Northern Forest Canoe Trail, a 740-paddling route from New York to Maine

Intern crew 2017 — **Reflections on the Northern Forest Canoe Trail. Photo – Matt Brabender**

The Northern Forest Canoe Trail crew is out for ten weeks of sweat and hard work mixed in with some stunningly beautiful “commutes” to their job sites by canoe, during a summer living out of a tent and swimming in pristine waters across the Northern Forest.

The 740-mile NFCT starts in New York’s Adirondacks and crosses Vermont, Quebec and New Hampshire before ending on the St John River in Northern Maine.

Each season a small crew of interns led by our dedicated professional field staff manages and improves this resource so thousands of people can connect with the waterways of the Northern Forest. Over ten weeks these men and women immerse themselves in projects ranging from building lean-to’s, stone stairs and privies to constructing bog bridging, installing safety signage or cutting out blow-downs from rivers. Interns gain experience to prepare for natural resources or recreational management careers.

This summer interns will work on the Bow Loop and Rangeley Lakes in Maine, and on the Lamoille, Winooski, Nulhegan and Missisquoi Rivers in Vermont. Stay tuned for their stories as projects are completed.

Paddle the NFCT

A 740-mile long water trail? Are you tempted by the challenge of paddling end to end. Maybe you can’t fathom it in its entirety but want to dip your paddle in to test the water. Or join the select few on the crew and help keep this destination open to contemplation, sampling and completion for all.

If you are inspired to paddle on the Northern Forest Canoe Trail for a day, a week or a month, or if you want to be part of the incredible group of people who care for it check out