The Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT) is a 740-mile (1,190 km) marked canoeing trail in the northeastern United States and Canada, extending from Old Forge in the Adirondacks of New York to Fort Kent, Maine. Along the way, the trail also passes through the states and provinces of Vermont, Quebec, and New Hampshire. The trail was opened on June 3, 2006.
| Northern Forest Canoe Trail | |
|---|---|
| Location | Northeastern United States |
| Length | 740 mile (1,190 km) |
| Trailheads | Old Forge, New York, Fort Kent, Maine |
| Use | Canoeing |
| Difficulty | Moderate to Strenuous |
| Portages | 62 (55 miles / 90 km) |
| Lakes and Ponds | 56 |
| Rivers and Streams | 22 |
| Season | Summer to Fall |
| Sights | Adirondack Mountains |
| Hazards | Severe Weather Class III, IV white water |
Overview edit
The trail has been likened to a water version of the Appalachian Trail, and there are many similarities: both are long-distance trails that most people will use for day trips or short overnight trips. Many of those who paddle the entire trail will do so in sections. Unlike the AT, the NFCT obtains access for campsites and portages through landowner permission rather than through land protection. Also, many sections of the trail require a high level of skill to complete.[1]
The trail is divided into 13 sections: Adirondack Country (West) New York, Adirondack North Country (Central) New York, Adirondack Country (East) New York, Islands and Farms Region Vermont, Upper Missisquoi Valley Vermont/Quebec, Northeast Kingdom Quebec/Vermont, Great North Woods New Hampshire, Rangeley Lakes Region Maine, Flagstaff Region Maine, Greater Jackman Region Maine, Moosehead/Penobscot Region Maine, Allagash Region (South) Maine, and Allagash Region (North) Maine. Each of these sections has been mapped and documented in order to establish the trail.
Trail towns include Old Forge, Richford, Vermont, The Errol-Berlin Corridor, New Hampshire and Rangeley, Maine.[2] In Maine it primarily traverses through the North Maine Woods region
The trail covers 58 lakes and ponds, 22 rivers and streams, and 63 "carries" (portages) totaling 53 miles (85 km). On some sections of the trail, portage trails, campsites, and access areas are marked with Northern Forest Canoe Trail medallions, a yellow diamond with blue lettering.[3]
The American Canoe Association has named the NFCT an ACA-Recommended Water Trail.
Bodies of Water[4] edit
New York (147 mi.) edit
- Fulton Chain of Lakes
- Brown's Tract Inlet
- Raquette Lake
- Forked Lake
- Raquette River
- Long Lake
- Stony Creek Ponds
- Upper, Middle, and Lower Saranac Lakes
- Oseetah Lake
- Franklin Falls Pond
- Union Falls Pond
- Saranac River
Vermont & Québec (174 mi.) edit
- Lake Champlain
- Missisquoi River
- North Branch Missisquoi River
- Lake Memphremagog
- Clyde River
- Clyde Pond
- Salem Lake
- Charleston Pond
- Pensioner Pond
- Island Pond
- Spectacle Pond
- Nulhegan Pond
- Nulhegan River
New Hampshire (72 mi.) edit
Maine (374 mi.) edit
- Umbagog Lake
- Rapid River
- Upper and Lower Richardson Lakes
- Mooselookmeguntic Lake
- Rangeley Lake
- Haley Pond
- South Branch Dead River
- Flagstaff Lake
- Dead River
- Spencer Stream
- Spencer Lake
- Fish Pond
- Attean Pond
- Big Wood Pond
- Moose River
- Long Pond
- Little Brassua Lake
- Brassua Lake
- Moosehead Lake
- West Branch Penobscot River
- Chesuncook Lake
- Umbazooksus Stream
- Umbazooksus Lake
- Mud Pond
- Chamberlain Lake
- Eagle Lake
- Churchill Lake
- Allagash River
- Umsaskis Lake
- Long Lake
- Round Pond
- St. John River
Through-paddlers edit
As of 2016[update], 95 people have "through-paddled" the trail — traveling the length of the trail in one expedition. In addition, six other "section-paddlers" have completed it in multiple trips.[5]
Nicole Grohoski and Thomas Perkins of Ellsworth, Maine were the first to officially through-paddle the trail in 2006, traveling the length of the trail in about 45 days.[citation needed] Donnie Mullen paddled the trail in 2000 before its official opening, taking about 55 days but doing so without the signs and maps that were available in 2015.[6] The fastest thru-paddle was completed in 2012 Elspeth Ronnander, Erik Peih and Emily Johnson. the trip took them 21 days, 3 hours and 45 minutes.[citation needed]
Northern Forest Canoe Trail literature edit
"Paddling the Northern Forest Canoe Trail" by Sam Brakeley - a narrative of a 2009 thru-paddle in journal form.
"The Northern Forest Canoe Trail Through-Paddler's Companion" by Katina Daanen, a guide book to paddling the 740-mile (1,190 km) water trail from its western terminus in Old Forge, New York to the eastern terminus in Fort Kent, Maine.
"Paddling Through Time - The Story of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail", Northern Forest Canoe Trail, 2006. ISBN 9780978669706, 64 pages.
References edit
- ^ "FAQs - Northern Forest Canoe Trail". Northern Forest Canoe Trail.
- ^ "Trail Towns - Northern Forest Canoe Trail". Northern Forest Canoe Trail. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
- ^ The Northern Forest Canoe Trail, Inc.; Thompson, John; Canter, Ronald; Slayton, Thomas; Henderson, Robert; Duff, Lori; Mullen, Donnie; Grohoski, Nicole (2010). The Northern Forest Canoe Trail: The Official Guidebook. Seattle, WA, USA: The Mountaineers Book. ISBN 978-1-59485-061-5. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
- ^ "Rivers Lakes and Streams of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail - Northern Forest Canoe Trail". www.northernforestcanoetrail.org. Archived from the original on 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
- ^ "The NFCT Paddlers List". northernforestcanoetrail.org. Retrieved 2018-08-12.
- ^ "FAQs - Northern Forest Canoe Trail - Q: Has anyone thru-paddled the Trail?". northernforestcanoetrail.org. Retrieved 2018-08-12.