Kennebec River — The Forks
🛶 AW Stewardship
Somerset Co. · 12 mi · Class III–IV
357CFS/ 6.06 ft
Below Optimal→Stable
Optimal: 2000–8000 CFS · USGS #01029200
Length
Difficulty
Optimal
Avg Flow
Hist. Median
USGS Gauge
Maine Rivers, Northern Forest · American Whitewater Stewardship
Dam-release whitewater below Harris Dam — Magic Falls is a thundering Class IV drop and the centerpiece of Maine's commercial rafting hub at The Forks. Twelve miles of big-water rapids through the Northern Forest.
Trip sections
Harris Dam to Magic Falls — Class III–IV, dam-release big water
Magic Falls — Class IV, the marquee rapid
Below Magic Falls to The Forks — Class III, continuous runout
Notable Rapids
Magic FallsClass IV
The centerpiece of Maine's Kennebec. A thundering Class IV drop on dam-release water — the biggest commercially rafted rapid in New England.
WhitewasherClass III+
Powerful hydraulic below Magic Falls. The river compresses through a narrow channel.
Three SistersClass III
Three consecutive wave trains. Fun, fast, and a good finisher.
Outfitters
Crab Apple Whitewater
Kennebec and Penobscot rafting, The Forks
Northern Outdoors
The Forks resort and rafting since 1976
72-Hour Flow Forecast
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10-Year Flow Patterns
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Data Quality
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and trip sections may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level. If you spot an error, use the Improve This River button at the top of the page — your local knowledge is what makes this atlas accurate.