Most of Little River in Belfast, Maine is nothing more than a shallow stream for about 355 days of the year. The other 10 days it turns into something else — sometimes something very nice.
Heavy spring rains (2 inches within a 24 hour period) brought the river up to a fun but manageable level for paddling.
Who knew one could have that much adventure on a sunny spring afternoon — all within 4 miles of my house and of downtown Belfast? My little trip on Little River involved a 0.7 mile drive to the put in, a scramble down a steep bank to launch, a fun half mile stretch of Class I rapids (with a tiny bit of Class II), paddling the length of Resevoir #1, a brief portage, a scramble down an extremely steep bank, a quarter mile section of Class II – III whitewater, another mile of flatwater, and then a 3 mile run along beautiful riverside trails back to my car.
Sighting: grey heron (1), beaver (2), ducks (several), other people (0). All this on an afternoon after work. Maine — the way life should be.