Public Launch
Kayak spot · United States
Flat water: a lake, canal or slow river
Is it worth the trip?
86Good out of 100 for your dates
Best on Fri 6: Wind 4 kn gusting 10, Air 17 °C
Tue 3 · 81 out of 100
- Wind
- 3 kn
- Gusts
- 8kn
- Air
- 11°C
- Rain
- 2.4 mm
Wed 4 · 90 out of 100
- Wind
- 2 kn
- Gusts
- 2kn
- Air
- 15°C
- Rain
- 3 mm
Thu 5 · 90 out of 100
- Wind
- 3 kn
- Gusts
- 6kn
- Air
- 16°C
- Rain
- 0 mm
Fri 6 · 92 out of 100
- Wind
- 3 kn
- Gusts
- 7kn
- Air
- 19°C
- Rain
- 0 mm
Sat 7 · 74 out of 100
- Wind
- 2 kn
- Gusts
- 11kn
- Air
- 12°C
- Rain
- 6.6 mm
Sun 8 · 76 out of 100
- Wind
- 5 kn
- Gusts
- 10kntoo gusty
- Air
- 12°C
- Rain
- 0.3 mm
Mon 9 · 79 out of 100
- Wind
- 2 kn
- Gusts
- 8kn
- Air
- 12°C
- Rain
- 0 mm
Tap a day for wind, gusts, air and rain. Full forecast
Forecast: next 10 days
Full forecast- Mon 274, good
- Tue 384, good
- Wed 491, good
- Thu 591, good
- Fri 696, good
- Sat 784, good
- Sun 876, good
- Mon 979, good
- Tue 1073, good
- Wed 1156, fair
The spot in two facts
- Flat waterthe water
- Best Jun–Sep7 good days in 7
Full forecast
every day, every number
The score doesn't know the river level, weirs or your skill.
| Day | Score | Wind | Gusts | Air | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 2Nov | 74, good | 7 kn | 14kntoo gusty | 14°C | 0 mm |
| Tue 3Nov | 84, good | 3 kn | 8kn | 11°C | 2.4 mm |
| Wed 4Nov | 91, good | 2 kn | 2kn | 15°C | 3 mm |
| Thu 5Nov | 91, good | 3 kn | 6kn | 16°C | 0 mm |
| Fri 6Nov | 96, good | 3 kn | 7kn | 19°C | 0 mm |
| Sat 7Nov | 84, good | 2 kn | 11kn | 12°C | 6.6 mm |
| Sun 8Nov | 76, good | 5 kn | 10kntoo gusty | 12°C | 0.3 mm |
| Mon 9Nov | 79, good | 2 kn | 8kn | 12°C | 0 mm |
| Tue 10Nov | 73, good | 2 kn | 5kntoo gusty | 8°C | 0 mm |
| Wed 11Nov | 56, fair | 8 kn | 18kntoo gusty | 7°C | 0 mm |
Wind and gusts are in knots, rain in mm. River levels: no free forecast gives them, so check a gauge before you go. More
Forecast updated . It refreshes every three hours. Forecast data: ECMWF, DWD, Météo-France and NOAA, served by Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0). Changed by us. Generated using E.U. Copernicus Marine Service Information.
Best time to go
best Jun–Sep
Good kayaking days in a typical week, each month, for new paddlers, from 2016 on (ERA5 history scored the same way).
- Jan3of 7: a trip from Sat 2 Jan
- Feb3of 7: a trip from Sat 6 Feb
- Mar3of 7: a trip from Sat 6 Mar
- Apr4of 7: a trip from Sat 3 Apr
- May6of 7: a trip from Sat 1 May
- Jun7of 7: a trip from Sat 5 Jun
- Jul7of 7: a trip from Sat 3 Jul
- Aug7of 7: a trip from Sat 7 Aug
- Sep7of 7: a trip from Sat 4 Sept
- Oct6of 7: a trip from Sat 2 Oct
- Nov4of 7: a trip from Tue 3 Nov
- Dec3of 7: a trip from Sat 5 Dec
Tap a month to see this spot for a trip then.
Typical weather, not a forecast, and not the river's level: a month that is often good to be outside may still be low water.
Map
the spot and its town
Public Launch on Google Maps · Directions
Each place wears its best day on these dates: green good, amber fair, pale red poor, as the key says.
The map needs JavaScript. Every place on it is listed on this page, and each place's page links to Google Maps.
One finger scrolls the page; two fingers move the map. Pins are our own positions. Map OpenFreeMap, © OpenMapTiles, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
More kayaking near here
5 places
- West Branch Penobscot River 11.4 km away
- Millinocket Stream 13.2 km away
- Jerry Brook 17.1 km away
- East Branch Penobscot River 26.4 km away
- Penobscot River 32.4 km away
About
the place in full, sources, credits
About Public Launch
A launch. No grade stated: ask locally before you paddle. 2 paddling schools, clubs or hire within 10 km, the nearest 0.2 km away. For new paddlers the best months are usually June, July, August and September, with about 7 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Millinocket.
- Grade No grade is stated.
- Who it suits No grade stated: ask locally before you paddle.
- Access No source states the access rules: check locally.
- Schools, hire 2 paddling schools, clubs or hire within 10 km, the nearest 0.2 km away.
Spots and rivers: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Whitewater sections © Rivermap (rivermap.org), Riverzone and Jonathan Riddell, ODbL.
The score is the conditions only: the journey, the price and the partners never change it (how we score, how we earn).
Rough cost (estimate): about US$1,230–US$2,220 each
about US$1,230–US$2,220 each · 6 nights, 2 sharing: flights, hire car, stay, food, kayak hire.
Our estimate from typical public prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book (where they come from). Prices are about, in US Dollar (USD): our pound figures at the European Central Bank's rate of 30 October 2026.
How we worked it out
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return ORD to BGR, estimated from distance and season, 2 airlines on the route, with a hold bag | about US$181–US$375 |
| Hire car | 6 days, shared | about US$154–US$255 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | about US$348–US$583 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | about US$342–US$636 |
| Kayak hire | 5 days, or about US$114 to fly your own | about US$201–US$375 |
| Total | about US$1,230–US$2,220 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026.
Where to stay: Millinocket
Ad Links marked Ad may pay us if you book. You pay the same, and they never change a score. How we earn
about 25 min by car · 22 places to stay
about US$134/nightcountry average
About Millinocket its beds, food and every spot near it
About US$134 a night is our estimate of the country's average 2-star double room that month: not each town's price, and not a quote. Drives are estimates. Prices are about, in US Dollar (USD): our pound figures at the European Central Bank's rate of 30 October 2026.
Getting there: about 6h 35m
About 6h 35m door to door from Chicago
Fly ORD → BGR, direct, then 1h 55m by road
Flights ORD → BGR on your dates · AviasalesAd
An estimate, one way; the journey never changes the score.
On the water
Kayak trips and courses in Millinocket · GetYourGuideKayak hire in Millinocket · GetYourGuide
Paddling schools, clubs and hire nearby
North Country Rivers 0.2 km
Northern Outdoors 0.2 km
Canoe Rental 13 km
Canoe Rental 19 km
Canoe Rental 21 km
The nearest named schools, clubs and kayak or canoe hire within 25 km, in a straight line. Listings, not a recommendation. Schools, clubs and hire: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Credits