Northern Forest Canoe Trail

Northern Forest Canoe Trail
Location	Northeastern United States
Length	740 mile (1,190 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 (NFCT) is a 740-mile (1,190 km) marked canoeing trail in the northeastern United States and Canada, extending from Old Forge in the Adirondacks of New York to Fort Kent, 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.

Overview

Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT) sign

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 trail 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, Richford, Vermont, The Errol-Berlin Corridor, New Hampshire and Rangeley, Maine.^[2] In Maine it primarily traverses through the North Maine Woods region

The trail covers 58 lakes and ponds, 22 rivers and streams, and 63 "carries" (portages) totaling 53 miles (85 km). 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.^[3]

The American Canoe Association has named the NFCT an ACA-Recommended Water Trail.

Spencer Pond and Moosehead Lake, Maine, from Little Spencer Mountain

Bodies of Water^[4]

New York (147 mi.)

Vermont & Québec (174 mi.)

Lake Champlain
Missisquoi River
North Branch Missisquoi River
Lake Memphremagog
Clyde River
Clyde Pond
Salem Lake
Charleston Pond
Pensioner Pond
Island Pond
Spectacle Pond
Nulhegan Pond
Nulhegan River

New Hampshire (72 mi.)

Maine (374 mi.)

Umbagog Lake
Rapid River
Upper and Lower Richardson Lakes
Mooselookmeguntic Lake
Rangeley Lake
Haley Pond
South Branch Dead River
Flagstaff Lake
Dead River
Spencer Stream
Spencer Lake
Fish Pond
Attean Pond
Big Wood Pond
Moose River
Long Pond
Little Brassua Lake
Brassua Lake
Moosehead Lake
West Branch Penobscot River
Chesuncook Lake
Umbazooksus Stream
Umbazooksus Lake
Mud Pond
Chamberlain Lake
Eagle Lake
Churchill Lake
Allagash River
Umsaskis Lake
Long Lake
Round Pond
St. John River

Through-paddlers

As of 2016, 95 people have "through-paddled" the trail — traveling the length of the trail in one expedition. In addition, six other "section-paddlers" have completed it in multiple trips.^[5]

Nicole Grohoski and Thomas Perkins of Ellsworth, Maine were the first to officially through-paddle the trail in 2006, traveling the length of the trail in 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 were available in 2015.^[6] The fastest thru-paddle was completed in 2012 Elspeth Ronnander, Erik Peih and Emily Johnson. the trip took them 21 days, 3 hours and 45 minutes.