Blue Hill Falls, Maine, US |
|
| Usual Difficulty | III (for normal flows) |
|---|---|
| Length | 1 Miles |
AMC River Guide: Maine by Appalachian Mtn Club
This is a tidal reversing falls, like Cohasset in MA and Sheepscot in Lincoln County,
ME. Check out the directions and description in the Northeast Paddlers'
Massage Board.
Phil Urban shared:
The wave starts to form 2 1/2 hours before high tide. It requires at least a mid-range tide with
larger tides being better, but the huge tides wash it out. The wave is visible from the bridge.
Be careful on the bridge--pedestrians and cars don't mix well there. I have been paddling at the
Falls since '96 and IMO the wave has not changed. Boats have. There are times when a modern,
short playboat can catch the wave and even go off in the short window on the perfect tide. But it
is mostly an old school, soul surfing spot. Fast boats can have a great time. The spot is
gorgeous and the vacationing family can explore the intertidal zone while you surf. The spot is
shown in the Gazeteer.
Directions:
Take 172 South from Ellsworth. About 3 miles past the village of Blue Hill, turn left off 172 onto
175. Proceed for about a mile to a bridge with a rounded concrete arch. Park on either side
directly before the bridge.
No photos found. 
No rapids entered. If you know names, and locations of the rapids please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run. 
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Rt 175 to Rt 175 (Tidal Reversing Falls), Blue Hill Falls Maine, US (mobile)
User Comments
requires at least a mid range tide with larger tides being better but the huge tides wash it out.
The wave is visible from the bridge. Be careful on the bridge, pedestrians and cars don't mix well
there. I have been paddling at the falls since '96 and IMO the wave has not changed. Boats have.
There are times when a modern, short playboat can catch the wave and even go off in the short
window on the perfect tide. But it is mostly an old school, soul surfing spot. Fast boats can have
a great time. The spot is gorgeous and the vacationing family can explore the intertidal zone while
you surf. The spot is shown in the Gazeteer. Edit
perspective, been disappointed by this spot. Rumor has it that the rapid is not what it used to be.
Although there is still a strong current, the famed wave on the incoming tide no longer fully
forms. I suppose that the best chance for a formed wave is during a "moon" tide cycle. A possible
explanation for this (again rumor only) is that a few years ago, construction debris from the stone
bridge over head may have fallen into the water near the wave changing the morphology of the
current.