Maine <span class="accent">Canoe Trips</span>

Maine Canoe Trips

Maine boasts so many river and streams that it can be very difficult to plan where to take your canoe for a paddle. Luckily, our registered Maine Guides know the best routes on the most exciting rivers in Maine. Get away from technology for a while and experience all that the Maine woods can offer to an adventurous spirit.

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American Southwest <span class="accent">Canoe Trips</span>

American Southwest Canoe Trips

Smoking Rivers’ destination canoe trips to the American Southwest are trips of a lifetime. Well, you may decide after going once that it needs to be a trips that happens a lot more often than once in your lifetime! These trips are great for family vacations and for serious die-hard paddlers alike.

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Canadian <span class="accent">Canoe Trips</span>

Canadian Canoe Trips

Travelling north of the border to access some of the most pristine waters Canada has to offer is a great adventure. Smoking Rivers’ guided canoe trips to this part of the world are amazing. Some of the best and most exciting paddling lies ahead for those who want to trek into the great white north.

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Why Choose Smoking Rivers

Our multi-day canoe adventures feature professional and knowledgeable registered Maine Guides, delightful riverside meals, all necessary paddling/camping equipment, and are suitable for novice and experienced paddlers alike! Planning your next friends or family trip? Get out and enjoy your vacation the way it was meant to be experienced – in nature!

All-Inclusive Trips

Gear, meals, guides, and transportation are all covered. Just show up and paddle.

Registered Maine Guides

Your trip leaders are professionally certified, with years of experience navigating remote waterways safely.

No Experience Required

Trips are designed for novice and experienced paddlers alike, with on-river instruction included.

Gourmet Cuisine

Forget freeze-dried meals. Expect real, thoughtfully prepared food cooked riverside — with dietary accommodations like vegan options.

Diverse Destinations

Choose from Maine's North Woods, the Canadian wilderness, the American Southwest, or even above the Arctic Circle on Baffin Island.

Small Group Sizes

Intimate trips mean more personal attention from guides and a deeper connection with your group and the landscape.

Custom Trip Planning

Have a dream river in mind? Smoking Rivers will plan and guide a fully custom expedition tailored to your group.

Skill-Building Clinics

Annual whitewater and poling clinics help you level up your paddling technique in real river conditions.

Ecosystem Immersion

Trips pass through diverse habitats with opportunities to observe moose, eagles, and other wildlife up close.

Multi-Day Expeditions

These aren't afternoon floats. Expect 4–7+ day journeys deep into backcountry that most people never see.

Family & Group Friendly

Whether it's a family birthday trip, a friends' getaway, or a corporate retreat, trips are built around shared experience.

Proven Track Record

Glowing reviews from repeat clients, professional association memberships (American Canoe Association, Professional Maine Guides), and National Park Service partnerships.

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How It Works

Choose Your Trip

Browse our selection of multi-day expeditions ranging from Maine's North Woods to the American Southwest, or let us help you plan a fully custom adventure.

We Handle the Details

Our registered guides take care of everything, from providing all necessary camping and paddling equipment to preparing gourmet, diet-friendly riverside meals.

Show Up & Paddle

With all logistics covered and on-river instruction included for all skill levels, you can arrive ready to relax and immerse yourself in the wilderness.

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Meet Our Team

Jason Cross

Dan Flaminni

Randy Cross

Will Jeffries

Chris Pederson

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Need Canoeing Experience?

No, canoeing experience is not necessary. Our professional canoe guides will work on an individual basis with you to hone your paddling technique and to ensure that you get the utmost enjoyment out of your trip.

Do I Need to Bring Anything on My Canoe Trip?

On all of our trips, we provide all the necessary paddling equipment, camping gear, and a full menu to accommodate most paddlers. All participants are required to bring their own sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and their own personal attire appropriate for the trip.

Where Does the Trip Meet?

