Camping at a Whitewater Resort
Northern Outdoors is a full-service adventure resort on US Route 201 in The Forks Plantation, the small Kennebec Valley settlement at the confluence of the Kennebec and Dead rivers. The Kennebec Riverside Campground sits on the resort property and gives you a tent, cabin tent, or RV site within walking distance of the river, the on-site Kennebec River Brewery, the heated outdoor pool, and the Forks Resort Center where rafting trips put on.
It is the rare campground where you can roll out of your tent, walk to the rafting check-in, do a 12-mile Kennebec Gorge run, and end the day with a pint at a brewery thirty steps from your tent pad.
Site Types
The campground mixes 6 RV sites, 3 group sites, individual tent sites, 3 fully enclosed camping cabins, and 2-person and 4-person elevated cabin tents. Cabin tents are canvas wall tents on wooden platforms with a real bed inside — a step up from a regular tent without committing to a cabin. Tent sites run $15 per person per night with the resort fee added on top.
This campground is strict no-pets across the entire resort: no pets in any accommodation, the lodge, the restaurant, or the campground. Service dogs are the only exception. If you are traveling with a dog, you cannot stay here.
What You Can Do From the Campground
The on-site rafting outfitter runs trips on the Kennebec River (a Class III-IV run through the gorge) and the Dead River (released only on specific dates, typically Class IV). Beginner-friendly options exist for both rivers. Northern Outdoors also offers ATV rentals, fishing trips, kayak rentals, and snowmobile rentals in winter.
The Kennebec River Brewery on-site brews several house beers and runs a full kitchen. The pool is heated and open to all camping guests. The Forks Resort Center has a game room and lounge for downtime.
Multi-night packages that combine camping with a rafting trip and meals are usually a better value than booking each piece separately. Two-day Kennebec packages with a tent site, two breakfasts, two dinners, and a guided trip run several hundred dollars below the a la carte equivalent.
Things to See Nearby
Moxie Falls is a 90-foot waterfall about 10 minutes north on Route 201 — one of the highest single-drop falls in New England. The trail to the overlook is short, flat, and easy.
Kennebec Gorge itself is the headline attraction. The whitewater run starts at Harris Station Dam below Indian Pond and finishes near the resort; even if you do not raft, you can watch trips run from several roadside pullouts on Route 201.
Cell Service and Connectivity
This is a deep river canyon and most carriers have limited or no service in The Forks. The resort has WiFi in common buildings but the campground proper is largely off-grid for phone service. Plan for offline maps if you are exploring beyond the resort.
Getting There
From Portland, take I-95 north to exit 133 in Fairfield, then US-201 north through Skowhegan, Bingham, and Caratunk into The Forks — about 2 hours 45 minutes. From Bangor, the most common route is Route 2 west to Skowhegan, then US-201 north — about 2 hours 30 minutes. The resort is on the right side of US-201 just south of the Kennebec/Dead River confluence.
FAQ
Are dogs allowed at Northern Outdoors?
No. The resort has a strict no-pets policy across all accommodations and the campground. Service dogs are the only exception.
Do you have to raft to camp here?
No. The campground is open to anyone — you do not need to book a rafting trip. Many guests come for the brewery, the pool, or as a base for exploring the Kennebec Valley.
What is a cabin tent?
A canvas wall tent on a raised wooden platform with a real bed inside. They sleep two or four people and split the difference between tent camping and a cabin.
Are there RV hookups?
There are 6 RV sites with electric. Full hookups and a dump station are not standard at every site — confirm with the resort when booking.
What is cell service like?
Spotty to nonexistent. The Kennebec Valley is a deep canyon and most carriers have weak service. The resort has WiFi in common buildings.