Sea Kayaking to Louds Island in Muscongus Bay, Maine

This video is a quick 360° view of Louds Island beach, historically referred to as Muscongus Island.  This is a great place to land your sea kayak for a quick stretch and snack break. Sign up for a day on the water with Maine Kayak!

Rides: Alvah Maloney’s Necky Looksha 17

Rides: Alvah Maloney’s Necky Looksha 17

Pemaquid Point - The Best of Two Bays

I am often asked why I do what I do and why I chose the mid-coast of Maine to set up shop. I

own a kayak business because I absolutely love sharing the art of kayaking with people. There is

no better way to recharge and relax than to re-connect with nature in a fun and interesting way.

As for why the mid-coast? I actually specifically chose the Pemaquid Peninsula because it offers

some amazing paddling opportunities and is just the right environment for folks wanting to

explore what the Maine coast has to offer. Situated half-way between the popular town of

Freeport and the coastal gem of Rockland, the Pemaquid Peninsula separates the outlet of the

Pemaquid and Johns Rivers to the west and the outlet of the Medomak River to the east to

provide the best of what the Maine coast is famous for - quiet pocket sand beaches; rocky,

craggy shorelines; uninhabited forested islands; and working waterfronts lined with quaint

cottages and moored lobster boats.

Muscongus Bay to the east at the outlet of the Medomak River is amazing in its simplistic

beauty, with little development consisting of the quaintest fishing villages and ancient summer

cottages, and several uninhabited, untouched islands of the Maine Island Trail. Because of its

expanse, the greater exposure on this side of the peninsula and the dozen or so islands available

for public use, I focus my full-day and island camping overnight trips here. Seals sunning on the

rocky ledges are a daily occurrence and it never gets old to see the wonder of these animals

through the eyes of someone new.

John’s Bay to the west offers less expansive reaches but a more sheltered paddling environment,

perfect for shorter trips like our half-day. This Bay has really cool history like Colonial

Pemaquid, a settlement that they believe pre-dates Jamestown and the former Fort William

Henry that stands guard over the entrance to the harbor. It's proximity to Boothbay Harbor offers

some great seaside inns that provide perfect respite for a long day of paddling. And for

adventurers that want a multi-day experience with a hot shower and soft bed, an Inn-to-Inn trip

over here can't be beat. Overall, John's Bay offers a decidedly different and yet equally amazing

paddling environment.

For landlubbers, this mid-coast location offers just the right mix of interesting shops, great

restaurants, and quaint Inns, without completely overwhelming the area. Being one of Maine’s

best kept secrets, crowds are minimal and the two bays quiet and virtually empty, save for the

occasional lobster boat. If you are looking for a trip to get some fresh air, enjoy a serene paddle,

and commune with nature, I highly recommend the Pemaquid Peninsula. If you come visit, keep

these things in mind: 1) be experienced or go with experience, the ocean is beautiful and fickle;

2) be conscientious of your surroundings, nature will reward your discretion; and 3) the ultimate

end to a great paddling day is a lobster roll and a pint of Pemaquid Ale.

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