Highlights
- Paddle and adventure the historic Adirondack waterways
- Explore the scenic Northern Forest Canoe Trail
- Stay in pristine remote campsites
Includes
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Lightweight kevlar canoes, paddles, helmets, PFDs
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Camping fees and admissions
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All commissary gear for nutritious and tasty meals
Overview
The Trip
This is a lifetime "bucket list" adventure for beginning and experienced paddlers alike, canoeing the historic Adirondack waterways and sections of the scenic Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT). Considered the waterway equivalent of the Appalachian Trail, the NFCT is the longest paddling trail in the nation. Paddlers from around the world start right here in the Adirondacks to begin a "thru paddle" of more than 700miles over rivers, streams, and lakes to the end of the route in Maine
The Trip
This is a lifetime "bucket list" adventure for beginning and experienced paddlers alike, canoeing the historic Adirondack waterways and sections of the scenic Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT). Considered the waterway equivalent of the Appalachian Trail, the NFCT is the longest paddling trail in the nation. Paddlers from around the world start right here in the Adirondacks to begin a "thru paddle" of more than 700miles over rivers, streams, and lakes to the end of the route in Maine. In 2011 the trail was named “Best Canoe Trail” by Outside Magazine and in 2012 as a “Best East Coast Adventure.”
Our adventure will be within New York’s Adirondack Park— at six million acres, the largest publicly protected area in the contiguous United States, greater in size than Yellowstone, Everglades, Glacier, and Grand Canyon National Park combined. The park boasts more then 2,000 lakes and ponds, over 1,200 miles of rivers, and some of the highest mountains in the eastern United States. The area contains a unique mixture of state-owned wilderness, private lands, and several towns and villages.
We will be paddling in an area where the Iroquoian peoples arrived between 1,200 and 4,000 years ago. Both the Mohawk and the Oneida consider the Adirondacks to be part of their territory. The Adirondack region was considered a neutral territory shared by the Iroquois with their allies, other Native Americans, and Europeans during peaceful times.
This is a moderate trip. We will be on lakes and wilderness rivers, with varied habitats and remote campsites. Participants should be comfortable on the water and have experience with canoe camping (i.e. both canoeing and camping). Basic to intermediate paddling skills are required. Participants must be able to manage -- with teamwork -- a canoe in light winds and mild current. Leaders will provide a demonstration of paddle strokes; and may initially pair paddlers into paddle teams based upon self-reported skill levels.
Itinerary
Day 1: Plan to arrive at our campground after 2:00 p.m. to allow ample time to set up tents before dinner. We will have dinner, get acquainted, do our final packing, and review canoeing safety and techniques.
There will be an optional trip to the Adirondack Experience Museum on Blue Mountain Lake earlier in the day. Details about where and when to meet will be provided before the trip
Day 1: Plan to arrive at our campground after 2:00 p.m. to allow ample time to set up tents before dinner. We will have dinner, get acquainted, do our final packing, and review canoeing safety and techniques.
There will be an optional trip to the Adirondack Experience Museum on Blue Mountain Lake earlier in the day. Details about where and when to meet will be provided before the trip.
Day 2: We will shuttle vehicles to our launch point just a short distance away on Long Lake, where the outfitter will provide us with lightweight Kevlar canoes, paddles, and PFDs. We’ll begin paddling and take out at a scenic campsite on the north end of the lake.
Day 3: We will lay over and do a day hike on part of the Northville-Placid Trail to Cold River Falls, where we will have lunch, possibly swim, and return to camp for dinner.
Day 4: We continue north on the narrow and sinuous Raquette River; there will be three more waterfalls along our portage trail. This is our only carry, but it is fairly long (1.3 miles). These lightweight Kevlar canoes weigh 40 pounds, so we’ll work together on the portage, taking our time as needed. We’ll eat lunch at one the falls
Day 5: We continue on the Raquette River, enjoying the meandering pace and wild beauty of the region. We’ll camp along the river.
Day 6: Short paddle from our campsite to the Wild Center on Tupper Lake; we’ll spend most of the day exploring the museum and the grounds. The Wild Center is an environmentally friendly destination for learning about the natural world of the Adirondacks. Described as ‘stunning’ by the NY Times, the Center offers talks by naturalists, information on the generations of indigenous peoples who’ve made the Adirondacks their home, and the “Wild Walk”, a trail of bridges through the treetops of the Adirondack forest. In the late afternoon, we’ll paddle back to our campsite for our final dinner.
Day 7: We get up early for a quick breakfast and paddle to our takeout at the New York state boat launch on Tupper Lake, arriving by early afternoon. We will have our final meal at the takeout and say our goodbyes before heading home.
It may be necessary to adjust our trip or our schedule due to weather, circumstances, and conditions, so it is important that everyone be flexible.
