Trail Updates - Northern Forest Canoe Trail

Before launching on the Trail, check these updates to learn about any changes that have occurred since the NFCT maps were published:

New York

MAP 1 ~ Fulton Chain of Lakes to Long Lake:

• Emergency Assistance phone number update: 518-891-0235.
• There is no lean-to on DeCamp's Island (First/Second Lake), only a tenting area.
• There is no NFCT kiosk in Inlet.
• Both of these will be corrected on the second printing of this map.

Map 2 ~ Long Lake to Saranac River:

• Emergency Assistance phone number update: 518-891-0235.
• Second printing of this map, summer 2008, will include campsites and access on the Raquette River below Axton Landing and on Tupper Lake.

Map 3 ~ Saranac River to Lake Champlain:

• Emergency Assistance phone number update: 518-891-0235.
• A paddler campsite exists at the end of Permanent Rapids, on river left, which is not marked on the map.
• The southernmost campsite shown on Union Falls Pond, south of Woodruff Bay, has not yet been built due to a delay in the approval of the DEC's new Unit Management Plan for the area.
• Bakers Acres Campground is not at Picketts Corners, but 0.8 miles downstream on river left.
• The final two dams on the Saranac River, Indian Rapids Dam and Imperial Mills Dam, are each shown on the map about 1/3 mile too far downstream. Their actual locations are easily visible on Google Earth.

Vermont/Quebec

Map 4 ~ Lake Champlain and Missisquoi River:

•  As of the 2009 season, the 126-site campground at North Hero State Park has been closed, and the park will operate for day use only. The good news is that the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation will continue to allow primitive camping for paddlers in the "closed" campground. However, vehicle access to the campsites is not permitted, and the restroom and water supply facilities in the campground are not available. There is an open restroom (no showers) and water spigot at the day beach (where there is day time vehicle access), but this area is about 0.3 miles from the most convenient (for paddlers) campsites. There is also a resident caretaker and public telephone at the ranger station near the park entrance, approximately ¾ - mile from best paddler sites. The park entrance gate is open by 9:00 am and locked after 7:00 pm.

   

  Camping Loop 3 is the most suited for paddlers, as those sites are the closest to the lake. Sites 88, 89, 90, and 91 are the closest (just a couple of hundred feet), although the approach is not obvious. Land on the west shore, approximately ¼-mile south of the northwest tip of the island (this is south of the park's day beach and boat launch area). Look for trail signs, which will direct you to a path (the route of an old waterline) through the floodplain woods to the loop of numbered campsites. Each campsite has a fire ring and picnic table. Please carry-in/carry out your own trash. You may set up on any vacant site. Paddlers are asked, at some time during their visit, to walk the 3/4 - mile to the park entrance station and complete a self-pay/self registration envelope with the appropriate fee for each calendar day of their stay (one night = 2 calendar days; day use fee =  $3/adult; $2/child/day). The resident caretaker/park ranger may or may not be around the ranger station when you register. Paddlers who know in advance when they intend to camp at North Hero (and who have the ability to telephone ahead) may call the park (802) 372-8727 and leave a voice message as to number in party, proposed nights of stay, group leader name, and phone #.  The park season is Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, and while there is no fee for pre- and post-season stays, self-pay donations are accepted year ‘round. Commercial groups must apply in advance for state licenses for any use of FPR/ANR park lands or facilities.  For the latest map of North Hero State Park you can go to http://www.vtstateparks.com/.
• Buoy #4 (shown in distance grid on NFCT Map 4) is in Lake Champlain near the mouth of the Missisquoi River, but its location was removed from the map as it is a seasonal placement. It was an oversight not to remove it from the distance grid, as well.
• River access at the Railroad Depot Museum in Swanton is limited and will be limited until July 1, 2009, due to construction on the bridge piers which are being readied for installation of a historic truss bridge for bicycle and pedestrian use. It is possible to negotiate the stairs up and down to the river, but the contractors are also using them for their boats to access the piers. The bridge being installed is the historic 1903 Pennsylvania Truss Bridge from below the Peterson Dam on the Lamoille in West Milton.
• Highgate Falls Portage relocation was completed summer 2006. The former portage down the steep, eroded hillside beneath the power lines below the dam has been abandoned. The new portage (which is shown on the map) passes under the power lines and proceeds through the woods on a more gradual descent to the river. A small paddler campsite was added along the portage trail in the woods above the river. It currently has no amenities. No fires are permitted at this campsite. A new paddler parking lot has been established along the portage route, on Route 207.
• The remains of the breached dam in East Highgate are undercut and very dangerous. Stay away from the wall which extends into the river from the right (north) bank. We are working with landowners and the State of Vermont to hopefully remove this structure. Until it is removed, portage or carefully scout your route before running this stretch. Take out to portage or scout on river right at the top of the first rapids, above the truss bridge. Scout the river and the hazard from the bridge. To portage, walk through East Highgate on Route 78; use caution on this busy road. After passing all the houses, access the river via a short path from the road. In May, 2008, warning signs were installed on both banks of the river upstream and marking the take out and temporary portage through town. Please respect the landowners who have provided this portage and tread lightly on their property.
• Item 5, the Sheldon Springs wheelable portage river right, is actually 1.5 miles.
  

