Backroads Moose Tour with Northeast Whitewater in Greenville

No matter where we go we like to explore the backroads and forest service roads on our own looking for wildlife, and generally that works well for us, but when you’re looking for moose in Maine, that’s not always effective. We got to go out on a private moose expedition with Northeast Whitewater in Greenville, looking for moose and learning about the Highlands of Maine and it was delightful. I’m pretty goo at navigating and safety in undeveloped areas, but having a guide take us out into the wilderness to look for moose was much better, and more safe. Since we’re not hunters I don’t tend to consider hunting season as I’m planning my hikes and exploring, but GUIDES DO!

We’ve got the scoop on what to expect going out on a moose tour with Northeast Whitewater and how to have the best experience. From gear to bring to planning your expedition to be as successful as possible, we’ve got tips to make it all worthwhile. If you have any questions about planning a moose tour in Greenville or need additional recommendations, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan a great trip to Maine.

Why do a Backroads Moose Tour in Greenville?

When you’re planning your moose tour in Greenville, you’ve got a few different options for both the way the tour happens and who you go out with. Northeast Whitewater is who we’ve been out with twice, once for a private backroads moose tour and once for a sunrise canoe tour. Both experiences were fun and beautiful, but very different. When you’re doing a private moose tour or a group tour on the backroads around Moosehead Lake you’ll go off the beaten path using forest service roads, exploring remote areas of brush, bogs and ponds.

Experienced guides get you out into the wilderness like you generally can’t do on your own. As a part of the moose tour you’ll learn all about moose, their rut season, and the habitat the occupy all around Moosehead Lake. Much like the forests around Baxter State Park over in Millinocket, Greenville and Moosehead Lake have those perfect ecosystems that moose love, and you’ll learn why as you go. Watching for tell-tale signs of moose presence and even tromping through the brush to call moose, it’s all a part of the moose tour with Northeast Whitewater.

Now, what about seeing moose? So, it’s not a guarantee because the moose are WILDlife, but it’s very likely that you’ll get to see moose. The expert guides know where the moose like to hang out and they keep track of their movement to be able to find them during moose tours. You may see seven moose on a guided moose tour or you may see zero, but either way you’ll learn a lot and get to enjoy beautiful scenery from Shirley Mills to Greenville to Kokadjo.

Tips for a Backroads Moose Tour

As you’re considering which guided moose tour to do, think about what time of day you want to go. Mornings are great for spotting moose because they’re out moving around to start their day and it’s not too hot out yet. Also, since the sun is just coming up it only gets lighter and lighter as your tour progresses. With an evening tour, while you may get some wonderful lighting during golden hour, as the night progresses it gets darker so it may be more difficult to spot moose, let alone get a photo.

When it comes to choosing whether to do the private moose tour or be a part of a group, you have to consider a few things: do you mind being with a few other strangers for the duration of your tour? do you have the budget to book a private moose tour? The big difference between the two besides sharing the experience with others is influencing the direction of the tour. When you’re on a private tour you can request to linger longer in different areas, you can have a more tailored tour, and you get the free reign to ask all the questions you can imagine. These different things mean more to some than others.

Being Prepared for a Moose Tour in Greenville

Whenever you’re going out to look for wildlife you should always bring your camera, and if you have some good lenses, bring those too. While it’s always amazing to have the moose and other wildlife very near when you’re on a moose tour, it’s likely that you’ll first see them from a distance and then you should be keeping your distance, hence the need for a telephoto lens. If you have a favorite pair of binoculars or a monocular, bring them along, but also know that Northeast Whitewater will supply you with viewing gear to borrow, so don’t fret if you don’t have your own. I’m one of those people who likes to bring my own gear, so I do.

If you’re doing a private or group moose tour, there may be opportunities for a little bit of trekking in the woods or around the bogs. I like wearing my XtraTuff boots for things like this, but it’s not required. With this type of moose tour you won’t necessarily be tromping through muddy areas, but I like to be able to if the opportunity presents itself. Northeast Whitewater will provide gear if needed for the planned moose tour, but like I said before, it’s nice when you do have your own gear that you know works well for you. The crew for the moose tour will bring some snacks, water and either coffee or cocoa on your adventure, but you’re welcome to bring your own drinks and snacks as well. It can be a long tour, so being well prepared is a good idea.

Getting to Northeast Whitewater for a Moose Tour

Getting to Northeast Whitewater isn’t difficult as it’s right off the highway into Greenville. The building is a beautiful log cabin that you can’t miss, with an awesome carved moose sculpture out front. When you arrive you’ll head into the cabin to check in and then if you need snacks or coffee, there’s a small cafe available.

NOTE: if you’re on a sunrise backroads tour, the shop/cafe won’t be open when you arrive so if you need coffee or a muffin, you’ll need to have gotten snacks the night before or grabbed a coffee at your accommodations.

There are restrooms onsite at the Northeast Whitewater, so use them before you depart, and then when you get back you can check out the gift shop and cafe. The reverse is true if you’re doing a sunset canoe moose tour.

Will I See Moose? Guaranteed?

I wish I could say that seeing moose is guaranteed on either a canoe tour or a backroads driving tour, but it’s simply not. While Northeast Whitewater does a great job communicating with each other about where they’ve been seeing moose and about the animals’ movement through the area, the fact is that moose are wildlife… WILDlife. There is an excellent chance of seeing moose when you’re on your moose tour, but it’s just not guaranteed because they are not kept in captivity. I hope you have great luck and see moose and all the other wildlife Maine has to offer though!

Northeast Whitewater Operating Information

To complete your planning, here is all the information to plan and book your adventure.

• Operating Dates/Season: June through October, tours may vary in time, location and availability
• Tour office phone number: 207-695-0151
• Company website: NortheastWhitewater.com
• Tour check-in address: 155 Greenville Road Shirley Mills, Maine 04485

More Things to do in the Highlands of Maine

The Highlands of Maine stretch from Bangor and sprawl to the north and west following the rise of the Appalachians. There are lots of small towns and state parks, and some of the most beautiful sights in Maine. I know that most people think of coastal Maine and its lighthouses when they think of what they’ll see when they come for a visit, but the Highlands are really the playground of Mainers. This region is why Maine is called “Vacationland” and you’ll see why when you come for a visit.

And you cannot forget that the Highlands is an epic winter playground too, with destinations like Sunday River, Saddleback and Sugarloaf. In winter you’ve got downhill and Nordic skiing, and in summer it’s all about hiking and fishing. During fall this is where you come for leaf peeping and to look for moose and other Maine wildlife.

Here are some great ideas for ways to enjoy the Highlands of Maine.

Where to Stay in the Highlands

Depending on the season you’re visiting the Highlands, you will have different options for where to stay. If you’re planning on climbing Mount Katahdin or doing a portion of the Appalachian Trail, Millinocket is a great place to be based. For other Appalachian Trail launch points you can find fun places to stay in Eustace, the Carrabassett Valley, and Rangely. Another amazing summertime destination is Greenville and Moosehead Lake.

For skiing you can stay in Newry or Hanover (for Sunday River), Rangely or Phillips (for Saddleback), or Carrabassett Valley for Sugarloaf. You’ll find lots of cross country / Nordic skiing all over, but the Katahdin Area Trails are great for it!