Logistics
Getting There
We will meet Day 1 after 2:00 p.m. at the Lake Eaton Campground in Long Lake, NY. The nearest airport is Albany, NY, about two hours by car; or two hours 40min from Syracuse. New York City’s airports and Boston are about five hours by car. Participants are expected to provide their own transportation to and from our departure point, though carpooling is encouraged. The trip leaders will provide contact information to facilitate ride sharing
Getting There
We will meet Day 1 after 2:00 p.m. at the Lake Eaton Campground in Long Lake, NY. The nearest airport is Albany, NY, about two hours by car; or two hours 40min from Syracuse. New York City’s airports and Boston are about five hours by car. Participants are expected to provide their own transportation to and from our departure point, though carpooling is encouraged. The trip leaders will provide contact information to facilitate ride sharing.
Accommodations and Food
Our first night (Tues), we will camp in the relative comfort of Lake Eaton Campground, enjoying relatively secluded lakefront campsites and amenities, such as flush toilets and hot showers.
On days 2 through 6, we will camp along Long Lake and the Raquette River with lake and riverfront campsites and possibly a lean to. The sites will be primitive -- they may have outhouses and, of course, only the lake and river for swimming to get “cleaned up.”
Plan to work together to make camp, prepare, and clean-up meals. There will be plenty of food. If participants wish, they can bring additional between-meal snacks. The trip leaders will do their best to accommodate vegetarians and medical dietary restrictions. Those with challenging restrictions may be asked to bring or prepare some of their own food to supplement group food. Please contact the leader if you require accommodation.
Bear in mind that we will be carrying all of our food and commissary equipment with us, so there will be a few limits to what we can do.
Trip Difficulty
Equipment and Clothing
Participants are expected to have standard equipment for a week of camping: tent (we encourage sharing tents if possible), sleeping bag and pad, personal dishes and flatware. The leaders will furnish a detailed clothing and equipment list. They will also supply all water purification, camp cooking equipment (stoves, cookware, etc), and food. Our outfitter will provide canoes, paddles, and life jackets; participants may bring their personal paddle and PFD, if it meets standards. A good two-piece waterproof rain suit is a must. Participants must have a 70- to 115-liter dry bag with shoulder straps to carry personal gear, with enough space left to hold some group gear. With advance planning, most gear can be rented. For any questions about gear, please contact the leader.
You will want quick-drying synthetic clothing that can be layered. Avoid cotton garments on the water — wet cotton becomes cold, does not wick moisture, and can speed hypothermia. While daytime temperatures may reach the 90s, at night they can dip into the 40s. Participants should have at least one warm extra layer for cold evenings and mornings.
References
- The Adirondack Mountain Club can provide a useful list of books and materials. They can be reached at www.adk.org or by telephone at (800) 395-8080 or (518) 668-4447. The Adirondack Mountain Club also has an online store where you can purchase gear, maps, and guidebooks.
- Adirondack Park Interpretative Centers, Newcomb NY (518-582-2000) and Paul Smiths, NY (518-327-3000). Centers are operated by the Adirondack Park Agency. The Interpretative Centers' website is https://www.esf.edu/aic/.
- The Adirondack Museum, Blue Mountain Lake NY (518-352-7311), www.adkmuseum.org. A private non-profit educational institution.
Conservation
We will always practice Leave No Trace principles while camping and hiking. We will also discuss some of the issues threatening the Adirondack Park. These include invasive species, such as, Eurasian watermilfoil, zebra mussels, and spiny waterfleas, which pose a serious threat to lakes and rivers; and the wooly adelgid and the emerald ash borer, which pose a serious threat to hemlocks and ash trees. On the trip, we will discuss ways to prevent carrying aquatic invasives by properly cleaning boats and how to prevent invasives that damage tress by not transporting wood from outside the area. We will also focus on how climate change lessens snow falls and ice overs on lakes, shortening winters and threatening the ecology of the area and how the popularity of the Adirondacks and their proximity to the NY and Boston metropolitan areas causes campgrounds to be overused and many of the hiking trails to be damaged by overuse. We will focus on the importance of following existing trails and traveling on durable surfaces to avoid damaging trails. We will endeavor to leave our campsites cleaner than we found them by following LNT principles.
Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and will operate under a permit from Adirondack State Park.
Staff
What Our Travelers Say
Garth R, Dallas, TX
Great Trip
A really fun trip. As a novice canoer I didn't have any trouble with the route. It was beautiful country, comfortable temperatures and most of all a really great group of people to travel...
Garth R, Dallas, TX
Great Trip
How was the quality of the volunteer leadership?
Our leader and his assistant were outstanding. They really kept the trip positive, safe and interesting. I wouldn't hesitate to take another trip with either one of them.
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Important Notes
- Carbon Offsets
- Carpooling
- Electronic Billing and Forms
- Electronic Devices
- Equipment
- Essential Eligibility Criteria
- How to Apply for a Trip
- Leader Gratuities
- Medical Issues
- Non-discrimination Statement
- Participant Agreement
- Seller of Travel Disclosure
- Single Supplements
- Terms and Conditions
- Travel Insurance
- Trip Feedback
- Trip Price
- Wilderness Manners