Voices from the Trail
Category: Trip Reports
5 Fall Foliage Paddling Trips
The Northern Forest Canoe Trail is a great place to be for fall paddling, when you can view the changing autumn leaves. From canoe, kayak or SUP, you get a perspective unlike any other. We suggest you spend a few…
Spring canoe trip on the Allagash River
Location: Allagash River in the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, Maine Put-in: Indian Stream Take-out: Town of Allagash Maps: NFCT Sections 12 & 13 The Allagash River is an iconic section of the 740-mile Northern Forest Canoe Trail. If you go during…
Canoeing and portaging with kids on the East Branch Penobscot River
Location: East Branch Penobscot River, Maine Put-in: Matagamon Wilderness Campground Take-out: Lunksoos Basecamp I could tell the river was rising. I built a cairn at the waterline while washing our dinner dishes. It was not big, only three rocks…
Trip Report: Maine’s Kennebago River
We sat around the breakfast table watching the rain pour down outside. While enjoying my Eggs Benedict I casually mentioned that if folks would prefer to call off our planned paddling trip I didn’t want to make it a forced…
Trip Report: Missisquoi River from North Troy to Richford, Vermont
On a beautiful spring morning, my kids and I arrived at the meeting spot at Davis Park in Richford, Vermont just in time to get our boat on the trailer. We were joining folks for a shuttle up the Missisquoi…
Family Paddling at the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge
On a morning that found me leaving my house at 5am and climbing over the pass at Jay Peak in strong winds and lightening it did not feel good for the first annual Family Paddle Day at the Missisquoi National…
Paddle and Pedal along the Northern Forest Canoe Trail in New Hampshire
By Margaret Curtis Volunteer Trail Maintainer, Sections Maine 1 & 2 The quiet dip of a paddle in a calm pond, the rushing sound of a river flowing over rapids, the miles of driving two vehicles hoping you have the…
The Clyde – Day 1
I spent my childhood summers exploring the coast of Maine. My time was my own. Often alone, I explored the forests, played in small boats and camped on nearby islands. These summer experiences are the foundation of my life as…
Canoeing the Clyde River with Kids
By Karrie Thomas Where would you take a two and five year-old for their first canoe trip on the Northern Forest Canoe Trail? Culley and I decided to start with the Clyde River in Vermont out of Island Pond. Our…
Lower Richardson Lake to Rangeley, Maine
By Russ Ford During August 13–16, 2012, I paddled the Northern Forest Canoe Trail from Lower Richardson Lake to Rangeley as a three-night trip with my mom and two teenage sons (NFCT Map 9, Rangeley Lake to…