260 pages. By Katina Daanen
Named in 2011 as America's Best Canoe Trail by Outside Magazine and sometimes referred to as the "Appalachian Trail of the Waterways," the 740-mile Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT) begins in the Adirondacks at its
western terminus in Old Forge, New York,
ending at the eastern terminus in Fort Kent, Maine. It traverses 23 rivers and streams,
62 lakes and ponds, connects 49 communities and towns, and includes 77 portages,
totaling about 78 miles.
The Through-Paddler's Companion documents navigating the Trail in its entirety-west to east-from the perspective and unique needs of an expedition paddler or anyone looking for more detailed information while following the official NFCT maps. It provides comprehensive and tactical advice about specific water bodies, including upstream paddling directions, portage (or carry) descriptions and distances, and mileage markers, while offering suggestions for ordinary, yet sometimes elusive matters, such as where one might spend the night.
The Through-Paddler's Companion guidebook includes:
Click here to review sample segment descriptions.
A portion of the sales of this guidebook will benefit the Northern Forest Canoe Trail Inc. Trail Fund.
1.Old Forge, N.Y., to Raquette Lake, N.Y. | 20 miles |
2.Raquette Lake, N.Y., to Long Lake, N.Y. | 23 miles |
3.Long Lake, N.Y., to Stoney Creek | 22.5 miles |
4.Stoney Creek to Saranac Lake, N.Y. | 20 miles |
5.Saranac Lake, N.Y., to Union Falls Pond Dam | 21.5 miles |
6.Union Falls Pond Dam to Baker's Acres | 19 miles |
7.Baker's Acres to Plattsburgh, N.Y. | 22.5 miles |
8.Plattsburgh, N.Y., to North Hero Island | 22 miles |
9.North Hero Island to Swanton, Vt. | 15 miles |
10.Swanton, Vt., to Sheldon | 15 miles |
11.Sheldon Springs to Enosburg Falls, Vt. | 11 miles |
12.Enosburg Falls, Vt., to Richford, Vt. | 16 miles |
13.Richford, Vt., to Mansonville, Qué. | 21.5 miles |
14.Mansonville, Qué., to Newport, Vt. | 19.5 miles |
15.Newport, Vt., to Pensioner Pond | 12.5 miles |
16.Pensioner Pond to Island Pond, Vt. | 18 miles |
17.Island Pond, Vt., to Bloomfield, Vt. | 19.5 miles |
18.Bloomfield, Vt., to Groveton, N.H. | 22 miles |
19.Groveton, N.H., to West Milan, N.H. | 19 miles |
20.West Milan, N.H., to Errol, N.H. | 23 miles |
21.Errol, N.H., to Middle Dam | 12 miles |
22.Middle Dam to Oquossoc, Maine | 21 miles |
23.Oquossoc, Maine, to Lower Dallas Bridge | 15.5 miles |
24.Lower Dallas Bridge to Flagstaff Lake | 20 miles |
25.Flagstaff Lake to Spencer Stream | 27.5 miles |
26.Spencer Stream to Spencer Lake | 10 miles |
27.Spencer Lake to Jackman, Maine | 23.5 miles |
28.Jackman, Maine, to Little Brassua Lake | 22 miles |
29.Little Brassua Lake to Northeast Carry | 29.5 miles |
30.Northeast Carry to Umbazooksus Lake | 29.5 miles |
31.Umbazooksus Lake to Chamberlain Lake | 6 miles |
32.Chamberlain Lake to Churchill Dam | 21 miles |
33.Churchill Dam to Michaud Farm | 45.5 miles |
34.Michaud Farm to Pelletier's | 6.5 miles |
35.Pelletier's to Fort Kent, Maine | 17 miles |