Gear Review: The Northern Forest Canoe Trail

Following in the paddle drips of the fur traders, settlers and Indians, this 740 mile paddling trail winds its way through some of the most rugged forests the northeast coast offers.  The trail spans New York, Vermont, Québec, New Hampshire and Maine, meandering from ponds to lakes, streams to rivers.  This book opens the possibility to explore this trail in many ways.  Breaking the trail down into easy to manage sections, this book gives a paddler many choices in terms of length of paddling and possible destinations.

The book has the trail broken down by state, making it easy to search out sections of trail within in each state.  Each state section begins with an introduction describing the overall length of trail through that state.  This description includes typical wildlife, regional history and towns.  Each section within the state further breaks the trail down by map with each numbered map section corresponding to details within that section.  The book is a great resource to the maps describing the trail in the downriver direction.  It mentions sights to look for while paddling as well as possible put-ins, take-outs and towns along the route.

The book is much more than a blow by blow description of the water trail.  The book is brought together by different authors each knowledgeable about their respective areas.  They detail the little historical facts and share their love of the sights seen.  The book really brings together the history and heritage of the area both informing and entertaining the reader.  Much of this is mixed into the description of the trail section as well as in the introduction of the section.

With any long trail, the possibility of tackling the whole trail in one shot appeals to some people.  The last major section of the book describes how to tackle a through-paddle with help on reading the maps and descriptions in the upriver direction.  The water way is not solely a unidirectional river and upriver sections are a certainty to the through-paddler.  This chapter helps deal with not only the logistics of having to travel upriver but also the possibility of searching for earlier portage points and dealing with resupplying.  Of the 740 miles of water trail, there are 55 miles of portaging to deal with.  The chapter also suggests useful skills to know before tackling a through-paddle, such as rescue techniques and even poling for the canoeist.  The chapter is easy to read and is from the perspective of a through-paddler.

The book finishes off with an appendix of resources any paddler might be interested in checking into for further trip planning.  This includes water gauges as well as contact info for regional paddling clubs.  Scattered throughout the book are drawings and pictures of various wildlife, scenery and historic points.  In the center of the book has a nice spread of color pictures again highlighting scenery, wildlife and history surrounding the trail.

The book does not include any maps other then the small overview map on the back of the book and an elevation map at the beginning of the book.  This book is meant to be a guide and companion to the maps.  The maps really are an essential part of being able to paddle any section of this trail and the book while a great companion is not meant to stand alone.  The book really is well thought out and very well written.  Each section reads well on its own and lines up with each map section making it a valuable reference for the trail.


 The Northern Forest Canoe Trail: Enjoy 740 miles of canoe and kayak destination in New York, Vermont, Québec, New Hampshire and Maine.

Authors	Various
Publisher	The Mountaineers Books
ISBN	978-1-59485-061-5
Price	$24.95
Genre	Guidebook/Paddling
Links	The Northern Forest Canoe Trail
Pages	302
Back of Book Writeup	The Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT) links the waterways of New York, Vermont, Québec, New Hampshire, and Maine - 740 miles of nationally recognized waterways.  The route is detailed on the NFCT''s large-scale map series, but in your hands is the first official guidebook to this phenomenal trail. The route''s variety of flat water, swift water and whitewater - expanding across a range of rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds - provides extensive opportunities for canoeing, kayaking, camping and day hikes.  Along the way, you''ll find vibrant towns, quaint inns, intriguing museums, and other recreational and heritage attractions.  In additions to detailed paddle route information, this guide shares the natural, human, and cultural legacy of the Northeast region and its wonderful visitor appeal. The NFCT features: 22 rivers and streams 56 lakes and ponds 62 carries or portages (totaling 55 miles) 3 national wildlife refuges 40 welcoming communities 5 states and provinces Overnight options, from primative campsites to lovely B&Bs, every 15 miles Novice and expert, canoeist and kayaker alike will appreciate the wealth of information about the NFCT''s 13 sections, including: Segment mileage and overview Water type/river rating and paddle duration Best season and current direction Put-in''s, take-outs, and portages Maps, services, and camping information Hazards and other warnings And much, much more! In addition, you''ll find details on flora and fauna - from loons and beavers to bald eagles and moose - as well as trip-planning and water safety trips, recommended weekend paddle routes, and, for the very ambitious, a through paddler's guide packed with first-hand tips and insights.

This story was originally posted August 1, 2010.