Several outfitters in and around Fryeburg rent canoes and kayaks by the day, and most offer shuttle services so you can run a one-way route downriver rather than paddling back. A full day trip from Fryeburg toward Brownfield covers around ten miles of easy water with multiple good stopping points. Multi-day trips are possible and well worth the planning.
The river corridor is undeveloped for long stretches -- you can go hours without seeing a building. Water levels are usually best from late May through September. Early summer tends to be cooler and less crowded; August brings warmer water and more paddlers. Camping on the sandbars is a summer tradition for many Maine families, though fire restrictions may apply in dry years.