Machias River
Washington Co. · 75 mi · Class I–II
CFS
Loading…
Optimal: 300–1500 CFS · USGS #01021500
Flow data is live from USGS·Rapid classifications and CFS ranges need community verification·Know this river?
75 mi
Length
Class I–II
Difficulty
300–1500 cfs
Optimal
680 cfs
Avg Flow
612 cfs
Hist. Median
#01021500
USGS Gauge
Atlantic Salmon Critical Habitat · Downeast Maine

A 75-mile Downeast Maine wilderness river flowing from the remote bogs and lakes of Washington County to Machias Bay on the Atlantic. The Machias is one of Maine's most important Atlantic salmon restoration rivers — federal and state agencies have invested heavily in removing dams and restoring habitat. Multi-day canoe trips through vast, uninhabited blueberry barrens and boreal forest define the Machias experience.

Trip sections
Fifth Machias Lake to Third Lake — 20 mi, headwater lakes and bogs
Third Lake to Whitneyville — 30 mi, Class I–II, wilderness corridor
Whitneyville to Machias — 25 mi, tidal influence, salmon restoration
Outfitters
Sunrise Canoe and Kayak
Machias River trips and Downeast Maine outfitting
72-Hour Flow Forecast
NOAA NWPS
Loading forecast...
10-Year Flow Patterns
See 10 years of flow patterns for this river — historical analysis is a Pro feature.Upgrade to Pro →
Your Optimal Range
Set your personal optimal CFS window per river — custom ranges are a Pro feature.Upgrade to Pro →
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.