Mattawamkeag, Maine: A River Junction and Railroad Town in the Maine Highlands

Where the Mattawamkeag River pours into the Penobscot, in the wild country north of Bangor, sits the small town of Mattawamkeag. For such a quiet place — home to only about 700 people — it carries a big history as a river crossing and railroad junction, and today it offers visitors a thousand acres of riverside wilderness to explore. Here is a closer look at this Maine Highlands town.

Where Two Rivers Meet

Mattawamkeag takes its name from the Penobscot language of the region’s Wabanaki people, and the town sits exactly where the Mattawamkeag River flows into the larger Penobscot River, at a spot long marked by a broad gravel bar. For generations, the Penobscot people traveled and fished these waterways, and the meeting of the two rivers has shaped the town’s story ever since. Mattawamkeag lies in Penobscot County, about 60 miles north of Bangor along Route 2, on the edge of Maine’s great North Woods.

A Historic Railroad Junction

Mattawamkeag’s rise came with the railroad. The European & North American Railway pushed up the Penobscot valley from Bangor and reached the town in 1869; by October 1871 the line continued east to Vanceboro on the Canadian border and connected through to Saint John, New Brunswick. That made Mattawamkeag an important junction for hauling logs and freight, and trains still rumble through the town today — a living link to its busy railroad past.

Mattawamkeag Wilderness Park

The town’s crown jewel is the Mattawamkeag Wilderness Park, a roughly 1,000-acre town-owned preserve set between the two rivers. It is a wonderfully rustic place to unplug, with about 15 miles of hiking trails, a riverside campground for tents and RVs, a camp store, a recreation building, and even free hot showers. Fishing, swimming, canoeing, and simply soaking up the quiet are all part of the appeal, and the park’s remoteness makes it a favorite for those seeking real North Woods solitude.

Gordon Falls and the Slewgundy Heater

Some of the park’s most dramatic scenery is on the water. The Mattawamkeag River here drops through Lower and Upper Gordon Falls and the rugged Slewgundy Heater, a churning gorge of ledges and rapids. The stretch of river from Kingman down to Mattawamkeag is rated Class II–IV, drawing skilled whitewater canoeists and kayakers — though these rapids are for experienced, well-equipped paddlers only. For everyone else, the falls and gorge make a spectacular sight from shore.

Gateway to Katahdin Country

Mattawamkeag also makes a handy base for exploring the wider region. It is a short drive to Baxter State Park and Mount Katahdin, the highest peak in Maine, while the mill town of Millinocket — a gateway to Katahdin and the North Woods — lies nearby. Anglers, paddlers, snowmobilers, and hikers all find plenty of wild country within easy reach.

Planning Your Visit

This is remote Maine, so come prepared. Services are limited, cell coverage can be spotty, and the best season for camping and paddling runs from late spring through fall. Check directly with the Mattawamkeag Wilderness Park for current camping availability, fees, and river conditions before you go, and remember that the whitewater sections demand real skill and the right gear. Come self-sufficient, follow Leave No Trace, and you will be rewarded with a genuine taste of the Maine wilderness.

Mattawamkeag sits deep in the Maine Highlands, but the same rivers and railroads that shaped it connect towns all across the state. Our own community of Winslow, on the Kennebec River, shares that heritage of life along Maine’s great waterways — its colonial-era Fort Halifax has stood guard over the river since 1754. Wherever your travels take you in the Pine Tree State, the story of its rivers is never far away.

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