Northern Forest Canoe Trail

What follows is a brief description of each part of the NFCT. If your interested in paddling any part of the trail, or just want to learn more about the fantastic people in charge of it please click here www.northernforestcanoetrail.org

New York -147 Miles

(photo by Rob Center)

Old Forge to Saranac River is easy and scenic. It follows the long-established “Highway of the Adirondacks.” The Saranac River is a scenic, challenging, route off the Adirondack Plateau.

Vermont/Quebec - 174 miles

(photo by Laurie Sanders)

Lake Champlain is the most historic lake in America, and very big. The Missisquoi River to Lake Memphremagog section has the “Grand Portage,” but otherwise is gentle and has few carries. Through the Northeast Kingdom, the Clyde and Nulhegan Rivers have many carries, but are very scenic and historic.

 

 

New Hampshire - 72 miles

(photo by Laurie Sanders)

The Connecticut is placid as it meanders to the Upper Ammonoosuc. From here, going west to east, the trail goes upstream, albeit on fairly lazy water with a few rapids. The Androscoggin is wide with sections of slowly flowing water and some rapids.

Maine- 347 miles

(photo courtesy of NFCT)

The section from Errol, New Hampshire to Rangeley, Maine is easier to paddle from Rangeley to Errol. The trail descends steadily from Maine’s interior plateau through big lakes and tumbling rivers. Beyond Rangeley to the east is the Androscoggin-Kennebec divide, the highest point on the trail east of the Adirondacks. After the divide, the trail is easiest southwest to northeast as it works across the plateau and then descends to Fort Kent. Flagstaff Lake and the headwaters of Little Spencer Stream hold some of the finest scenery along the trail, though Moosehead Lake is also outstanding. The Allagash Wilderness Waterway is a spectacular ribbon of lakes, ponds, rivers and streams winding through northern Maine.

 

 


 
©2007 Two Paddles

Background photo - Lake Winnipeg near Granite Quarry Cove 2005.