The Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT) has updated its Trip Planner tool to include the Penobscot River Paddling Trail as well as the Lamoille, Connecticut and Androscoggin river paddling trails.
Additionally, NFCT’s Suggested Trips listing now includes several new itineraries and downloadable maps, with more to come this summer.
“NFCT is proud to promote the work of our fellow water trails across the Northern Forest region. The 740-mile Northern Forest Canoe Trail will always be the heart and soul of our organization,” said Karrie Thomas, NFCT’s executive director. “Adding our partners’ excellent resources to our Trip Planner and Suggested Trips tools provides paddlers of all backgrounds and experience levels with recommendations on and off the canoe trail.”
The Penobscot River Paddling Trail totals 100 miles, running along the river’s main stem from Medway to Bucksport in Maine. The river features both flatwater and whitewater, with multiple access points for day use and long distance trips. Learn more: penobscotriverpaddlingtrail.org
The Androscoggin Canoe Trail, managed by the Androscoggin River Watershed Council, runs from Lake Umbagog in northern New Hampshire to the easterly end of Merrymeeting Bay in Maine. The trail offers public access to paddling, fishing and motor boating. Totaling 168 miles, the Androscoggin River has more than 40 access sites. Learn more: androscogginwatershed.org/androscoggin_river_trail_home.html
The Lamoille River Paddlers’ Trail encompasses a community effort to develop new opportunities for paddling and fishing on Vermont’s Lamoille River. The trail includes a mix of access points, primitive campsites and portage trails running from the river’s headwaters west to Lake Champlain. Learn more: lamoilleriverpaddlerstrail.org
The Connecticut River Paddlers’ Trail has hundreds of access points and over 50 primitive campsites, beginning at the river’s headwaters in New Hampshire’s Great North Woods and heading south to Long Island Sound. A coalition of community organizations works to protect the river corridor, build and maintain campsites and portage trails, and expand and promote the trail. Learn more: connecticutriverpaddlerstrail.org
“The addition of these four paddling trails to the NFCT’s Trip Planner creates a central repository of paddling information and builds on our promise to position the Northern Forest region as a premiere paddling destination,” Thomas said.
NFCT’s Suggested Trips tool has also been updated with new itineraries for paddling adventures, including several in Maine. NFCT Stewardship Director Noah Pollock and 2019 GIS interns Ben Abramson, Josie Myers, and Emma Henderson completed mapping, detailing and planning these trips last fall. Each is connected to the canoe trail but takes paddlers somewhat farther afield of the main route. Trips include:
- Kennebago River
- Lower Magalloway River
- North Branch Dead River
- Sandy River
- Carrabassett River
- Androscoggin River: Shelburne to Newts’ Landing
- Androscoggin River: Newt’s Landing to Moran’s Landing
- Bethel Area Ponds
The 2020 GIS team is mapping more side trips and updates this summer. NFCT will share more information as it becomes available.
The Northern Forest Canoe Trail is a nonprofit organization that maintains and promotes the 740-mile water trail that runs from Old Forge, New York, to Fort Kent, Maine, and connects New York, Vermont, Quebec, New Hampshire, and Maine. The trail showcases the mix of landscapes and communities currently lining the traditional routes used by indigenous peoples, settlers, and guides. It is the longest in-land water trail in the nation and consists of 23 rivers and streams, 59 lakes and ponds, 45 communities, and 65 portages.