Map 5 ~ Missisquoi River to Lake Memphremagog:

• The Northern Forest Canoe Trail crosses the international border with Canada on the Missisquoi River.  The Section 5 map provides explicit directions about how to find the border patrol stations in order to check in. As of June 1, 2009, U.S. and Canadian travelers at land-based entry points are required to present a passport or other document that denotes identity and citizenship.  For more information and a list of acceptable documents, see the websites of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and the Canada Border Services Agency.

• Doe Campsite was constructed May 24, 2007. Access to this campsite on the bluff is on the DOWNSTREAM side of a large landslide of the clay bank which happened in the highwater of spring 2006.
• The general store near East Richford is closed and doesn't look like it is going to reopen according to one of the Border Patrol officers. Since the Border Patrol station does not have potable water, plan to bring your own drinking and cooking water in this area.
• Canoe and Co Outfitters in Glen Sutton is now offering a paddler campsite. There is a stone stair case off river left to get to their nice back yard.
• Diorio Access in Mansonville, Quebec, will not have an obvious trail between the road and the water until the landowner is able to work with the town on how this trail should be constructed (it is still open for use). If you plan to leave a vehicle at the access, put a sign on your dashboard reading "Northern Forest Canoe Trail" and provide the landowner with your expected timeline: Dominic Diorio, 426 route de Mansonville, Mansonville, QC J0E 1X0.  The parking area is not developed.  There is a level grass area about 100' in and on the north side of the road when you turn onto Chemin Peabody from Rue Principal (243).

Map 6 ~ Lake Memphremagog to Connecticut River:

• The Northern Forest Canoe Trail crosses the international border with Canada on Lake Memphremagog.  The Section 6 map provides explicit directions about how to find the border patrol stations in order to check in. As of June 1, 2009, U.S. and Canadian travelers at land-based entry points are required to present a passport or other document that denotes identity and citizenship.  For more information and a list of acceptable documents, see the websites of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and the Canada Border Services Agency.  

• The Clyde Pond Dam (also known as Newport Dam) portage has been changed from river left to river right. Although it is not fully developed yet, it is usable and a parking area is established.
• The West Charleston Pond Dam portage may change summer 2008 to skirt 2 ledges not far downstream from the dam. Check back for updates during the paddling season. Until the portage route changes, watch for these river-wide ledge when starting to paddle below the dam.
• Many stretches of the Clyde River are regularly choked by blowdowns. Although the Kingdom Corps youth crew and NFCT interns remove blowdowns regularly, be prepared to get out and drag your boat when running the Clyde between Island Pond and Pensioner Pond.
• A paddler friend offers this amendment to the upper Nulhegan route description:  "Enter Nulhegan Pond, follow right shore to its outlet. Warning: from here to the Route 105 bridge the river is a wild and beautiful journey
  through a dense and interesting bog, but it is only 5 to 10 feet wide, with frequent overhanging bushes.  There are many small beaver dams and a maze of 100 to 200 tight switchback meanders. This section to Wenlock Crossing can require 4-5 hours to complete."

New Hampshire

Map 7 - Connecticut River to Umbagog Lake:

• New campsite has been provided to NFCT paddlers on the Connecticut River. The new site, named the Samuel Benton Camp Site in honor of landowner Ray Lovell's ancestor, is on river right, approximately 2 miles below the Stratford-Maidstone Bridge. Signs have been installed to mark the area and in 2009 NFCT Stewardship Interns and WWT volunteers installed a picnic table and began to install a moldering privy which will be fully completed in 2010. Enjoy this beautiful new spot!
• New campsite and hand-carry access are in development in Groveton on the final stretch of the Upper Ammonoosuc. Access from the water is on river left, about 1/2 mile below the Weston Dam. Access from the road is off Route 3: Pull into the large parking lot of Normandeau Trucking, across the road from the Down Home Motel. Access and parking are in the woods on the left. The campsite is currently a clearing next to the river withw a picnic table, fire ring, and toilet.
• The Red Dam on the Upper Ammonoosuc River has been removed, but there is still a structure in the water that spans most of the river. Portage left. Once we hear from our local paddlers we'll advise about running the chute on the right.
• Through paddlers in June 08 reported three river-wide blowdowns across the Upper Ammonoosuc between Cordwell Campsite and Phillips Brook.

