Canoeing is one of our staple wilderness activities! Cabins go on at least 1 overnight canoe trip every summer that ranges from 2-4 days depending on how old the group is. The older the group, the more we’re gradually instilling the skills they will need for the Allagash and Penobscot canoe trips! That being said, everyone goes on day canoe trips throughout the month regardless of age! Campers get to explore the lakes and rivers of New Hampshire and Maine with their fellow cabin-mates, their counselor, and their trusty trip leader. Like with backpacking, Cragged Mountain’s trip leaders are certified Wilderness First Responders as well as canoeing/camping experts. They put each camper’s safety first while trying to make the excursion into the wilderness as fun and educational as possible! Campers will be exposed to navigation and route finding skills as it pertains to maps, compasses, and rapids, cooking gourmet camping meals over an open fire, appropriate gear needed to be comfortable on the water for multiple days, coexisting with a small group of people in the woods for an extended period of time, and most importantly leadership and teamwork in remote settings. We aspire to prepare young people to be safe in the outdoors while promoting the importance and the beauty of these natural spaces that they can enjoy during their lifetime.

Among the many rivers and lakes the Campers get to experience paddling on, Aziscahos Lake, Rangeley Lake, Umbagog Lake, Squam Lake, and the Androscoggin River are among our favorites! The rivers and lakes of northern Maine that campers strive to reach upon completion of our in-camp programming can be investigated further on the Allagash and Penobscot pages!