Carrabassett River
Encyclopedia
The Carrabassett River, a tributary of the Kennebec River
, is located in Franklin County
and Somerset County
, Maine
, in the United States
. It rises near Sugarloaf Mountain
, east of Rangeley Lake
, and runs for 33.8 miles (54.4 km), flowing southeast past Kingfield
and joining the Kennebec River in the town of Anson.
to the east and Mount Redington
to the west. From the outflow of Caribou Pond (45.0090°N 70.3565 °W), the South Branch flows north through Caribou Valley, between Crocker Mountain
and Sugarloaf Mountain. The Appalachian Trail
crosses the South Branch in Caribou Valley. Near the village of Bigelow, the river turns east, collecting brooks draining Sugarloaf Mountain, known for Sugarloaf ski resort
. At Bigelow, the river is bridged by State Route 16. Route 16 and the narrow gauge Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad
follow the river from Bigelow downstream to Kingfield.
, the South Fork Carrabassett River is joined by Huston Brook, which flows south from the Bigelow Range. Below the confluence the river is simply called the Carrabassett River (there is no North Branch, but there is a West Branch to the south). The railroad enabled logging of the aboriginal spruce
forests of the west branch in 1885, and a large steam sawmill was built at Bigelow in 1899 to convert the headwater forests to lumber. The shift to internal combustion transportation began in 1924 when a Carrabassett veneer mill used surplus World War I
tank
s to move logs out of the woods. The railroad was dismantled between 1926 and 1936.
The Carrabassett River flows southward from the confluence of the South Branch with Huston Brook, passing between Poplar Mountain to the east and Owls Head to the west, receiving Poplar Stream and Hammond Field Brook before entering the town of Kingfield
. There it receives Clay Brook, Reed Brook, and Ledge Brook. This part of the Carrabassett River contains many rapids. Just before the village of Kingfield, the West Branch Carrabassett River
joins the main Carrabassett River. The river is bridged by State Route 16 and impounded by a small concrete dam in the village of Kingfield. Below the dam the river receives Stanley Stream, then enters Somerset County and the town of New Portland
.
After crossing the county line, the Carrabassett River receives the waters of Indian Stream, Bloodsucker Brook, and Taylor Brook, before reaching the village of New Portland. An old suspension bridge called the "Wire Bridge" crosses the river in New Portland. The river then collects Lemon Stream, Dyer Brook, and Newell Brook. In the village of East New Portland another bridge crosses the river. Then the Carrabassett River receives one of its main tributaries, Gilman Stream, followed by the smaller tributaries of Hutchins Brook, Hilton Brook, and Town Farm Brook.
The Carrabassett River passes through the North Anson Gorge in the town of Anson. It collects Mill Stream and Gilbert Brook before reaching the village of North Anson. About a mile below North Anson, the Carrabassett River joins the Kennebec River
at an island called Savage Island. The Carrabassett is bridged by U.S. Route 201
and was bridged by the former Kineo Branch of the Maine Central Railroad
near the confluence with the Kennebec.
Kennebec River
The Kennebec River is a river that is entirely within the U.S. state of Maine. It rises in Moosehead Lake in west-central Maine. The East and West Outlets join at Indian Pond and the river then flows southward...
, is located in Franklin County
Franklin County, Maine
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of 2010, the population was 30,768. Its county seat is Farmington.Franklin County was established on 9 May 1838.-Geography:...
and Somerset County
Somerset County, Maine
Somerset County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of 2010, the population was 52,228. Its county seat is Skowhegan.-History:...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It rises near Sugarloaf Mountain
Sugarloaf Mountain (Franklin County, Maine)
Sugarloaf Mountain is a mountain located in Franklin County, Maine. It is the second highest mountain in the state, after Mount Katahdin. Sugarloaf is flanked to the south by Spaulding Mountain....
, east of Rangeley Lake
Rangeley Lake
Rangeley Lake is located in Franklin County, Maine in the United States. It is fed by several streams. Its waters flow out from the lake's northwestern end into the short Rangeley River, then into Mooselookmeguntic Lake, and ultimately into the Androscoggin River, Merrymeeting Bay, the lower...
, and runs for 33.8 miles (54.4 km), flowing southeast past Kingfield
Kingfield, Maine
Kingfield is a town in Franklin County, Maine, United States. The population was 997 at the 2010 census. Kingfield is the principal gateway to Sugarloaf, a major ski resort, and is headquarters to Maine Huts and Trails.-History:...
and joining the Kennebec River in the town of Anson.
