feel comfortable with your choice along with trust and reliability in an organization. As an owner, you have to make sure to always be on your toes to ensure you keep happy, repeat customers knowing the public's opinion can make or break you. We have always had a well experienced guide and every time our guide has been awesome. Just to hear what they have to go thru just to get certified is amazing. It's not just a job for them; it is dedication to the sport and safety of their riders. From the start, we tell our guide how experienced we are and we love to do anything possible to have a fun and wild experience - and we have built up to that level. If you ask me, they love to hear our voice of adventure and it allows them to show off their trade experience. All of our trips have allowed us, as a group, to raft with the confidence in our guides and choice of company. Most of all, they also instill all safety instructions to make sure we are aware of our surroundings before, during, and after the rapid. We have realized the guide is there to teach us how to raft safely and to work as a team to avoid possible mishaps. We have always had thrilling and enjoyable rafting experiences with Penobscot Adventures. And, I think our group's return rate only re-enforces our appreciation. We have become better and smarter rafters due to their guide's instructions from our first trip to our most recent trip this past July. You should judge for yourself - we are sure you will not be disappointed. We will definitely be seeing them again next year! Thank You, Dave, Doreen and our crew read more

Last weekend we went rafting with another family with Penobscot Adventure...it was amazing. We were 4 adults and 4 kids (ages 10-14). We did the lower Penobscot river. We were all impression with their operation. From the moment we arrived till we were escorted back to our car, it was professional, entertaining and amazing. Our Guide (Mikie) was GREAT. He understood our tolerance for risk, he educated us, he entertained us and he even lent our daughter his shirt....it was a great adventure. We can't wait to go back! read more

I have rafted with Penobscot Adventures for 5 consecutive years, with 4 different guides, and I wouldn't raft with any other company. Each of my guides clearly knew the river intimately, and they obviously love doing what they do. My first time, 2007, I brought my 15 year old son, and we rode with a family group of 4 people, with Tony as our guide. Two of us fell out on the first rapid, Exterminator, and I had a very long and terrifying swim. At the lunch break, Dan, the owner, interviewed me for the video, as well as the young woman who had fallen out at the same time. Using humor and reassurance, he made us both feel a lot better about coninuing on the trip and repeating the class V's in the afternoon. In the afternoon, we succeeded in surfing Fluffy, which from my subsequent experience I know is not easy to do. The second year, I brought my son and 2 of his friends from high school. We were lucky enough to be the only customers on the raft, and our guide, Bob, gave us a fantastic, almost custom-made trip. I'm sure it's easier for the guide when he has 3 fearless 16 year olds and a dad who would be embarassed to reveal his timidity. We requested Bob again the following year and had a similarly great experience. We flipped once and I fell out once. When I fell out, Bob reflexively grabbed me almost before I hit the water, then he told my son to pull me back in as he continued to guide us down the river. In 2010, I brought my son again, and for the first time my then 21 year old daughter joined us. She is not quite as fearless and athletic as my son, and I was a bit concerned that she might not want to continue if she had an experience like I had had on Exterminator a few years earlier. I needn't have worried. She did fall in, in a class IV rapid (Popa-something), and she thought she was going to drown, but within minutes after our guide, Albie, pulled her back in, she was telling people excitedly about her experience and was ready for the afternoon's class V rapids. Albie was mature and experienced, and exuded competence, and I'm sure that that gave my daughter confidence going forward. For this year's trip, the day before Labor Day, I brought my wife for the first time. She was unbelievably nervous and we had a rookie guide, Will. Our raft-mates were 3 couples from New Brunswick. We had a wonderful time, The Penobscot has long stretches of flat water in addition to the rapids, and a rafting trip can be a very enjoyable social experience. Despite this being his first year, Will had been well-trained. He seemed to know every wave and every eddy on the river and, like each of our previous guides, he plainly loved his work. He also interacted easily with his customers. My wife fell in near the end of Cribworks, but Will got her back in the raft and she was none the worse for wear. I love rafting with this little company. read more

Very nice rafting trip, which involved us sending a man overboard in the first 5 minutes! The guide gave us options of how wild we wanted to be, and we took him up on the adventure. The safety trainings were part comedy show, so we kept interest throughout. Maureen who helps with booking was super helpful and very easy to work with. Thank you! read more

I just wanted to say how helpful Maureen was. She was so patient with me. We went back and forth for 2 days or more trying to figure out the best place and trip for me and my family. We just got back and I have to say that we had the best time and stayed at t great place. read more

