Penobscot, W. Branch
Seboomook Dam to Roll Dam Campsite(Seboomook)
| Difficulty | III |
| Length | 2.9 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 25 fpm |
| Reach Info Last Updated | October 15, 2024 |
River Description
Technical info
Put in elevation........1017'Take out elevation......968'Total drop..............49'Average drop/mile.......25'Mile 1 drop.............10'Mile 2 drop.............39'Distance................2.0 milesRiver width average.....180'River geology...........ledge, many of themRiver water quality.....excellent.Scenery.................Beautiful north Maine woods forested sceneryWildlife................Deer, Moose, bears, Merganzers, Hawks, eagles, comerantsDescription
It's remote, accessed only by a driving a 37-mile dirt road, it will cost you $8 ($5 Maine residents) per person per day for the right to use this dirt road, and you have to paddle a half mile of flatwater before you get to the good stuff; but it's worth it. The Seboomook section of the West Branch of the Penobscot is a great place for almost any boating skill level at the low summertime release level. The drop and pool nature of this river is unlike most other New England rivers, which have long boulder strewn rapids. Novice paddlers will find they can carry any or all the drops without bushwhacking several hundred yards. If they choose to run, the drops are intense but very short with a large slow recovery pool below. Intermediate paddlers will find the Seboomook to be a great place to learn how to scout a rapid, boof drops and punch holes. Advanced paddlers will find challenge playing the holes at the base of the drops and boofing gnarly lines at E and I Ledges.
All in all the Seboomook is a great place to visit.
Says Bear, of the Northeast Paddlers' Message Board:
...Let's talk serious whitewater fun (those Honyaks in Maine have plenty!)...try your hand at paddling the West Branch of the Penobscot's Roll Dam section...no dam here, just a few miles of beautiful ledges/pool drops..but, more fun than a barrel of monkey
River Features
Put in ledges
If you put in at the trail slightly upstream from the road washout, you can carry down to the base of two river wide ledges. Carry up and run on river left through two grabby holes. Some play at the base of the drop while waiting for the shuttle crew. Alternatively, run river left, then ferry river right.
River map
B-Ledge
One of the smaller ledge drops comes shortly after A-Ledge. Good play at the base.
A-Ledge
After a long flatwater paddle the first A-Ledge is a sight for sore arms. Run down the middle.
C-Ledge
Easily run on river right. Good surfing half way down.
E-Ledge
Wide conjested drop with multiple lines. The far left slot is most difficult. The far right slot opens up in medium to high water. The usual route is down the middle over a double stairstep drop avoiding ledge and holes along the way.
D-Ledge
Big grabby hole at the bottom of this drop. Just get some speed up and ram through.
F-Ledge
Easy hole to punch
G-Ledge
Simple drop into a big hole but the hole tends to flip boaters quite often.
I-Ledge
Multiple options here, the ledge is very wide at this point in the river. There are many options to run through Left slot, middle slot, right slot, left of center slot, you get the idea. The easiest is far left where most of the water flow goes. There is also a rough playhole at the base of left slot. Center and Left of center slot (colloquially known among paddlers as 'Brie's Bloody Bee Boof') are more verticle and can be a wonderfull place to learn how to boof a drop. Watch out for yellow jackets in the eddy below. Carry back upstream and run over or try a different slot.
J-Ledge
A very simple drop but has the biggest hole on the Seboomook. Stay center to left of center dropping through the hole at the bottom. Shallow and rocks on the right could be a problem.
K-Ledge
The last drop before the takeout. It is a double ledge drop with a slanted second ledge that breaks from river left to right. Catch the wave just after the first ledge on river right then surf it down to river left.
Trip Reports
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Have run the Seboomook many times in a kayak or ducky around this level, and it is a bunch of fun. Decided to see what would happen with a 16' raft and a crew of 8.
It was doable, but not great - portaged Meat Cleaver (called E-ledge here) the first time, the second run we ditched most of the crew and ran far river right and squeaked through. 'K-ledge' was scrapey both times - would portage if I did it again.
Managed some surfing at 'D-ledge' and Movemaker (I-ledge?), and the ledge on river left directly after Movermaker too.
Overall, not worth it - but it was fun to be on the river anyways!
Maybe 600+ cfs it may be more worth it.