South Branch
The South Branch Carrabassett River, 11.9 miles (19.2 km) long, begins in Franklin County at Caribou Pond, fed by small brooks and wetlands between Spaulding MountainSpaulding Mountain
Spaulding Mountain is a mountain located in Franklin County, Maine.Spaulding Mtn. is flanked to the northeast by Sugarloaf Mountain, and to the southeast by Mount Abraham.The northeast and south sides of Spaulding Mtn...
to the east and Mount Redington
Mount Redington
Mount Redington is a mountain located in Franklin County, Maine.Redington is flanked to the northeast by South Crocker Mountain and to the west by Black Nubble.Redington stands just northeast of the U.S...
to the west. From the outflow of Caribou Pond (45.0090°N 70.3565 °W), the South Branch flows north through Caribou Valley, between Crocker Mountain
Crocker Mountain (Maine)
Crocker Mountain is a 4,228-foot peak located in Carrabassett Valley, Franklin County, Maine, in the United States. Crocker Mountain is part of the Appalachian Mountains....
and Sugarloaf Mountain. The Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately long...
crosses the South Branch in Caribou Valley. Near the village of Bigelow, the river turns east, collecting brooks draining Sugarloaf Mountain, known for Sugarloaf ski resort
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
. At Bigelow, the river is bridged by State Route 16. Route 16 and the narrow gauge Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad
Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad
The Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad was a narrow gauge common carrier railroad that operated approximately of gauge railroad in Franklin County, Maine.-History:Josiah L...
follow the river from Bigelow downstream to Kingfield.
Main stem
Near the villages of Records and Carrabassett, in the town of Carrabassett ValleyCarrabassett Valley, Maine
Carrabassett Valley is a town in Franklin County, Maine, United States. The population was 761 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water...
, the South Fork Carrabassett River is joined by Huston Brook, which flows south from the Bigelow Range. Below the confluence the river is simply called the Carrabassett River (there is no North Branch, but there is a West Branch to the south). The railroad enabled logging of the aboriginal spruce
Spruce
A spruce is a tree of the genus Picea , a genus of about 35 species of coniferous evergreen trees in the Family Pinaceae, found in the northern temperate and boreal regions of the earth. Spruces are large trees, from tall when mature, and can be distinguished by their whorled branches and conical...
forests of the west branch in 1885, and a large steam sawmill was built at Bigelow in 1899 to convert the headwater forests to lumber. The shift to internal combustion transportation began in 1924 when a Carrabassett veneer mill used surplus World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
s to move logs out of the woods. The railroad was dismantled between 1926 and 1936.
The Carrabassett River flows southward from the confluence of the South Branch with Huston Brook, passing between Poplar Mountain to the east and Owls Head to the west, receiving Poplar Stream and Hammond Field Brook before entering the town of Kingfield
Kingfield, Maine
Kingfield is a town in Franklin County, Maine, United States. The population was 997 at the 2010 census. Kingfield is the principal gateway to Sugarloaf, a major ski resort, and is headquarters to Maine Huts and Trails.-History:...
. There it receives Clay Brook, Reed Brook, and Ledge Brook. This part of the Carrabassett River contains many rapids. Just before the village of Kingfield, the West Branch Carrabassett River
West Branch Carrabassett River
The West Branch Carrabassett River is a short tributary of the Carrabassett River in Franklin County, Maine. From the confluence of Quick Stream with a small stream in Salem, the river runs northeast to its mouth in Kingfield.-References:**...
joins the main Carrabassett River. The river is bridged by State Route 16 and impounded by a small concrete dam in the village of Kingfield. Below the dam the river receives Stanley Stream, then enters Somerset County and the town of New Portland
New Portland, Maine
New Portland is a scenic town in Somerset County, Maine, United States nestled among some of the foothills, and within sight, of the Appalachian Mountains. It is perhaps best known for its Wire Bridge, a cable suspension bridge completed in 1866 that is the last remaining bridge of its type in...
.
After crossing the county line, the Carrabassett River receives the waters of Indian Stream, Bloodsucker Brook, and Taylor Brook, before reaching the village of New Portland. An old suspension bridge called the "Wire Bridge" crosses the river in New Portland. The river then collects Lemon Stream, Dyer Brook, and Newell Brook. In the village of East New Portland another bridge crosses the river. Then the Carrabassett River receives one of its main tributaries, Gilman Stream, followed by the smaller tributaries of Hutchins Brook, Hilton Brook, and Town Farm Brook.
The Carrabassett River passes through the North Anson Gorge in the town of Anson. It collects Mill Stream and Gilbert Brook before reaching the village of North Anson. About a mile below North Anson, the Carrabassett River joins the Kennebec River
Kennebec River
The Kennebec River is a river that is entirely within the U.S. state of Maine. It rises in Moosehead Lake in west-central Maine. The East and West Outlets join at Indian Pond and the river then flows southward...
at an island called Savage Island. The Carrabassett is bridged by U.S. Route 201
U.S. Route 201
U.S. Route 201 is a spur of U.S. Route 1 in the U.S. state of Maine. US 201 begins in Brunswick. It follows the Kennebec River from Gardiner, Maine, to The Forks where it pulls away from the town and runs into the north woods. Route 201 ends in Sandy Bay Township, where it enters Quebec, Canada at...
and was bridged by the former Kineo Branch of the Maine Central Railroad
Maine Central Railroad
The Maine Central Railroad Company was a railroad in central and southern Maine. It was chartered in 1856 and began operations in 1862. It operated a mainline between South Portland, Maine, east to the Canada-U.S...
near the confluence with the Kennebec.