Community Paddles
The NFCT coordinates with local paddlers, guides and outfitters to organize paddle meetups on and near the canoe trail, AND we promote similar events hosted by our partners across the Northern Forest region. If you’d like to organize a community paddle, please get in touch: info@northernforestcanoetrail.org.
June 11: South Creek to Second Pond (New York)
Join St. Regis Canoe Outfitters and the NFCT on a classic paddle from Middle to Lower Saranac Lake. We will meet at 12 pm at Second Pond Boat Launch, load your boats onto SRCO’s trailers and drive everyone over to South Creek (Middle Saranac) to start the trip. This paddle takes you through Middle Saranac Lake to the Upper Locks on the Saranac River. We will continue into Lower Saranac Lake, check out Bluff Island and end back at Second Pond, where you can load your boats back onto your car and head out! This is a free event. If you need to rent a boat, SRCO will be offering rentals at a discounted rate; email info@canoeoutfitters.com to learn more. Advance registration through the NFCT is required. In the event of inclement weather, we will contact registrants as soon as possible. To learn more, email chris@
Click here to sign up for free!
June 18: Lake Kushaqua (New York)
Join Adirondack Lakes & Trails Outfitters and the NFCT for a weeknight paddle on Lake Kushaqua in Onchiota, with drinks and snacks around the fire at The Station to follow! We’ll meet at The Station, 1 Kushaqua-Mud Pond Rd, Onchiota, at 5 pm, caravan to Kushaqua and take a leisurely paddle around this beautiful lake for about an hour. After the paddle, folks are invited to join us at The Station for hot dogs, drinks and socializing. This is a free event, open to all ages and skill levels. We ask that you sign up in advance so that we can contact paddlers in the event of inclement weather. To learn more, email chris@
Click here to sign up for free!
June 22: Raquette Falls (New York)
Join Raquette River Outfitters and the NFCT on an out-and-back trip from Axton Landing to Raquette Falls. We will meet at Axton Landing at 9 am and hit the water by 9:30. We’ll paddle to the takeout below Raquette Falls and walk to the Falls for lunch before cruising downstream to Axton. This is a free event. Advance registration through the NFCT is required. In the event of inclement weather, we will contact registrants as soon as possible. To learn more, email chris@
Click here to sign up for free!
June 28: Franklin Falls Pond to Union Falls (New York)
Join Guide ADK and the NFCT on a trek from Franklin Falls Pond to the Union Falls Dam. We will meet at noon at the public access at Franklin Falls Pond on River Road outside Bloomingdale, then shuttle vehicles to the takeout at Union Falls. Once shuttling is complete, we’ll hit the water, ideally by 1 pm at the latest. This 8.6-mile trip crosses Franklin Falls Pond, with a short, relatively flat portage around Franklin Falls, and then continues across Union Falls Pond to the takeout at the dam, approximately three hours. This paddle is suitable for most skill levels, but please take the mileage into consideration. This is a free event but we ask that you sign up in advance so that we can contact paddlers in the event of inclement weather. To learn more, email chris@