The Northern Forest Canoe Trail starts in Fort Kent, Maine, on the Saint John River and follows the famed Allagash River deep into the woods of northern Maine. That leads into Umsaskis Lake and on to Umbazooksus Stream, the most remote section of the trail. The stream leads to Mooshead Lake and on to Spencer Stream and Rangeley Lake. The last segment in Maine takes paddlers through a series of lakes that are famed for their wild beauty:
- Rangeley
- Mooselookmeguntic
- the Richardsons, and
- Umbagog,
all essentially undeveloped.
Paddling Through New Hampshire and Vermont to New York
At Umbagog the trail crosses into New Hampshire for its short run through the state, following the Androscoggin, the Upper Ammonoosuc and Connecticut rivers. At North Stratford the trail crosses the Connecticut River following the Nulhegan and Clyde rivers through Vermont on to the huge Lake Memphremagog. There the route travels north on the lake, over the U.S. Canadian border, and resumes in Canada after a portage to the Missisquoi River, a highway of warriors during the French and Indian War. Remember to bring your passport.
The river passes through northern Vermont, with some class I and II rapids before reaching New England’s west coast, Lake Champlain. On the west side of the lake the route picks up the Saranac River to Saranac Lake and then on to Long Lake and through the Fulton chain of Lakes to Old Forge in northern New York.
Through Paddlers or Segmenters on the Northern Forest Canoe Trail
Like hikers on the Appalachian Trail, few paddlers undertake the entire route in a single trip. Some of the passage is on the flat water of huge lakes, where strong winds can raise havoc with a traverse. Other sections are on winding streams that seem to double back on themselves every few yards. Some sections may be close to impossible in times of low water or with normal water become streams rushing over rapids.
The best, and most common plan is to paddle the trail in segments. Stream flow is an important factor and varying segments may flow in any direction. Most importantly, many of the segments require portages of varying length, so be prepared. The Northern Forest Canoe Trail website has maps, trip planning and other information to aid in making any paddle on the trail enjoyable and safe.
Paddlers Rendezvous and Other Events and Work Parties
Northern Forest Canoe Trail also holds a number of events throughout the year, and in July they hold a Northern Forest Canoe Trails Paddlers Rendezvous at various locations along the trail. In 2010 the event is being held at Rangeley Lake in northwest Maine. The organization also holds maintenance and building events throughout the summer when volunteers gather to work on the trail and to enjoy the paddling and companionship of other enthusiasts.
It would be an ordeal to attempt the entire trail in one run, but the trail calls to paddlers like a siren. It presents a rare chance to see the world as Native Americans saw it, to experience the wonder of untamed nature and to immerse one’s self in an experience away from computers, iPhones and other electronic gadgetry.
A good way to start the experience is to attend an event, such as the Paddler’s Rendezvous in Rangeley on July 23-26, 2010 or to check the Northern Forest Canoe Trail website for work-and-play sessions, the fee for which is $60 for members and $75 for non-members.
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