For exciting whitewater (lots of big, fast rapids), we recommend spring runoff starting in early May – particularly the Dead River releases in early to mid May. Throughout the rafting season, daily dam releases on the Kennebec (May-October) and Penobscot (Memorial Day Weekend – Labor Day Weekend) rivers guarantee excellent class 4 and 5 rafting adventures. The Dead River has only 8 releases per season and those trips fill up fast. For crisp mornings and gorgeous fall foliage, fewer people and higher water flows, we recommend rafting in September and October. There are daily trips on the Kennebec River through mid October, and two scheduled Kennebec River turbine test days as well as two high water Dead River days in the fall months.