All of our Maine canoe trips meet in Bangor, ME, which is a good, centralized location to all of our trips and has an international airport for those traveling from afar. Additionally, Bangor has some of the best accommodation options in Northern Maine for both before and after the trip if desired.

What is the Best Canoe Trip?

All of our canoe trips that we offer, in our opinion, are outstanding canoe trips, each offering unique features only available on that specific trip. In order to best find which canoe trip will best suit your wishes, a phone conversation is generally best to narrow down the perfect canoe trip for you and your party. Call to chat about your canoe trip today.

What is the Best Maine Canoe Trip?

Our canoe trips utilize the best watersheds Maine has to offer. From our northern rivers to our downeast options, we have a trip suitable for all levels of paddling ability with varying lengths of stay, ranging from 3 day options to 14 day options. To help narrow down the best Maine canoe trip for you, a phone conversation is generally best to discuss options, lengths, and criteria. Call to chat about your canoe trip today.

What is the Best Canadian Canoe Trip?

We focus our Canadian canoe trips on being some of the most premier East Coast paddling options in Canada. Ranging from the majestic Gaspe Peninsula to the Arctic Circle, our Canadian expeditions speak to the adventurous paddlers as all trips and expeditions involve substantial whitewater and remoteness. Call to chat about your canoe trip today

What is the Best Canoe Trip in the American Southwest?

We paddle some of the finest canoeable rivers in the American Southwest with a focus on what makes a good Southwest canoe trip- deep, bold canyons, desert flora and fauna, and historic locations dating back thousands of years. Focusing on the spring, our Southwest canoe trips aim to display the best of the American Southwest during the most comfortable time to explore the vastness that the deserts have to offer. Selecting the best trip for you and your party generally is narrowed down by length, whitewater desire, and time of year. To help narrow down the best American Southwest canoe trip for you and your party, a phone conversation is generally best. Call to chat about your canoe trip today.

Do You Offer Group or Youth Discounts?

Yes, depending on your group size and age range, we do offer group and youth discounts per specific trips. Please inquire today to see if your group qualifies for our group or youth discounts.

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What Our Clients Say

Tonia Polak

"Our 6 day canoe trip went by way too fast! We were lucky enough to have some beautiful fall weather and the colors were amazing. The guys from Smoking Rivers completely made the trip. It just wouldn't have been the same without them. They worked hard and took great care of us. The food was delicious and they accommodated my vegan diet! We had so much fun and I've made some lifelong friends. I hope to do this trip again next year! Highly recommended!"

Dr. Anat Maril

"We decided to have a family canoeing adventure for our girls' 12th birthday. I can now declare that I wish most of the decisions we made in life were as brilliant! It's hard to nominate the star of this trip: The stunning river, the amazing woods and wildlife, the thrill of crossing a patch of whitewater, the blessed distance from the rest of the world- these are all good candidates, but the gold medal has to go to Jason and Dan, our guides. We never canoed before, let alone on a lively river, in what felt like the edge of the world, and we felt completely safe the whole time. These guys 'walk' the river on their canoes like we walk a city sidewalk, with ease and confidence and strength..."

Esq Mark J. Berardoni

"Just had a great camping & canoeing trip down the St. Croix- Maine at its finest! Beautiful scenes of the river, sky, and the woods with cool wildlife thrown in! Plenty of whitewater excitement too! None of our canoes ever flipped, while many others' did! That speaks loudly of the skills of our two guides, Jason & Dan, who provided us with great training as to any different paddle strokes and lessons on reading the river for the 'V's.' However more importantly they were always near to help when we happened to forget some of that training- they both are the consummate professionals - Our whole group loved the experience and wow can those boys cook !!!"

From Maine's North Woods to the Arctic Circle

Fully guided, all-inclusive canoe expeditions across some of the continent's most remote and beautiful rivers. Choose your adventure.

Explore Our Trips Watch the Experience

Fully guided, all-inclusive canoe expeditions across some of the continent's most remote and beautiful rivers. Choose your adventure.

Explore Our Trips Watch the Experience