St. John River Canoe Trip (ages 18–adult)
May 11-17
To Native Americans the St. John was known as Woolastook, the “good” or “beautiful river.” Located in Maine’s North Woods, it is the longest free-flowing river in the Northeast, and more than 70 miles of its corridor have been protected by The Nature Conservancy. The St. John River Valley has the second highest concentration of rare plants in Maine; only Katahdin has more. The watershed is home to Canada Lynx, harbors a stand of Black Spruce more than 300 years old, and is the only place in the world where the Furbish Lousewort, a rare snapdragon, grows. It is with a great sense of adventure that we launch into the current and head downstream from Baker Lake, 110 miles to the village of Dickey. With the exception of several logging bridges, much of what we see from the seat of a canoe is still what the early native people experienced. No other Maine river compares to the St. John in its feeling of remoteness. This part of the North Woods of Maine has a rich human and natural history which we explore all along the way. We usually have regular sightings of Moose, deer, Ospreys, eagles, and other wildlife. The early spring flora of the North Woods is usually coming into bloom too, and if we are lucky we supplement our meals with a mess of fresh picked fiddleheads. This trip is ideal for beginners and expert canoeists—both are welcome to join us.
$885

George River Northern Quebec Canoe Trip
(ages 16–adult)
July - Please inquire about your own custom trip with friends and families!
This is a challenging 18-day journey for experienced paddlers who believe that a first-rate canoe trip is an adventure. The George is a magnificent river, wide with plenty of whitewater. We travel north by van and train to Schefferville, Quebec, and then fly into Indian House Lake. Here we begin our 180-mile paddle to Ungava Bay. Along the way we take time to examine evidence of early native encampments, and we are always on the lookout for wildlife. Sometimes we’re lucky enough to encounter the George River Caribou herd on its annual migration or to observe wolves. We finish the trip at the remote Inuit village of Kangiqsualluujjuaq, among people who know the territory well through experience and tradition. We fly back to Montreal via Kujjuaq and then drive home to Maine.
$4000 (includes airfare)

Baffin Island Soper River Canoe Trip
(ages 16–adult)
July - Please inquire about your own custom trip with friends and families!
Spend 10 days traveling through the beautiful Katannilik Reserve of Baffin Island by canoe on the Soper River. We meet in Montreal and fly to Iqaluit, then travel by chartered Twin Otter to the river. The pace of the paddling is comfortable, allowing time for stops and hiking trips along the way. The river valley is little traveled and extremely beautiful, with waterfalls and wildlife (but few bugs!). We may come across Arctic Wolves, Peregrine Falcons, Gyrfalcons, and most assuredly Caribou. We spend our last night in the Inuit community of Kimmirut, enjoying a traditional meal of Caribou and Arctic Char. This is your trip if you yearn for an arctic experience.
$3045 (plus airfare)

Allagash Canoe Trip (ages 12–adult)
August 17-24
A canoe trip down the Allagash River in Maine's famed North Woods stands as one of the time-tested classics of wilderness tripping. The mighty Allagash always lives up to the history and lore attached to it. We undertake a good combination of paddling, crossing lakes linked by the river, and daring the river's own whitewater. One of the many fine qualities of the Allagash is its consistently good water. We always enjoy frequent sightings of wildlife, including Moose, loons, and eagles.
$995 Adults/$730 children 16-under

St. Croix River Canoe Trip (ages 8–adult)
August 18-23
The St. Croix is a forgiving river, welcoming even beginner paddlers who seek the delights of a Maine river trip. Paddling a 33-mile stretch of this river, which creates the boundary between downeast Maine and New Brunswick, Canada, we enjoy the chance to perfect moving-water strokes as well as take on the challenge and fun of Class I and II rapids. We spend time learning how to "read the river" and keep our eyes peeled for Bald Eagles. We may supplement a meal with fresh-caught Smallmouth Bass. This is a relaxed trip well suited to families or the occasional paddler seeking to experience a classic Maine river.
$650 adults/ $415 children 16-under

West Branch of the Penobscot Canoe Trip
(ages 5–adult)
August 18-23
We begin our trip on Lobster Stream in the vast woods north of Moosehead Lake and spend our first night on a beautiful sand beach on Lobster Lake. We then paddle north, down the gently flowing waters of the West Branch. Our days are relaxed, with plenty of time to fish and poke up side streams in search of resident Moose. We visit remote Chesuncook Village for a treat of homemade fudge and rootbeer before finishing our trip at Umbazooksus.
$700 adults/$415 children 16-under

In Thoreau's Footsteps, Elderhostel West Branch of the Penpobscot Canoe Trip
(ages 55 and older, 7 days)
September 7-13
September 14-20

The West Branch begins in the highlands northwest of Moosehead Lake in Maine’s vast North Woods. An important travel route for early Native Americans and later as a way to transport logs to mills, today the West
Branch is a returning wilderness. We will travel 35 miles from Lobster Lake down the river to the north end of Chesuncook Lake. Fall asleep to the call of loons and perhaps paddle up close to a magnificent moose. We will paddle from 8-15 miles per day and will tent at a different campsite each night. Our route is steeped in history from the Abenakis to Henry David Thoreau and the early lumbering era.
Contact us for up-to-date pricing.

To register and find the most up-to-date information on this and other Elderhostel trips, visit www.elderhostel.org or call (877) 426-8056.

Canoe the Florida Everglades and Snorkel at Key Biscayne National Park (ages 13–adult)
February 2009
Escape winter in the Northeast and head south to Everglades National Park! We spend our first few days camping under the palms at Flamingo on Florida Bay and exploring by van and canoe. Later we paddle mangrove-lined waterways to Pearl Bay, where we spend the night camped on a chickee, which is a wooden platform, located deep in the backcountry. We return to Flamingo and travel north to Key Biscayne National Park, to spend our last full day together snorkeling among coral reefs.
$TBA