Grant Brook Paddling Trail

Grant Brook is a great half-day paddle up a small tributary of Millinocket Lake. The area has abundant wildlife, including beaver, osprey, and moose.
Trail Activity
Paddling
Length
5.20 miles, Network
Difficulty
Moderate
Towns
T1 R8 WELS, T1 R9 WELS, T2 R9 WELS
Surface
Water - Lake/Pond, Water - River/Stream
Pets
Permitted
Fees
No

Description

Paddling Grant Brook is a great way to experience the lakes, streams, and bogs that define much of the North Maine Woods. It can be paddled out and back from a public boat launch on Millinocket Lake or from the New England Outdoor Center.

If beginning at either put-in on the lake, stay to the left (Southwest) of the islands for about a mile to reach Grant Brook. At this point the brook is about 200 yards wide, technically part of the lake. Large marshes extend beyond both banks, with trees set far back from the water. Flat water extends over a mile inland as the stream narrows and begins turning in wide oxbows. This is an ideal place to spot wildlife, including a resident family of nesting osprey. Eventually the brook is blocked by beaver dams, which can be easily portaged around to extend the paddle a short distance farther upstream.

Intrepid paddlers may choose to start at the Baxter Park Road put-in and paddle downstream using a shuttle for a one-way trip. Putting in at this location can be difficult and requires some brushy paddling in the first couple hundred yards.

Other Information

Paddling on Millinocket Lake is not recommended in windy or inclement weather.

Trail Manager

For more information, contact:

Katahdin Area Trails

Katahdin Area Trails
PO Box 669
Millinocket, ME 04462
Phone: (207) 723-5438
info@katahdinareatrails.org

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Trail Tips

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Trailhead Information

There are three put-in options for Grant Brook:

  • Millinocket Lake Public Boat Launch: From Millinocket take the Baxter Park Road towards Baxter State Park. About 7.5 miles outside of Millinocket, go 200 yards past the North Woods Trading Post and turn right. The boat launch and parking area are a short distance off the road.
  • New England Outdoor Center: From Millinocket take the Baxter Park Road towards Baxter State Park. About 7.5 miles outside of Millinocket, turn right on the road marked with a New England Outdoor Center sign.
  • Grant Brook Culvert: From Millinocket, take the Baxter Park Road towards Baxter State Park. Three miles past the North Woods Trading Post the road crosses Grant Brook where it is about 8 feet wide.
Click on a parking icon to get custom directions
Please Log In or Create Account to add comments.
aust1227
September 20, 2020
Amazing paddle. Took us three days and two nights to complete. That left us plenty of camp and fishing time. The Debs are so serene and isolated. The two portages are tough, but that makes the lakes worth it.
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Trail Alerts

Safety
Be a Safe and Respectful Paddler
Paddling conditions will vary according to the weather and season, so always exercise caution and always wear a lifejacket. With good judgment and proper equipment, the risk associated with paddling can be minimized. Respect the natural world and the rights of landowners, and be considerate of other outdoor enthusiasts. Paddlers should seek to avoid causing erosion, trampling vegetation, disturbing wildlife, and harming water quality.
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