Big Rapids is a continuous two-mile Class II-III reach on the St. John River in Aroostook County, Maine, ending just above the Dickey take-out.
The falls
The rapid runs Class II under normal conditions and reaches Class III in high water, with its last rapid sitting directly above the Dickey take-out.
Getting there
Common put-ins for the run are Fifth St. John Pond and Baker Lake, with Dickey as a downstream take-out. North Maine Woods advises calling ahead before a May trip, since snow, mud, and road conditions can block access. Posted fees are $13 per person per day for Maine residents and $18 for nonresidents, plus $12 or $15 for nightly camping.
When to go
The official canoe guide names May as the best time to run the St. John. No verified flow range in cubic feet per second has been tied to Big Rapids specifically, though the nearby gauge is the St. John River at Dickey.
On site
At least one occupant of each canoe should have fast-water experience, the official guide recommends. No marked portage route or dedicated American Whitewater page exists for Big Rapids.
History and name
The federal place-name record lists the feature as Big Rapids and classifies it as rapids. No origin for the name is on record.
Nearby
Eliza Hole Rapids is about 4.1 miles away, Casey Rapids about 5 miles, and Fox Brook Rapids about 5.3 miles.
Distances are straight-line.