Epic adventure. The morning was spent on the lower river and was a good starting point as we had never rafted before, it is pretty calm. Nate was our river guide and very nice. We stopped for a delicious lunch- wear long sleeves rafting, the mosquitoes are insane when you stop for lunch. After lunch, Sawyer took us to the upper river. EPIC!! Sawyer is an amazing guide and also hysterical-had us laughing the whole time we weren't paddling! He really knows what he is doing! Four of us got tossed out of the boat on E hole and he got three back in with no problem. I "swam" down the rapid and he picked me up in the calm water. They say if you fall out in a rapid, you feel like you are in the water for an hour but the max is 45 seconds until the rapid ends and they were 100% accurate. Felt like an hour but I have a great story to tell. You just get carried down the river and the rapid ends as quickly as it started. YO SOY FIESTA!!! read more

I couldn't disagree more with the one very negative review for Penobscot Adventures on this site. I've rafted with this company a number of times, dating back to when they started up several years ago. I've organized group rafting trips using PA for more than 30 people three times, and I can vouch for everyone because the smiles on their faces, which appeared just minutes after starting down the river (and grew throughout the day), spoke volumes. This applied even to those who were most apprehensive about rafting due to a deep-seeded fear of water. The guides made sure everyone was safe and comfortable the entire time. They were ready and able to make the trip as aggressive or laid-back as the group wanted. Aside from that, I've rafted with PA as part of a small group for the balance of trips, and we've always been met with nothing but professionalism and assistance with anything we've needed... from booking a camp site (which is not really their responsibility) to incredible flexibility regarding dates and last-minutes changes. Dan, Maureen, and their crew of knowledgeable, friendly guides are *THE REASONS* I continue to raft with Penobscot Adventures almost every year, and that's why I recommend Penobscot Adventures to everyone I know who's looking for something wildly fun to do in Maine. I should mention that their prices are phenomenal, to boot. I always do my homework and check them against the other companies around there, and they consistently beat the others' prices, especially after you consider the included food options (which taste GREAT right when you need them)! Simply said: when I first started rafting on the Penobscot, there were roughly ten companies (a little more, if memory serves me). More than half of them are gone now, and Penobscot Adventures has survived because of its loyal customers and well-deserved word of mouth. If you want the best trip for the best price, don't be swayed by the inaccurate ramblings of a guy who obviously has a personal vendetta. read more

Tons of fun! All the guides there are good-natured, personable, and knowledgeable about the river. We've been twice with this company, and couldn't be happier with the experience. Everything from the staff to the lunch completely exceeded my expectations. Plus, the fact that they take photos of you while you're rafting is nice too, for those who want keepsakes. read more

Our group had an incredible time rafting with Penobscot Adventures. We did the full day trip which included rafting the lower section of the river, a stop for lunch, followed by rafting the upper section of the river. Our guide, Will, really made our trip great. He was extremely knowledgable and taught us everything we needed to know to handle class V rapids. He made sure that everyone on the raft had a great time, even with varied levels of comfort and experience. I highly recommend Penobscot Adventures, and specifically Will as your guide. read more

Last year my friends and I rafted the Penobscot in the cold cold waters of early May. We had an absolute blast despite the weather. Maureen was great in helping me organize the trip....relieving a lot of the pressure for getting out information to people. She also let everybody book separately so I didn't have to front all of the money for everybody. We had the entire campsite to ourselves because we went in early May. It was cold but both of our guides made the trip unforgettable anyway. We are returning this summer in warmer weather and cannot wait! I would definitely recommend Penobscot Adventures to anyone. They really try hard to make your experience unique and not for lack of a better comparison like a "boston duck tour" that runs every hour. read more

