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Rapid River — Streams 29.1 Miles NNW of Chapman Inn
Oxford County, Maine · USGS Umbagog Lake North Quadrangle · GNIS 574044
29.1 miles north-northwest of Chapman Inn, on the USGS Umbagog Lake North topographic quadrangle, Rapid River is a stream recorded in Oxford County, Maine by the federal Geographic Names Information System.
Wikidata short description: “river in the northwestern portion of the US state of Maine”
Landmark Profile
Classification & USGS reference
The USGS Umbagog Lake North 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle places Rapid River in Oxford County, Maine (FIPS 23/017), classified as a stream in the federal GNIS (Feature ID 574044). Catalogued in GNIS since 09/30/1980.
Coordinates & physical setting
Rapid River sits at 44.79366° N, 71.01758° W (DMS 44°47′37″ N, 71°01′03″ W).
As a linear feature its source lies near 44.77617° N, 70.92174° W (DMS 44°46′34″ N, 70°55′18″ W) — useful for anglers and paddlers tracing the upstream end.
Other streams in Oxford County, Maine
Oxford County, ME contains 296 streams catalogued in the USGS Geographic Names Information System, counting Rapid River itself. The ones closest to Rapid River:
| Feature | USGS Quadrangle | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| B Brook | Umbagog Lake North | 2.6 mi |
| Tyler Brook | Umbagog Lake South | 3.6 mi |
| Ash Brook | Middle Dam | 4.8 mi |
| Birch Brook | Middle Dam | 5.1 mi |
| Swift Cambridge River | B Pond | 5.4 mi |
| Dead Cambridge River | Umbagog Lake South | 5.6 mi |
| Blackcat Brook | Middle Dam | 5.8 mi |
| Campbell Brook | B Pond | 6.2 mi |
| Lou Ann Brook | B Pond | 6.8 mi |
| Greenwood Brook | B Pond | 7 mi |
Features on the USGS Umbagog Lake North Quadrangle
The Umbagog Lake North 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle holds 29 catalogued natural features alongside Rapid River. A sampling nearest to this location:
| Feature | Type | County | Offset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Cove | Bays | Oxford County, ME | 0.8 mi |
| Spillman Cove | Bays | Oxford County, ME | 0.9 mi |
| Pine Point | Capes | Oxford County, ME | 1 mi |
| Glassby Cove | Bays | Oxford County, ME | 1.1 mi |
| Sturtevant Cove | Bays | Oxford County, ME | 1.4 mi |
| Leonard Pond | Lakes | Coos County, NH | 2 mi |
| Pininsula Molls Rock | Pillars | Coos County, NH | 2.2 mi |
| B Brook Cove | Bays | Oxford County, ME | 2.3 mi |
| Magalloway River | Streams | Oxford County, NH | 2.4 mi |
| Umbagog Lake | Lakes | Coos County, NH | 2.5 mi |
Historical record
Rapid River is a 6.0-mile-long (9.7 km) river in the northwestern portion of the US state of Maine flowing from Lower Richardson Lake to Umbagog Lake. Despite its short length, it forms the end of a major portion of the Umbagog Lake and Androscoggin River watersheds. Much of this watershed is covered by Lower and Upper Richardson Lakes, Mooselookmeguntic Lake, Cupsuptic Lake and Rangeley Lake. The major tributaries of this system are the Cupsuptic, Kennebago and Rangeley rivers, all of which flow into Cupsuptic Lake. Read the full Wikipedia entry →
Visiting from Chapman Inn
Distance, bearing & drive time
Chapman Inn sits 29.1 miles north-northwest (bearing NNW) of Rapid River. At moderate back-road speeds the drive runs about 50 minutes — comfortably inside a half-day outing window after breakfast.
Best time to visit
Best observed in late spring and early summer when flow is strong and banks are visible. At this latitude (44.794°), the shoulder seasons are workable — April and November can be comfortable on mild years. At 29.1 miles from the Inn, block the full day — sunrise start, late return, packed meals. Conditions at Rapid River track the nearby Sunday Cove bay (0.8 mi away) closely — if that is runnable, so is this.
Nearest features to Rapid River
| Feature | Type | County | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Cove | Bays | Oxford County, ME | 0.8 mi |
| Spillman Cove | Bays | Oxford County, ME | 0.9 mi |
| Pine Point | Capes | Oxford County, ME | 1 mi |
| Glassby Cove | Bays | Oxford County, ME | 1.1 mi |
| Sturtevant Cove | Bays | Oxford County, ME | 1.4 mi |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Rapid River located?
Rapid River is in Oxford County, Maine, approximately 29.1 miles north-northwest of Chapman Inn in Bethel, Maine. It appears on the USGS Umbagog Lake North topographic quadrangle.
How far is Rapid River from Chapman Inn?
The drive runs about 50 minutes, 29.1 miles north-northwest (bearing NNW) of the Inn.
What type of natural feature is Rapid River?
The U.S. Geological Survey classifies Rapid River as a stream, catalogued under GNIS Feature ID 574044 on the Umbagog Lake North quadrangle.
When is the best time to visit Rapid River?
Best observed in late spring and early summer when flow is strong and banks are visible.
How many other streams are in Oxford County, Maine?
GNIS lists 295 other streams in Oxford County, Maine.
Wikidata: Q7294193.