The Maine Island Trail is the only recreational water trail that spans the entire coast of Maine, but it’s not Maine’s only water trail. There are several others, including the Penobscot River Paddling Trail, which runs for more than 100 miles along the main stem of the Penobscot River between Medway and Bucksport. The PRPT connects the freshwater campsites of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail to the saltwater campsites of Maine Island Trail.

PRPT is the brainchild of a pair of paddling enthusiasts who proposed the idea, built momentum for it, recruited supporters and volunteers, formed a nonprofit, raised funds, negotiated agreements with landowners, collaborated with the Penobscot Nation and other groups, built campsites along the river, produced maps, created a website, and overcame countless challenges all in service to this vision of a formalized paddling trail where one had not existed previously. Thanks to more than a decade of work on their part, there is now a campsite just about every 10 miles down this stretch of river. Last fall, MITA and PRPT worked together with the Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust to establish the missing link between our two water trails with creation of a water-access only campsite on the GPMCT’s Joost Family Preserve on Verona Island.

In many ways, the origin story of the PRPT is similar to that of the Maine Island Trail. Both exist thanks to the extraordinary efforts of a local power couple. Both are built on a foundation of good faith, volunteerism and trust. And both are rooted in a deep commitment to low-impact ethics, stewardship of the land and water, and respect for Maine’s human and natural communities.

For their vision, approach, perseverance and success, we are thrilled to recognize Cloe Chunn and David Thanhauser of the Penobscot River Paddling Trail with MITA’s 2025 Spirit of the Trail award!