Sheepscot - Reversing Falls


Comment/Warn Report Level/Upload Photos

Sheepscot,

Disclaimer

Reversing Falls

Class I

Front Wave


Front Wave
Photo of Nate Stewart by Tim Kittredge taken 8/02



River Description

This is a tidal falls like Cohasset in Mass. and Blue Hill Falls in Hancock County, ME. Two wave holes are made by the tidal rip in a narrowing area pinched by two peninsulas (see the red "target" symbol in the attached TopoZone map, about 0.3 miles South of the bridge). In contrast to Cohasset, the fun here happens on an outgoing tide (which tends to make the water warmer than Maine ocean water). The higher the tide, the better, according to pjbuehner of the Northeast Paddlers' Massage Board. He also recommends driving slowly and being friendly in town. If you park at the Grange Hall by the bridge, and make the short paddle over to the Falls, you should be okay.
See the Trip Report in the NPMB Board for more info. But be warned that the Falls Road putin can be problematic; again, parking at the Grange Hall is a better option.
StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2002-03-06 07:54:39

Front Wave

Detail Trip Report Edit  Front Wave  Sheepscot, ME(29.95KB .jpeg)

Front Wave

Detail Trip Report Edit  Front Wave  Sheepscot, ME(163.12KB .jpeg)

Back Hole

Detail Trip Report Edit  Back Hole  Sheepscot, ME(158.20KB .jpeg)

Dumping the aluminum canoe

Detail Trip Report Edit  Dumping the aluminum canoe  Sheepscot, ME(147.23KB .jpeg)

Surfing the aluminum canoe

Detail Trip Report Edit  Surfing the aluminum canoe  Sheepscot, ME(183.19KB .jpeg)


Gauge Information

Gauge Description:

Check out MaineHarbors.com or TidesOnline.com to see the forecast tide for the day you're looking to go play. Put in about 2 hours after Portland high tide.

Report - Reports of Sheepscot Reversing Falls and related gauges

Reports give the public a chance to report on river conditions throughout the country as well as log the history of a river.

Reports

When River/Gauge Subject Level Reporter
Sheepscot [ME] Dumping the aluminum canoe 10.1 ft tide Drew Friedmann
Sheepscot [ME] Front Wave n/a Andrew Kittredge

WXPort

News





Guidebooks



Let it Rain: A paddlers guide to northeastern US and Canada
$39.95

User Comments


2009-10-31 12:42:53 (10 days ago)
My name is Joan Thompson and I have purchased the home in the background in the photos of the
reversing falls in Sheepscot, Maine. I have torn the house down and built a new home designed by my
husband William Thompson, architect (former resident architect of Colonial Willliamsburg). We will
be opening a B&B, tear room/baker and antique shop here. We would be happy to rent rooms to
kayakers , with gourmet breakfast included, eggs fresh from the chicken coop and picnic baskets for
lunch on the shore. Please keep a look out. We will open summer of 2010. Edit

2009-09-21 06:31:13 (50 days ago)
CMacleod I have not seen porpoises but this weekend we shared the the spot with a sunning seal. As
we approached it was sunning itself on the river left ledge. We floated through the middle of the
rapid and hung out lower in the eddy. It watched us and slipped into the water, then swam up the
rapid a couple of times before climbing back up on the ledge and continued sunning. It kept one eye
on us for a while as we came up the eddy to play. As the water dropped and the seal was elevated
above us it paid less attention. Eventually there were six paddlers using the eddy. Combining with
the great water (tide 10.5 ft.) and great fall weather, it was a magical afternoon. Edit

2007-01-11 12:16:06 (1034 days ago)
asa wagnerDetails
I have heard rumors from a couple sources that the porpoises will congregate and play in the waves
here. Pods of these marine mammals are common on the coast in the summer and early fall. They tend
not to be afraid of boats without motors. Also, I once saw a harbor seal sunning itself on the
ledges nearby.
Add a Comment

Rapid Descriptions

icon of message No rapids entered. If you know names, and locations of the rapids please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run.


 River Alert  
 State News  
 River Links  
 NWRI - Sheepscot Reversing Falls (mobile)