New England Outdoor Center, Millinocket

The northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail lies at the foot of Mount Katahdin. Beneath the mountain's silhouette, moose graze along the shorelines, and eagles roam the skies above Baxter State Park's chromatic woods. Nearby, outdoorsmen and environmental enthusiast Matt Polstein has unveiled the area's natural beauty and abundant adventure opportunities for more than 30 years through the New England Outdoor Center.

During the early summer through fall, Polstein’s team leads whitewater-rafting adventures on the Penobscot River. The raucous waterway possesses a stretch that drops 70 feet per mile through a narrow, granite-walled canyon into Class V rapids with monikers such as Exterminator and Cribworks. Further excursions include trips on the Family Float trips appropriate for kids as young as age 4. Come winter, Polstein rents snowmobiles so guests can zoom across the area's powdery expanses, perhaps to catch a view of the Northern Lights.

In addition to the plentiful year-round activities, New England Outdoor Center encompasses dining and lodging facilities, including cabins, green-built guesthouses, and campgrounds.