Cross Kennebec in winter? Closest detour heading north.

[VeganHiker]

Is there someone providing this service to cross outside of the season? What is the closest road or trail that will allow you to get off trail and cross the Kennebec if one is heading toward Caratunk?

[peakbagger]

As far as I know, no one tries to supply services to cross the river off season as its too dangerous in the winter and near spring run off. You may be able to get someone to assist late season before ice up. Options to cross are pretty limited, The river rapidly turns into a lake downstream with no bridges. The river may ice over but due to the varying flows from the upstream hydrodams its very dangerous to plan on. The only real option is cross up river at the Forks where the Dead River joins the Kennebec. Its about 8 miles upriver. I would not recommend trying to follow the shoreline. Maine Huts and Trails trail network crosses the AT and then terminates near the Forks on RT 201. https://mainehuts.org/sites/default/...0Optimized.pdf MHT is in dicey financial condition and are reportedly not maintaining the section north of Flagstaff hut and the trail from Grand Falls Hut is specifically called out for winter use only. Looking at the map it looks quite wet in spots.

The individuals who run the crossing in season are probably the best resource for off season. Good luck

[TrailsEnd]

The nearest bridge over the river is all the way down in Bingham. It seems like it would be a major effort in planning and navigation to get down there and over to the other side to start back north on route 201. There is a network of logging and camp roads on the west side of the river so it could be possible but again a large diversion. Even a back-o-the-napkin/as the crow flies stab at the distances involved come up with something like an extra 30 miles. You might catch a hitch easy enough on the road on the east side of the river but you're most likely walking all of the west side downstream to the bridge.

[TJ aka Teej]

Is there someone providing this service to cross outside of the season? What is the closest road or trail that will allow you to get off trail and cross the Kennebec if one is heading toward Caratunk?

In the weeks before and after the usual season the service provider will take you across for a fee. At Harrison's there's often info for other options, in recent years a young person with a powerboat was available off-hours.
As far as a hike-around, you take the forest road south from near Harrison's way down to Bingham, then hitch north.