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 Media Room > Press Kit Thank you for visiting the online Press Kit for the Northern Forest Canoe Trail. Click the links below to go to the corresponding information or download informational documents individually at the bottom of the page. Overview Mission FAQ Trail Highlights Trail Facts OverviewThe Organization: Incorporated as a non-profit in 2000, the Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT) is guided by this mission: To celebrate the rich human heritage and diverse natural environment of the Northern Forest by establishing and stewarding a water trail tracing historic Native American travel routes across New York, Vermont, Québec, New Hampshire, and Maine. A central strategic focus for the Northern Forest Canoe Trail organization is to tap the unique power of our waterway route to reconnect people and place - to the direct benefit of each - in the 30-million acre Northern Forest Region, the largest intact ecosystem east of the Mississippi.
740-Mile Trail: The kayak and canoe water trail is the longest in the Northeast, situated within a day’s drive of almost 80 million people, including residents of Boston, Montréal, and New York City. As a unique public resource, the NFCT offers world-class paddling experiences. Flowing with stories of Native American peoples, European settlers, developing mill towns and the timber industry, local animal and plant species, and the evolution of new patterns of land ownership, the Trail has a rich heritage and exciting potential as the basis of widely accessible, environmentally friendly tourism in the communities along the route.
Our Program Areas: NFCT delivers its mission and strategic goals through 3 program areas: Waterway Stewardship, Rural Economic Development, and Connecting People and Place. Objectives include:
Grassroots Operation: NFCT manages a recreational paddling trail on primarily privately owned lands, and seeks to highlight local tourist resources that are managed and maintained by community-based stewardship organizations along the waterway. NFCT’s large and varied network includes:
Our Accomplishments:
MissionTo celebrate the rich human heritage and diverse natural environment of the Northern Forest by establishing and stewarding a water trail tracing historic Native American travel routes across New York, Vermont, Québec, New Hampshire, and Maine. Program Areas:
Guiding Principles:In our work to achieve our mission, we will:
Strategic Approach:NFCT serves travelers and benefits neighboring communities by:
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the Northern Forest Canoe Trail? A. The Trail extends for 740 miles across contiguous rivers, streams, and lakes, following Native American travel routes from Old Forge, New York, through Vermont, Québec, and New Hampshire, to Fort Kent, Maine. In addition to being a paddling route, the Trail celebrates the history of the Northern Forest. Paddlers will be able to explore both the natural beauty of the rivers and lakes as well as the communities through which the trail passes. Q. Is the Trail complete? A. The Trail was officially completed in Spring 2006, with thirteen mapped contiguous sections offering campsites, portage routes, trail signs, and access points along the entire route. Local community groups have played a crucial role in the Trail’s development in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Québec and New York, and will continue to be stewards of the Trail in the future. Q. Why is it called a canoe trail? Can it be kayaked?
A. Because the Trail follows Native American routes, the Trail is named after the traditional mode of transportation of the Native Americans of this area — the canoe. Today, the canoe is still the most versatile craft to complete the entire Trail; however, most of the Trail can be enjoyed with a kayak. With the appropriate design and skills, a paddler can kayak the entire route. Q. Are there any maps of the Trail? A. A series of 13 maps details the 740-mile Trail, including route descriptions, local information, and photos and stories of the landscapes through which you’ll travel. The maps are available at outdoor specialty retailers, booksellers, and in our on-line store at www.NorthernForestCanoeTrail.org. Q. Do I really have to paddle the whole thing? A. Absolutely not. The Trail is perfect for a variety of paddling experiences, from a peaceful evening paddle to longer sectional expeditions and everything in between. The Trail represents over fifty interconnected vacations, extending through an interesting diversity of waterways, landscapes, and communities. Paddlers of all abilities can find something on the Trail, as can visitors with even limited vacation time. We invite you to dip into the Trail as fits your needs, and to keep coming back to see what’s around the next bend in the river. Q. What skills do I need to paddle the Trail? A. Many sections of the Trail are appropriate for a novice paddler. Most paddlers will choose flat-water segments or paddle in a downstream direction rather than commit to a through-paddle. To complete the entire Trail, paddlers will need to muster all their paddling skills. They will need to pole upstream, descend rapids up to class IV, cross large, exposed lakes subject to wind and waves, and portage. Ultimately, there will be a section of Trail to fit most anyone. Some sections will be perfect for an evening paddle, others for an overnight or weeklong paddle. Some sections will even attract those who wish to paddle from inn to inn. NFCT recommends that all paddlers obtain appropriate maps and other local information prior to embarking on any paddling trip. If Trail visitors are new to paddling or to a particular area, they may also want to hire a guide or enroll in a class. Visit our website, call or email us, or contact one of the chambers of commerce along the Trail to find local guides and instructors. Q. So, the Trail is like a water version of the Appalachian Trail? A. It is natural to draw similarities between the Trail and other long-distance trails — there are many similarities; there are also many differences. Both trails are long-distance trails that celebrate the outdoors and outdoor recreation. Both trails also require physical activity to enjoy them. Most people who use long-distance trails take one-day or short overnight trips. And like those other trails, most of those who seek to paddle the entire Trail will do so in section paddles. Very few people will paddle the length of the Trail in one trip because of the skills and time required to complete a through-paddle. The Northern Forest Canoe Trail differs significantly from the Appalachian Trail in many ways — perhaps most significantly, in management. The Northern Forest Canoe Trail obtains access for campsites and portages through landowner permission rather than through land protection. Additionally, because it is a trail of navigable waters, the Trail flows through both developed areas and backcountry. It is a blend of community experiences and wilderness. The other significant difference from most hiking trails is that many sections of the Trail require a high level of skill to complete. Q. Has anyone through-paddled the Trail? A. Yes! As of 2008, twenty-three people had through-paddled the Trail (completing the entire Trail in one continuous trip) and two people had section-paddled the Trail (completing the entire Trail in sections). The first person to through-paddle was Donnie Mullen, an Outward Bound instructor from Northport, Maine, who paddled a 16-foot wood-canvas canoe, which he made himself for the trip. He left May 1, 2000 from Old Forge, New York and completed the 740-mile journey 55 days later in Fort Kent, Maine. Check our website news page for information about any recent or on-going through paddler treks.
