NFCT Unveils Second Edition Guidebook

The NFCT has published the second edition of its official guidebook, the first revision since its original publication 15 years ago.

The new installment of the NFCT guidebook features color photos submitted by professional photographers and NFCT paddlers, new GPS coordinates for all access points, 10 new recommended trips to help visitors sample sections of the trail and a more user-friendly breakdown of the entire trail by section, separating trail history and local information from navigational details.

“Next to stewardship, helping people discover the Northern Forest Canoe Trail is our top priority as an organization,” said NFCT Executive Director Karrie Thomas. “While our original guidebook has served paddlers well since it was first published, this new edition was long overdue. We’re grateful to Katina Daanen, our staff and volunteers, Mountaineers Books and the entire paddling community for bringing this book to life.”

The NFCT is a mapped inland water trail tracing 740 miles of Indigenous and historic travel routes across New York, Vermont, Québec, New Hampshire and Maine. The NFCT offers a chain of possibilities: inspiring day trips, weekend getaways, weeklong vacations or even an end-to-end thru-paddling expedition. The canoe trail starts in Old Forge, NY, and ends in Fort Kent, Maine, traversing 23 rivers and streams, 59 lakes and ponds, 45 communities and towns, and more than 65 portages. The second edition of the NFCT guidebook describes the route’s variety of flat water, swift water and whitewater and includes details about put-ins, take-outs, portage trails, campsites and more.

Katina Daanen is the guidebook’s lead author and editor, with support from NFCT staff, volunteers and paddlers. Daanen is a dedicated two-time NFCT thru-paddler, one of fewer than 200 people documented to complete the full distance since the trail’s inception in 2006, and one of the few women known to have completed it solo. She is also the author of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail Through-Paddler’s Companion. She has paddled extensively throughout the Midwest, where she is a freelance art director and graphic designer.

“Over the years, the official NFCT maps have continued to be revised to best reflect changes to the trail, whereas the guidebook only received minimal updates,” Daanen said. “The second edition is better aligned with the trail maps, the NFCT Trip Planner and the FarOut App — the latter two having not existed when the book was originally published.”

“With so much trail, many visitors often wonder, ‘Where is the best place to start?’ One of the most notable differences between the two editions is a new chapter dedicated to suggested trips,” Daanen noted. “Ten itineraries provide a good starting point for beginners, families interested in sampling several hours on a waterway, for those looking for overnight camping trips, as well as for those ready to tackle a larger adventure.”

Despite living in the midwest, Daanen is one of the NFCT’s most dedicated and knowledgeable proxies. After completing her first thru-paddle in 2011, Daanen went on to publish the only comprehensive resource specific to the unique perspective of an NFCT expedition trip. She carefully documented the entire trail, writing The Companion, a guidebook that she has regularly updated. In addition, she has been instrumental in proofing annual NFCT map changes.

“Katina is NFCT royalty,” Thomas said. “The canoe trail and our organization wouldn’t be where we are today without her dedication and passion. We owe her a great debt of gratitude.”

The second edition guidebook is available for purchase now on the NFCT’s website; click here to learn more. Revenue generated by guidebook sales is used to support stewardship work across the Northeast.

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