Skowhegan to Norridgewock on the Kennebec River 8/1/2026

Today, we went for a paddle on the Kennebec from Skowhegan up to Norridgewock and back. We put in at the Weston Station Boat Launch on the island and Skowhegan and paddled upstream. It was pretty easy going flat water paddling, even though it was technically up stream. We tied up at the Oosoola Park docks in Norridgewock, had lunch, and went swimming, before heading back down the river to Skowhegan. The total distance was about 10 miles.

West Station Boat Launch

Swinging Bridge in Skowhegan 

On the river 

One of the dams in Skowhegan 

In Norridgewock below the Corporal Eugene Cole Bridge

Mercer Bog 4/18/2026

 

On Saturday, we went canoeing for the first time this season at Mercer Bog Wildlife Management Area. Starting from the dam on Main Street in Mercer, we paddled south into the bog. We passed under Route 2 and continued until we reached a spot where small beaver dams and a very narrow channel made it difficult to go any further.

Sign at the put-in

Mercer Bog

Because of the high water and lack of aquatic plant growth, this is a great time of year to paddle Mercer Bog. There are a variety of nice landing spots along the way, and we found a good one to eat lunch at, near where we turned around. We saw lots of wildlife along the way, including turtles, fish, a beaver, waterfowl, and other birds.

Sampson enjoyed being a passenger

View of the bog from our lunch spot