Saco River Canoe Trip

Who: Skill level is for Boy Scout and Venturing -aged boys.
Where: 50 miles of the Upper Saco River stretching from Bartlett, NH to Hiram, ME
Description: Scouts will be able to canoe or kayak along this mostly gentle flowing river. There are limited stretches of intermediate-advanced whitewater depending on the time of year and height of the river. There is also one mandatory portage (less than 0.25 mile) at Swan's Falls Dam in Fryeburg, ME. Our Troop transported our own boats, gear and scouts, but there are several established guide and rental services in the area (Saco Bound, Woodland Acres Camp n Canoe, etc). These services provide canoe rentals, transportation, camping, etc. Potable water should be carried with each boat. There are few water sources along the river. River water should be filtered or purified before drinking.
One Possible Trip - 6 Days & 5 Nights - 50 mile trip for Fifty Miler Patch:
Day 1 We started at Redstone on a Sunday afternoon. Weekends should be avoided due to extremely crowded conditions on the river (also due to a large presence of alcohol use). The Put-In is located behind the Conway Police and Fire Department just off Route 302. Public parking and picnic tables are available here. Leaders transported cars and gear down the river to AMC Swan's Falls campground where we would spend our first night while the scouts ate lunch and received safety briefing from the Senior Patrol Leader. Our first leg was approximately 10 miles to the Swan's Falls dam and portage. The only challenging water was less than one mile from the start (50 yards worth of intermediate(?) whitewater with a depth of 3 feet). Upon taking-out at the portage, the boats were left ashore for the night. We retrieved the car from upstream, while the scouts set-up camp and prepared dinner.
Day 2 Up and at it early! We had breakfast, struck camp and prepared for the first full day! The scouts had to work a service project to achieve the Fifty Miler patch. Our troop chose to clean trash from along the river on our trip. While they policed the portage area and campsite, leaders moved cars and equipment to our next campsite at Fiddlehead Wilderness Camping. One car left at back at Swan's Falls, we proceeded down river once again. We traveled about 8 miles to the campsite, which was about a mile south of the Route 5 bridge. Swimming in the river after camp was erected compensated for the short travel day.
Day 3 Proceed for another 12 miles along the river to an interesting landmark. Walker's Rips are a short 10 yards of quick water at the site of an ancient bridge. We stopped for the day just before the rips. The State of Maine owned Walker's Falls Campground provides campsites with a lean-to and a picnic table for a modest fee. After the tents were erected, the scouts made use of the sandy swimming areas and rope swing over the river. NOTE: Technically there is no road access to this campground so we packed in all our equipment and provisions. There was no source of potable water. We used filters to obtain drinking water. Pit toilets were available for use. There is access by road to this campground for the rangers. We didn't check to see if we could have used it.
Day 4 The troop spent another day at Walker's Falls Campground. Scouts practiced patrol cooking skills, canoeing merit badge skills, orienteering and hiking skills. Some scouts took to the boats and proceeded a short distance back upstream to Pleasant Pond. This area offers fine views of nature and provided the boys an opportunity to paddle against the current. Lovewell Pond is approximately 2.5 miles downstream for more advanced paddlers who are able to go against the current.
Day 5 Canoes and kayaks paddled another 9 miles downstream to Woodland Acres Camp and Canoe just before the Brownfield Bridge. This is a private campground that offers group campsites. It has all the amenities including showers, flush toilets, coin laundry, camp store, recreation hall, etc. HINT: The campground will charge parking fees for extra vehicles. We chose to limit the number of vehicles brought into the campground and park in the public boat ramp parking area just outside the main entrance. Leaders retrieved upstream vehicles from Fiddlehead Campground while camp was being made.
Day 6 The final 14 mile stretch of water is very slow moving if not still. Even so, the troop made excellent time to the take out in Hiram, ME just before the Route 117 Bridge. The upstream vehicle was retrieved while the scouts cleaned and packed the boats onto the trailers. We had a pizza party in Fryeburg, ME on the trip back home.
More advanced canoeists could make this trip in one or two nights or they could make a longer trip.
Cost: Variable depending on campground fees, etc. The above 6 day trip was for 24 people at $50 each (included all fees and food).
More Information: www.woodlandacres.com