My wife and I did the full day of rafting on Memorial Day 2015, which was the lower Penobscot in the morning and the Upper Gorge Penobscot in the afternoon. Their high level of professionalism and customer care started from the first time the owner, Maureen, answered the phone when I called for rafting details and didn't end until we left at the end of the day. I called several places to inquire about rafting while on vacation in Maine. When I talked to Maureen, it was a no-brainer that I was going to raft with Penobscot Adventures. The reason is because she worked with our schedule, she thoroughly answered all of the questions I had, she gave us a great price (half that of some other companies), and she genuinely wanted to help us have a great day of rafting and not just sell us a rafting trip. When we arrived the morning of the trip, all of the guides (including a super cool dog, shotsy) greeted us nicely, were happy, energetic, and I immediately knew that I was going to enjoy my day with all of them. The check-in and setup was fluid and simple. I've rafted 15+ times on other rivers, and it doesn't always go that way. Our guide du juor was Brian. It was my wife, 2 other fellas, the guide, and me in the boat for the morning session. Brian did a top notch job of giving his safety speech, giving the paddling basics, and getting us started. The other two guys in our raft struggled with a language barrier and with their paddling technique, which had to be frustrating for Brian, but he remained professional and calm and worked with them to the best of his ability. Impressive. The morning rafting was really fun. I'd call the rapids a medium difficulty, but definitely enjoyable. We had an incredible view of Mt. Katahdin throughout and saw several Bald Eagles. There was a lot of flat water floating, but we enjoyed exchanging stories with Brian and the safety kayaker. We swam, too, for as long as we could stand the chilly water in our wetsuits. Brian did manage to have me ejected from the boat while going through the last rapid, Big P, which my wife found humorous. Next up was lunch. GET THIS...STEAKS AND BBQ CHICKEN grilled riverside! It was delicious! A typical rafting lunch is lunch meats and PB&J. I was totally pumped about this lunch and was absolutely stuffed after. Kudos to the P.A. for this bonus!! For the afternoon, 3 more joined us for the Gorge section of the river, which made for a total of 8 in the boat. Turns out that we needed the paddle power for these rapids, so they were a welcomed addition! It was uber cool to put in above and raft through the exiting water from the hydroelectric power plant. The first two rapids, both class V were quite intense and exactly what I had hoped for! Brian's prep for hitting these was a class act and one of the best prep talks I'd ever had on a river. He was thorough, clear, a little humorous, but made it obvious that listening to him and paddling hard was definite necessity to be successful. We did have two get tossed out in the first rapid, but he quickly pulled them back into the boat and we made it through both rapids full of adrenaline and with big smiles. The rest of the river had some awesome rapids and great scenery and we really really enjoyed it. Lastly, to go along with my comments about Maureen, who is the owner, I'l add that our guide had nothing but great things to say about her, her husband, and their rafting company. That says a lot for the company, how they run it, and how they treat their employees. As with any company, its there to make money for somebody, but with Penobscot Adventures, it's obvious that their absolute goal is provide a great job for their employees and an amazing trip for their customers. This company is the real deal and if you're questioning which company to select for your trip, you've found them. -Robbie R read more

We had so much fun! Our guide, Jesse, was very skilled and knowledgeable, he made me feel safe but gave us an excellent adventure at the same time. read more

My group of 4 called the day before our outing, and had no issue booking and paying over the phone. Day of we showed up 30 minutes early, got our gear (life jacket, helmet, paddle, and paid $5 extra for a jacket so we wouldn't be cold). We shuttled from the home base at Big Moose campground (conveniently where we were staying) to the launching location about 25 mins away at Penobscot River. From there we met our guide and he coached us through the first exciting run of Class IV and V Rapids. After the first run, we were given a snack and a shuttle back to the launching spot to do it again- even better the second time! Our boat never flipped, and the ones that did were groups having difficulty taking direction from their guides. However, everyone who got bumped out of their boat came up with a smile on their face. Our final run came to a close and we were shuttled to the lunch location for a BBQ which was yummy and so greatly appreciated! After a final shuttle to the home base, the guides invited us in to watch a slideshow and footage from our rides. This is a humble and experienced business with your best time and safety in mind. The guides are inclusive and easygoing, and we can't wait to come back next year! read more

This was my first ever rafting trip and I won't lie, I was a little scared. We decided to go with Penobscot Adventures and took the whole day trip including the upper half with Class V rapids. Before leaving for the bus ride to the starting point, we were given instructions by Will. He was really funny and helped me reduce my fears. The bus ride is about 30 minutes to the starting point. We had the pleasure of rafting with 2 different guides. For the lower half of the river, our guide was Caleb. We were told in the bus that it was his first trip as a guide and for the second half, we will have Tiny Joe, who is more experienced. It might have been Caleb's first trip but he was very calm and composed. He cared for his crew and guided the raft really well. After the end of this half, we were provided with a sumptuous meal, and we proceeded towards the upper half of the river. This was another 30 minute bus ride. For the second half, we had "Tiny Joe", who was well experienced with this half of the river. This is the most thrilling river in New England, and it certainly lived up to its expectations. The class V rapids can get tricky, and the guide should know when and how to instruct the crew to maneuver the raft. Joe did that really well. We had a great time with him. He asked us if we wanted the trip to be more adventurous. After we all said yes, he delivered that for us. Took us through the adventurous parts of the rapids, made us surfed the waves and was always looking out for his crew. All guides and rafts of the Penobscot Adventures were looking out for their own crew and also for other rafters and crews out there. It was a great thing to see and made all the rafters more and more comfortable. I would definitely recommend Penobscot Adventures to all those looking for rafting trips in the Penobscot. Their whole team is nice and helpful and will do everything to make the trip worth your while. read more

