The Seboeis River Paddling Trail runs for 20 miles between Grand Lake Road and Lunksoos Camps. An easily accessible put-in at the Seboeis Bridge on the Sherman Lumber Company Road provides the option of dividing the Paddling Trail into a 14-mile upper section with quicker water or a 6-mile lower section of easy paddling. The last few miles of the Paddling Trail are over calm water on the East Branch of the Penobscot River below its confluence with the Seboeis.
The first 1 mile of water below Grand Lake Road is characterized by moderate Class I and II rapids. Sugarloaf Mountain to the east is briefly visible. After approximately 1 mile, the river banks begin to rise and evergreens are visible on the ledges downstream as the unrunnable Grand Pitch approaches. Portage along river left anywhere accessible and join the hiking trail which runs along the east bank of the Seboeis to the bottom of Grand Pitch. Pass through a forest with a rich understory of mosses and lichen to the put-in at the pools below Grand Pitch.
Below Grand Pitch, Class II rapids quickly give way to Class I water and the river often braids itself through island channels. For the next 10 miles the river passes through moose country and the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument.
14 miles from Grand Lake Road, the Seboeis River passes under the Seboeis River Bridge on the Sherman Lumber Company Road. A hand-carry boat launch on river-right just below the bridge provides an alternative take-out point.
Below the Seboeis River Bridge, the river continues for another 3 miles through smooth and Class I water to its confluence with the East Branch of the Penobscot River. Here the East Branch is calm and wide. Big Seboeis campsite may be found 0.5 miles from the confluence on river-right.
Lunksoos Camps boat launch is 3 miles downstream from the confluence of the Seboeis and East Branch of the Penobscot. Pass through the Lunksoos Deadwater and look for the boat launch on the east bank. Camping is available at the Lunksoos Katahdin Woods and Waters turn-out. Five single sites are across the road from the boat launch and two group sites are located near the boat launch. Reservations for the campsites are available through recreation.gov.
The Seboeis River is best run in high water and is typically too low after mid-summer.
Changes in water level will significantly alter the condition of this paddling trail. Some portions may be unrunnable in low water conditions. Some whitewater experience recommended.
For more information please contact Katahdin Area Trails or Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument.
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