| West Branch Penobscot River | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Maine |
| Mouth | Penobscot River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Length | 117 miles (188 km) |
| Source elevation | 1,020 feet (310 m) |
| Mouth elevation | 240 feet (70 m) |
The West Branch Penobscot River is a 117-mile-long (188 km)[1] tributary of Maine's Penobscot River. The river flows from Seboomook Lake in Seboomook, Somerset County; the lake's principal inflows are the North Branch and South Branch Penobscot River. From Seboomook Dam () the river runs about 25 miles (40 km) east and northeast to Chesuncook Lake, thence (after flowing through Chesuncook) about 20 miles (32 km) southeast through the southwest corner of Baxter State Park to the Pemadumcook Chain of Lakes, thence generally east to its confluence with the Penobscot's East Branch in Medway, Penobscot County.
The Appalachian Trail crosses the West Branch at Abol Bridge (), at the northeast end of the Hundred-Mile Wilderness. The trail then runs upstream along the river for 3 miles (5 km), until it follows Nesowadnehunk Stream into Baxter Park on the way to its northern terminus on Mount Katahdin.
The Northern Forest Canoe Trail follows the West Branch between the portage from Moosehead Lake in North East Carry (), and Chesuncook Lake ().