It was my first challenging white water rafting trip. My husband and daughters 21 and18 were looking forward to it. I was fearful. We had Sebastian aka 'Seabass' who was the most fantastic guide. I felt safe because he would let us know what to expect and how to handle it. I really enjoyed it. He surfed the river which added to the fun spinning the raft so we all got the experience. We all got out to do the natural water slide. What a blast that was. The personalities of all the guides were fun and easy going yet skilled. They looked out for each other's rafts and clients. The lunch was quite good. Steak, chicken, vegiburger, rice, pasta salad, cookies, water, iced tea. This was such a good time for everyone. I highly recommend Penobscot adventures. Love to all, from the Keller family. read more

I just got back from a weekend in Millinocket on the Penobscot and I am already planning my return trip for next month. I can't say enough good things about this company and my first experience whitewater rafting. We had a group of 7-- 2 which were extremely hesitant and scared and only 2 others who had gone before, the rest of us were first timers! By lunch EVERYONE was having a great time. Our guide, "special Will" was OUTSTANDING. I honestly could not have asked for a better guide, he was so in-tune with the river, he knew every twist, turn, rock and stellar surf spot. He knew all of our names in the first 5 minutes and he had us all laughing and so comfortable where we could otherwise feel nervous and scared. His energy rubbed off on the group and really allowed us all to relax and get the most out of our trip. Everything was seamless. I am very rarely wowed by service nowadays as it all seems so corporate and uptight. Going back to the cabin with everyone and enjoying a beer and laughing at the photos was such a special end to a perfect day. We felt like we belonged and never felt like we were just another customer and all joining together like that at the end of the day made us feel like we "belonged" with everyone! read more

My family and I recently did the Full Penobscot River rafting trip which consisted of the lower part of the river with smaller rapids, a break for lunch, and the finishes on the upper portion with much more intense rafting. Check-in was quick and easy as was renting wet-suits, which we did. Our guide Sawyer was fantastic; a lot of fun, and extremely personable. The lunch was excellent, far better than what we expected. The mosquitoes were pretty bad at the lunch spot however so I would recommend bringing bug spray with you on the bus/van and spray yourself down when you stop there. The second half of the trip, the upper portion, was fantastic and perfect for adrenaline junkies like us. In fact my family and I had such a great time that as soon as we got back to base camp at the end of our adventure we signed up for the 1/2 day upper portion for the next day. The Half day trip picks you up at Abol Bridge where they bring you to the lunch spot for a bite to eat and then off to the upper section of the river. Luckily we got Sawyer as a guide again and he did not disappoint as the group we ended up with that day was a bit more adventurous than the day before. The fact of the matter is that no matter what company you use they all take the same river, what separates one company from another are the people, and Penobscot Adventures have some terrific people working for them. On both our trip we felt like part of their collective family. I highly recommend them and would definitely use them for rafting trips in the future. This was the highlight of our Maine vacation by far! A shout out also to Joe and Logan for their efforts as well as Dan and Maureen for running a top notch company. read more

My friends recruited me to go after they had a phenomenal trip themselves the year before. I've never been but I'm always up to the challenge and the thrill of something new and WOW! I'm a lifer. I didn't mind the 8-10 hour drive both ways because it was well worth it. We arrived Thursday night checked in at base camp no problem. Friday morning we were amped and ready to go. Dan and the other guides go over EVERYTHING, how to hold the paddle, what to do if you or someone else falls over, etc. before you are even close to the water. There were 6 newbies out of 8 in my raft, we approach the water, and until we got the hang of it we practiced paddling under the professional instruction of Dan. On to the trip. We had our share of fallouts, but because we were so well prepared there were no moments of freaking out, everyone knew how to handle the situation. The adrenaline rush is like no other, this rafting trip was amazing. After 8 hours of attacking the rapids it was over. We went back to base camp where the relationship didn't end. The job of being a guide was long over but Dan and a few other guides came and hung out around the fire with us. Everyone had an amazing time and went back this year, I dislocated my knee 5 days before so i was beyond pissed being unable to go. Everyone we encountered were genuine and nothing but encouraging, polite, friendly. Last year we were 8 people, this year we were 14. Everytime we come back and tell the story more people want to go. Next year we hope to have 3 full rafts. I cannot say enough about the quality of an experience Dan and the staff @ Penobscot Adventures provided. read more

The are no words for how much I appreciate every facet of my experience. To say our guide Albie was great is a gross understatement. He was experienced, knowledgeable, and funny as all get out. One of the things I appreciated most was how he encouraged and congratulated my 58 year old mother. It was to him I'm sure a small gesture but to a woman with less than stellar self esteem it meant the world. All the other guides were fun and friendly too when we stopped for lunch. The lunch was delicious by the way. Beyond our day of experience I was a fan of them as a company before we even got there. Our trip was originally scheduled in May and I was unfortunately hit in a nasty car accident right before and despite the last minute change they were so incredibly kind and understanding. I have gone rafting before and the experience doesn't begin to measure up. We now plan to return every year. read more