Northern Forest Canoe Trail
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Northern Forest Canoe Trail | |
|---|---|
| Location | Northeastern United States |
| Length | 740 mile (1190 km) |
| Trailheads | Old Forge, New York, Fort Kent, Maine |
| Use | Canoeing |
| Difficulty | Moderate to Strenuous |
| Portages | 62 (55 miles (90 km)) |
| Lakes and Ponds | 56 |
| Rivers and Streams | 22 |
| Season | Summer to Fall |
| Sights | Adirondack Mountains |
| Hazards | Severe Weather Class III, IV white water |
The Northern Forest Canoe Trail is a 740-mile marked canoeing trail in the northeastern United States and in Canada, extending from Old Forge, New York to Fort Kent in Maine. Along the way, the trail also passes through the states and provinces of Vermont, Quebec, and New Hampshire. The trail was opened on June 3, 2006.
Contents |
[edit] The trail
The trail has been likened to a water version of the Appalachian Trail, and there are many similarities: both are long-distance trails that most people will use for day trips or short overnight trips; many of those who paddle the entire trail will do so in sections. Unlike the AT, the NFCT obtains access for campsites and portages through landowner permission rather than through land protection. Also, many sections of the Trail require a high level of skill to complete."[1]
The 740-mile route is divided into 13 sections: Adirondack Country (West) New York, Adirondack North Country (Central) New York, Adirondack Country (East) New York, Islands and Farms Region Vermont, Upper Missisquoi Valley Vermont/Quebec, Northeast Kingdom Quebec/Vermont, Great North Woods New Hampshire, Rangeley Lakes Region Maine, Flagstaff Region Maine, Greater Jackman Region Maine, Moosehead/Penobscot Region Maine, Allagash Region (South) Maine, and Allagash Region (North) Maine. Each of these sections has been mapped and documented in order to establish the trail. Trail towns include Old Forge, New York and Rangeley, Maine.
The trail covers 56 lakes and ponds, 22 rivers and streams, and 62 portages totaling 55 miles (90km). On some sections of the trail, portage trails, campsites, and access areas are marked with Northern Forest Canoe Trail medallions, a yellow diamond with blue lettering.
The American Canoe Association has named the NFCT an ACA-Recommended Water Trail.
[edit] States Included
[edit] New York
147 miles. Old Forge to Saranac River is primarily scenic flatwater. It follows the long-established “Highway of the Adirondacks.” The Saranac River is a scenic, sometimes challenging, route off the Adirondack Plateau.
[edit] Vermont/Quebec
174 miles. Lake Champlain is the most historic lake in America, and very big. The Missisquoi River is mostly slow water through a pastoral landscape, with a few rapids and several carries, including Québec’s historic “Grand Portage” to Lake Memphremagog. The Clyde and Nulhegan rivers each flow through sections of wetlands, ponds, and rapids, and include several carries as they flow through the scenic Northeast Kingdom of Vermont.
[edit] New Hampshire
72 miles. The Connecticut is placid as it meanders to the Upper Ammonoosuc. The Upper Ammonoosuc is quickwater with a few rapids. The Androscoggin flows out of Umbagog Lake, with stretches of slowly flowing water punctuated by some rapids, and a wide, quiet reservoir with relics of logging days visible on the banks.
[edit] Maine
347 miles. The Rangeley Lakes are very large and have attracted canoeists and anglers for centuries. The steep, tumbling Rapid River is portaged. The seasonal flow of the South Branch Dead River has a couple of rapid sections as it flows into the wide, scenic Flagstaff Lake. Grand Falls is a spectacular highlight at the confluence of the Dead River and Spencer Stream. The Spencer and Little Spencer watershed is remote, as is the beginning of the Moose River. The Moose flows through many lakes and some rapids on its way to the broad, storied stretches of Moosehead Lake. The West Branch Penobscot provides a historic connection between Moosehead and the large lakes that form the headwaters of the Allagash River. The Allagash Wilderness Waterway is a spectacular ribbon of lakes, ponds, rivers and occasional rapids winding through northern Maine to the wide St. John River on the Canadian border.
[edit] Thru-Paddling information
Nicole Grohoski and Thomas Perkins of Ellsworth, Maine were the first to officially through-paddle the trail in 2006, taking about 45 days. Donnie Mullen paddled the trail in 2000 before its official opening, taking about 55 days but doing so without the signs and maps that are available today. The fastest thru-paddle was completed in 2007 by Alexander Bailey Martin and Benjamin Reilly, the trail took them 32 days.
To date, the following people have thru-paddled the trail: Donnie Mullen, 2000 Nicole Grohoski, 2006 Tom Perkins, 2006 Bill DePersis, 2006 Bill Yarosh, 2006 Alexander Bailey Martin, 2007 Benjamin Reilly, 2007 Darrin Kimbler, 2007 Mariana Du Brul, 2007 Peter Du Brul, 2007
To date, the following people have section paddled the trail: Peter Kick, 2003-2004 Robert Hughes, 2005-2006