Q. When is the best time to paddle the Trail?
A. The Trail has a seasonal nature due to natural and manmade fluctuations in water levels. In late summer, some sections of the Trail may be too dry to paddle. Paddlers also need to be aware of dam releases (we have informational links about water levels in our website’s Members Only section). Generally, the water levels (and bugs) are more reliable in May and June, and the sun and warmth are more reliable in July and August. September and October often provide good paddling weather and better water levels than late summer. Q. How is the Trail funded? A. The Trail received some critical start up funding through National Park Service-administered federal grants. We have broadened our funding base from there to include state-level and foundation grants, corporate contributions, individual contributions, memberships, map sales and royalties, and revenue from our on-line store. Q. How will the Trail be managed? A. It is a big — and exciting — project. In 2000, the Northern Forest Canoe Trail formed as a nonprofit organization to manage the Trail, with offices in Waitsfield, Vermont. We successfully engaged local communities along the Trail to help develop the Trail and rally volunteers. Each section of Trail has a Section Host with whom we coordinate local stewardship and programs. The Section Host works to rally community and volunteer support for the Trail. With the Trail complete, we are working with these volunteers on a variety of stewardship projects and mission-related programs. Q. Wow, this sounds great! How can I get involved? A. You can help! We need volunteer and financial support. Major gifts from members, businesses, and friends will be imperative in helping us reach the goal of sustaining this vital public resource into the future. The NFCT is a 501(c)3 charitable organization and all gifts are tax deductible. You can join online (www.NorthernForestCanoeTrail.org) or call our office (802.496.2285) for membership information. Donations, payable to the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, can be mailed to P.O. Box 565, Waitsfield, Vermont 05673. Member benefits include:
Trail Highlights State by State
New York – 147 milesRivers and Lakes: Moose River, Fulton Lake Chain, Raquette River, Saranac River and Lake Champlain. Old Forge to Saranac River is primarily scenic flatwater. It follows the long-established “Highway of the Adirondacks.” The Saranac River is a scenic, sometimes challenging, route off the Adirondack Plateau. Vermont/Québec – 174 milesRivers and Lakes: Lake Champlain, Missisquoi River, North Branch of Missisquoi River, Lake Memphremagog, Clyde River, Nulhegan River, and Connecticut River. Lake Champlain is the most historic lake in America, and very big. The Missisquoi River is mostly slow water through a pastoral landscape, with a few rapids and several carries, including Québec’s historic “Grand Portage” to Lake Memphremagog. The Clyde and Nulhegan rivers each flow through sections of wetlands, ponds, and rapids, and include several carries as they flow through the scenic Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. New Hampshire -72 milesRivers and Lakes: Connecticut River, Upper Ammonoosuc River, Androscoggin River and Umbagog Lake. The Connecticut is placid as it meanders to the Upper Ammonoosuc. The Upper Ammonoosuc is quickwater with a few rapids. The Androscoggin flows out of Umbagog Lake, with stretches of slowly flowing water punctuated by some rapids, and a wide, quiet reservoir with relics of logging days visible on the banks. Umbagog Lake is a quiet refuge, excellent for bird and wildlife watching. Maine – 347 milesRivers and Lakes: Umbagog Lake, Rapid River, the Richardson Lakes, Mooselookmeguntic, and Rangeley lakes, South Branch - Dead River, Flagstaff Lake, Spencer and Little Spencer Streams, Whipple Pond, Moose River, Moosehead Lake, West Branch - Penobscot River, Chesuncook, Umbazooksus and Chamberlain lakes, Allagash River, and St. John River. The steep, tumbling Rapid River is portaged. The Rangeley Lakes are very large and have attracted canoeists and anglers for centuries. The seasonal flow of the South Branch Dead River has a couple of rapid sections as it flows into the wide, scenic Flagstaff Lake. Grand Falls is a spectacular highlight at the confluence of the Dead River and Spencer Stream. The Spencer and Little Spencer watershed is remote, as is the beginning of the Moose River. The Moose flows through many lakes and some rapids on its way to the broad, storied stretches of Moosehead Lake. The West Branch Penobscot provides a historic connection between Moosehead and the large lakes that form the headwaters of the Allagash River. The Allagash Wilderness Waterway is a spectacular ribbon of lakes, ponds, rivers and occasional rapids winding through northern Maine to the wide St. John River on the Canadian border.
Trail Facts
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