The Waterway runs north from the Telos and Chamberlain lakes, through Churchill Dam and Chase Rapids, down a chain of lakes and river miles to the St. John. Rangers register every party at the southern access and again at Michaud Farm near the north end. The Allagash Falls portage is mandatory — scout the takeout landing well above the lip.
See this route beside all ten extreme canoe trips on one map
Destination guide: photos, local culture and travel tips
Canoe gear by destination: what this trip requires
Read the Allagash Wilderness Waterway trip article — season, permits, hazards and itineraries →
Access points and landmarks
A 92-mile corridor of lakes, ponds, rivers and streams, usually paddled in 7 to 10 days. Every coordinate below links to the published source it came from. Recheck access, closures, and water levels with the managing agency before you launch.
| Point | Role | Coordinates | Notes and source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chamberlain Bridge (southern access) | put in | 46.17089, -69.20894 | Official southern access and registration point at the Telos–Chamberlain thoroughfare. Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands ↗ |
| Umsaskis Lake | waypoint | 46.59148, -69.37440 | Mid-waterway lake below Churchill Dam and Chase Rapids. USGS GNIS feature record ↗ |
| Michaud Farm | waypoint | 46.95252, -69.19529 | Northern ranger station where every party checks out before the falls. Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands ↗ |
| Allagash Falls | waypoint | 46.95004, -69.13310 | Forty-foot falls with a mandatory portage on river right. USGS GNIS feature record ↗ |
| Allagash village | take out | 47.08337, -69.04115 | Northern terminus at the confluence with the St. John River. USGS GNIS feature record ↗ |
Shuttle planning runs between Chamberlain Bridge (southern access) and Allagash village.
What we deliberately left off
- Chase Rapids — a nine-mile river segment below Churchill Dam rather than a single point, so it is described but not pinned.
Official sources
Distances and mileage figures come from the managing agency. Conditions change; this page is a planning aid, not a navigation chart.