I'd like to take a 3-4 day canoe trip next month with two newbies, within a reasonable drive of central NH. Reasonably calm water, good camping spots, enjoyable scenery, not crowded. Something along the lines of the Fulton Lake chain in NY. I've heard the Allagash in Maine is only good in the spring. Any recommendatons?

Try looking up around the Allagash in Maine ...I hear it is about as good as it gets

I was thinking about the Saco, maybe.

The Saco river is exactly what you described in your request.
Get a hold of me if you have any questions.  I live in Maine.

M4-CQBR

Quoted: The Saco river is exactly what you described in your request. Get a hold of me if you have any questions.  I live in Maine. M4-CQBR

IM on the way, thanks.

Quoted: Try looking up around the Allagash in Maine ...I hear it is about as good as it gets

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Allagash it's the trip of a lifetime!

Moose River? Starts up in Jackman, Maine I believe.......(I was raised in central Maine)

I've read a couple times that the Allagash doesn't have enough water except in the spring. Don't know if that's true or not.

start on the Connecticut  river up in Vermont and go all the way down to Long Island Sound. you'll have to portage a few times though.

Quoted: I've read a couple times that the Allagash doesn't have enough water except in the spring. Don't know if that's true or not.

Not true, I did a weeklong canoe trip in the Alagash while growing up in Maine.  Most amazing trip I have ever done.  

If you want to canoe the Connecticut River, better go to NH to do it since NH owns the river all the way over to the high water mark on the VT side.

A really good 3-5 day trip is the West Branch of the Penobscot in ME. Start at Northeast Carry (Lobster Lake) and go all the way down the river to Ripogenus Dam at the southern end of Lake Chesuncook. I've done this trip 3 times. There are some fun little class II rapids, but nothing newbies can't handle.

Be careful on the big lakes. Chesuncook is 20 miles long and if the wind is north or south, you can get some pretty heavy surf. Its also damned difficult paddling into a 12 knot wind for days on end.

Its all paper company land so I think you have to arrange the trip with wyerhauser or whoever owns it now. Maybe one of the arfcom Maineiacs can clarify...