A Gentle Link in the Fish River Chain
The Fish River runs nearly 70 miles through Aroostook County, tying together a string of big northern lakes before it reaches the St. John River at Fort Kent. The chain it connects, including Portage Lake, St. Froid Lake, Eagle Lake, Square Lake, Cross Lake, and Long Lake, is one of the great paddling resources in the North Maine Woods, where you can lake-skip from one water to the next. The short section described here, from the ME-11 bridge down to Eagle Lake, is the easiest taste of that system and a good introduction for a family or anyone who wants flatwater rather than a wilderness expedition.
The paddle itself is about 4 miles one way and takes roughly two hours without stops. There is strong current right under the ME-11 bridge, but the river settles almost immediately into wide, gentle flow lined with cedar. You may see beavers, muskrats, eagles, and the occasional moose, and there is a large hardwood-covered island where the river opens into the lake. In spring the banks here are a known fiddlehead spot.
This is far-north Maine, a long way from anywhere, and the reward is quiet water and big sky. Eagle Lake covers more than 5,500 acres, so the paddle ends on a genuinely large lake that deserves respect when the wind comes up.
The Route
Put in at the ME-11 bridge and you will feel the current grab you for a moment before the river goes calm. From there it is a steady, flatwater paddle with no rapids, passing under a railroad bridge shortly after the launch and then widening out between cedar-lined banks. After about two and a half miles of river, the water opens into Eagle Lake.
The take-out is the public boat landing on Eagle Lake, reached by heading east about a mile on Old Main Street from ME-11. Because the paddle is one direction with current behind you, it is easiest as a two-vehicle trip or with a short shuttle. Strong paddlers sometimes extend the day by continuing across Eagle Lake toward Soldier Pond and Fort Kent, a longer all-flatwater route, but that commits you to open-lake crossings.
Eagle Lake is large and exposed. On windy days it can build a real chop that is challenging and potentially dangerous in a canoe or kayak. Check the forecast, hug the shoreline if it kicks up, and be ready to get off the water near the river mouth rather than committing to an open crossing.
Access Points
The put-in is at the ME-11 bridge, about 1.8 miles south of Old Main Street in the town of Eagle Lake. Use the southwest, upriver side of the bridge; parking there is limited. The take-out is the public boat landing on Eagle Lake, about a mile east on Old Main Street from ME-11, where there is a ramp and parking for trailers.
If you want to paddle other links in the chain, there are additional public launches on Eagle Lake and at Soldier Pond for the longer downstream routes toward Fort Kent.
Getting There
Eagle Lake sits on Route 11 in northern Aroostook County, about 20 minutes south of Fort Kent. From Bangor, the drive is roughly three and a quarter hours north via I-95 and Route 11. From Portland, plan on about six hours. This is remote country, so fuel up and pack what you need before the last stretch of Route 11.
Cell service is spotty this far north. Download or print directions before you go, and note both the ME-11 bridge put-in and the Old Main Street landing in advance.
When to Visit
Spring
High water and fiddleheads along the banks. Ice goes out late this far north, often into May. Blackflies arrive with the warmth.
Summer
Warm, settled weather and long northern daylight. The most comfortable time for a relaxed flatwater paddle.
Fall
Crisp, bug-free paddling with foliage and good wildlife viewing. Dress warm, as nights are cold.
Winter
The river and lake freeze. Not a paddling season; the region turns to snowmobiling and ice fishing.
Summer is the sweet spot, with warm water and long days. Spring brings high water and fiddleheads but also the first wave of blackflies. Fall is beautiful and quiet, with cold mornings to plan around.
Packing List
Fish River Paddle
- Canoe or kayak with a PFD for each paddler
- Maine fishing license if you plan to fish the chain
- Bug spray (essential late spring into summer)
- Binoculars for moose, beaver, and eagles
- Dry bag for phone and keys
- Sunscreen, hat, and layers
- Water and food (no services on the water)
- A second vehicle or shuttle plan for the one-way run
FAQ
How long is the Fish River paddle to Eagle Lake?
The run from the ME-11 bridge to the Eagle Lake public landing is about 4 miles one way, roughly two hours of flatwater paddling without stops.
Where do you put in?
At the ME-11 bridge about 1.8 miles south of Old Main Street in the town of Eagle Lake, on the southwest upriver side. Parking is limited.
Is this paddle good for beginners?
Yes, the river itself is flatwater with no rapids, aside from a short pull of current right under the bridge. The main caution is Eagle Lake, which can get rough in wind.
Can I connect to the rest of the Fish River Chain?
Yes. Strong paddlers can continue across Eagle Lake toward Soldier Pond and Fort Kent, an all-flatwater route, or launch on other lakes in the chain to lake-skip.
How remote is this?
Very. Eagle Lake is in far-northern Aroostook County, about 20 minutes from Fort Kent. Cell service is spotty, so plan fuel, food, and directions ahead.
