Remember to treat water from the river before drinking. Both are located on private property where the landowners permit paddlers to stay assuming they pack out all trash and otherwise leave no trace. Water levels on the Connecticut are not a concern, so it can be paddled anytime between spring and late fall, but the camping areas along this section can be buggy May through July.Ĭamping: The Maine Central RR Trestle Campsite (7 miles in) and Samuel Benton Campsite (13 miles in) are primitive NFCT camping areas along the river. As you approach Groveton, the NFCT turns left up the Ammonoosuc River, where you’ll have to travel 1.5 miles upstream before reaching the Normandeau campsite (the alternative is to take out at Guildhall). The river meanders south, with the occasional rips and osprey nests. Through bright agricultural valleys and old trestles, New England’s longest river gives a peek into logging and railroad history. It can be paddled in one long day or split into two. Sandy beaches along the winding Connecticut River offer a fun, leisurely trip for both new and experienced paddlers. Once you re-enter the Saranac River, there’s a lean-to near Lower Lock. You can stop in at the State Bridge boat launch and if sites are available, and can register the same day. On Middle and Lower Saranac Lakes, the sites are state-managed and require a reservation and fee. There are several primitive campsites along the north shore of Stony Creek Pond and one at Huckleberry Bay on Upper Saranac Lake. Many beautiful lean-tos placed along the shores of the 10-mile Long Lake and the Raquette River. This area can be buggy so it might be best to wait until after all the snow has melted in the High Peaks for a more enjoyable experience.Ĭamping: Plentiful and spread out, but require some planning for the Saranac Lakes area. Half of the 1.1-mile Indian Carry from Stony Pond is challenging to wheel and finally the Bartlett Carry is quick and wheelable on a road. During high water in the spring, the bridges along the brief Stony Creek stretch will force paddlers to briefly portage around. After allocating some time to this portage, paddlers are rewarded with views when they put-in below the falls. Most of the trail has too many roots and rocks to navigate, making wheeling unlikely. The first of them, the 1.3-mile Raquette Falls Carry isn’t easy. Depending on the wind, this can be a quick paddle. This stretch is fairly wild and remote, with quaint waterside towns, and excellent swimming and camping. The trail travels 9 miles across Long Lake to the winding and gentle Raquette River before entering the Saranac Lakes. In the heart of the Adirondacks lies one of the most pristine sections of the NFCT. State Campgrounds located on Alger Island (mile 5.5), Eighth Lake (mile 16), and Brown Tract Pond (mile 20) by reservation for a fee. Primitive lean-to’s at Seventh and Eighth Lakes between miles 13 and 17. The bugs can be vicious and the lakes get crowded with visitors during early summer, meaning there could be lots of boats and jet skis.Ĭamping: Plentiful. The Fifth Lake (.4 miles) and Eighth Lake Campground (1 mile) portages are a short distance and wheelable, however the Brown Tract Carry from the north end of Eighth Lake follows a rougher trail that might require moving by hand for short distances. Portages: Three You’ll want a set of wheels for this section. Where: Old Forge, NY to Raquette Lake, NY There’s a reason thru-paddlers are captivated by this trail from the start. This section requires some straightforward portaging through dense woods and is home to some of the most well-managed and pristine campsites around. Fulton Chain of Lakesīeginning at the Western Terminus of the NFCT, the Chain of Lakes connects eight flatwater lakes and ponds through the Adirondacks. Thankfully, some of the best pieces of the NFCT are do-able in a short trip, and are begging to be paddled. Most will opt to paddle in smaller pieces in days or weeks, but even this isn’t easy: There are a number of spectacular sections of this trail, but not all are accessible to paddle in shorter chunks. But thanks to its length, few people paddle it in one go, end to end. Paddlers who travel its waters experience solitude, joy, and challenges. It follows lakes, streams, ponds, and rivers to connect historic old trading routes. The Northern Forest Canoe Trail, or NFCT, travels over 700-miles from upstate New York to the Canadian Border in Maine.
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