Kayak across Portland harbor to one of the most fascinating historic sites on the Maine coast. Offered daily.
**Fully booked? Give us a call to get on the waitlist!**
Duration
3 Hours
About
Fort Gorges, a Civil-War-era fort in the middle of Casco Bay, is one of the most fascinating places to explore in the area and it's only accessible by small boat! We'll start off this guided trip with a paddle into Portland harbor and then make the crossing out to the Fort, where we'll land on a beach and allow plenty of time for exploration. Your knowledgeable guide will tell you all about the Fort's storied history.
Highlights
- A visit to historic Fort Gorges, where you'll spend 30-45 minutes exploring the site
- Possible sightings of seals, eider ducks, guillemots, osprey, eagles and all sorts of seabirds
- Roughly two hours of slow to moderate-paced sea kayaking; appropriate for novices
What's Included
- Double (two-person) sea kayaks that are stable, swift and perfect for beginners. Or, if you prefer, request a solo kayak.
- A brief lesson on the basics of sea kayaking taught by an expert kayak guide
- Licensed Maine Guide
Booking Notes
#We are looking forward to seeing you!
##Important Information
**WHAT TO BRING**
- Water Bottle
- Footwear that can get wet
- Light Jacket (not cotton)
- Sun Protection
- Optional: Camera, Snacks, Binoculars
**CHILDREN:** This trip is open to children ages 10 and older. If you want to go paddling with younger children please consider our Family Sea Kayak Paddle, which is open to children ages 7 and up. Children younger than 15 generally must paddle in a tandem kayak with an adult.
**TANDEM VS. SOLO:** We typically use tandem (two-person) sea kayaks on our day tours, but you may request a solo sea kayak if you have previous experience using one. We find that tandems are best for most people because they are more stable, more spacious and faster. Plus, if you get tired your partner can pick up the slack!
**WHEN & WHERE TO ARRIVE:** Please arrive ten minutes before your tour is scheduled to start. You will see our signs at the end of Cutter Street by the East End Beach. Use the map above to find us or view the directions on our website.
**PARKING:** There is free all-day parking in the lot halfway down the hill on Cutter Street about 50 yards before you reach Portland Paddle. When that lot is full you can find free parking on streets in the residential neighborhoods nearby. The parking spaces right beside Portland Paddle are limited to 5 minutes or two hours and some are reserved for vehicles with boat trailers.
**WHAT TO WEAR:** It's often cooler on the water than on land, so bring a warm layer even if it is a warm day. Sometimes we get a bit wet from seaspray or from water dripping off the paddles. Cotton will not keep you warm if it gets wet, so it's best to leave the blue jeans and t-shirts at home and wear fleece, nylon, wool or other non-cotton materials.
**FOOTWEAR:** You may need to briefly step in shallow while getting in and out of your kayak, so you should wear shoes that you don't mind getting wet. We recommend close-toe shoes for this trip since you will be walking around dark areas of the fort with uneven footing. Watershoes or sneakers are good options. If you wear sandals, please be especially cautious when exploring the fort.
**EXPLORING THE FORT: **Fort Gorges is a very old fort that is not currently maintained. There is no lighting and there are many areas of the fort with hazards that include uneven footing, rusty metal studs and high walkways without railings. If you choose to enter the fort with your guide you must be willing to accept the inherent risks that come with walking through such a structure.
**BATHROOM FACILITIES:** There are no bathroom facilities at Fort Gorges, so we encourage paddlers to use the public bathrooms at the East End Beach before departing. We also have a portable toilet at our site that is reserved for our customers and that can be used when the public bathrooms are closed.
**TIPPING:** We encourage you to offer a gratuity to your guide if you are satisfied with your experience. Tips are never expected, but always appreciated. A common tip on our day tours is $5-$10 per person. Tips can be given directly to the guide (cash or Venmo) or online via the follow-up email you’ll receive.
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel one of our regularly-scheduled tours or lessons, or a rental booking…
- More than 48 hours in advance: You will receive a full refund.
- Between 2 hours and 48 hours in advance: You will receive a 50% refund.
- Less than 2 hours in advance: You will not receive a refund, and we cannot apply any amount paid to booking on another date.
If you need to reduce the number of people in your group within 48 hours of your booking we will reduce your total booking amount by 50% of the cost of each person that is being removed from the booking.
If you have booked out a regularly scheduled tour as a private tour, our private tour cancellation policy applies instead. In order to receive a full refund on any private tour, you must cancel with more than 14 days notice. The full text of our cancellation policies can be found at: https://www.portlandpaddle.net/cancellation-policy/
**WEATHER CANCELLATIONS**
We will offer the option of a full refund if we decide to cancel your booking due to weather conditions. We usually do not cancel tours due to overcast skies, cool temperatures or scattered showers, but we do cancel when winds are too strong, when there is steady, heavy rain, or when sustained thunderstorms appear likely.
Please keep in mind that the weather along the Maine coast is notoriously unpredictable and quick-to-change. Forecasts made several days in advance are very frequently inaccurate, and it is very common for a single summer day to include several hours of ideal conditions and several hours of very poor conditions.