Maine

Map 8 ~ Umbagog Lake to Rangeley Lake

• Lower Dam was removed from the Rapid River, but it is still necessary to portage. The portage route remains the same. Picnic table and small informational kiosk installed by Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust at the Lower Dam landing.
• Teepee Campground is no longer operational (on Magalloway River just upstream from Umbagog Lake). Campground property purchased by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
• Route Description Marker #13 describes being able to see the peak of Mt. Washington from Black Point on Mooselookmeguntic Lake.  A knowledgeable paddler has informed us that it is actually near the site of Black Point Campsite on the eastern shores of Upper Richardson Lake that you can have such a view on a clear day when looking to the southwest.  Black Point Campsite is located near Route Description Marker #15. 

Map 9 ~ Rangeley Lake to Spencer Stream

• Map 9 shows two channels on Flagstaff Lake that are actually not passeable by boat.  To access the northwest harbor of Flagstaff Lake follow the water channels to the west of Jim Eaton Hill.  To access the eastern arm of Flagstaff Lake follow the route of the original course of the Dead River passing Hurricane Island.  There is also an additional parking area at the base of the Safford Brook Trail not shown on the map.  See Map
• Grand Falls Highwater Portage Trail was constructed Spring 2006. There are two portage options here: To avoid the breached dam and Class II rapids immediately above Grand Falls (a good idea especially when the Long Falls Dam upstream is releasing and the river is high and swift), take out left at the marker just upstream from the old, breached dam and follow the trail over private property in an arc around two private camps. Please respect the landowners who let us camp and portage here and steer clear of their camps by using the trail. For a shorter portage, paddle or line the breached dam and rapids and take out at the beach immediately above Grand Falls. Use extreme caution when choosing your approach to the Falls - they are not in the least bit runnable. Campsite will be developed at take out for highwater portage trail; until it is, camping is permitted there. The old campsite on river left directly above the breached dam is now closed.
• Map 9 route description point #6: Cadd Road and a Boat Launch access to the South Branch of the Dead River no longer exist.  Cadd Road is now a snowmobile/ATV trail which is impassable for the general public.

Map 10 ~ Spencer Stream to Moosehead Lake

• The old, washed out Spencer Lake Dam was rebuilt in fall 2006 and is now a larger, concrete dam. We are working with landowners to establish a formal portage trail around it.
• Due to extremely low water and heavy undergrowth, the section of Trail between Whipple Pond and Fish Pond is not recommended for travel at this time. Portaging along Hardscrabble Road (aka Spencer Road) and Spencer Rips Road is preferred. (2006 through paddlers Team Perkoski recommends paddling the narrow Whipple Bog that parallels Spencer Rips Road.) We are working with local landowners to develop an off-road portage through this area since the changes in water flow above Fish Pond are relatively permanent.

• Hardscrabble Road is labeled "Spencer Rd" on the sign at its junction with Route 201. Spencer Rips Road is not labeled, but is at the Mile 10 marker. The road to Fish Pond is near the Mile 13 marker.
• Campsite at the mouth of Wood Stream, on Big Wood Pond, no longer exists.
• Demo Road portage around the rapids on the Moose River has been better signed and cut, though the last leg through the woods is rough.  The description marked as #17 on the map should read:  Demo Road Portage (3 miles) Head north on Demo Rd., giving wide berth to logging trucks.  After about 2,500 ft. take the right (eastern) fork.  After 2.35 miles, go right on a one-lane track, there is a NFCT trail marker (confirmed 6/09) marking the turn (beware of an overgrown corridor leading south about 0.75 miles before the actual turn).  ***There is an error on Map 10 showing this turn taking place before Demo Brook, it is actually after Demo Brook***  Go south about 0.75 miles to an overgrown logging yard with a signed trail to the right. This trail is narrow and feels like more of a hiking trail. Follow the trail about 0.25 miles to the Moose River just below the rapids.  Maps of Portage

• Island Campsite on Brassua Lake was constructed by Waterway Work Trip volunteers in September, 2007. Access is via the cove on the south side of the island. Campsite has a picnic table, tenting area, fire ring, and self-composting toilet. It's a beautiful site - don't miss it!

Map 11 ~ Moosehead Lake to Umbazooksus Stream

• Baker Brook Campsite was improved by Waterway Work Trip volunteers in September, 2007. A picnic table, fire ring, and self-composting toilet were added. Look for it in the pines on a point of land on the left once you've entered Baker Brook from Moosehead Lake (north of Rockwood).
• Northeast Carry alternative route: paddle up Carry Brook to the snowmobile bridge, then portage on the snowmobile trail to the Seboomook Rd, then down a camp road to Seboomook Lake. The State of Maine recently acquired this land and intends to make improvements to this portage route with signs and a campsite on the Seboomook end of the trail.
• There is no ranger's station in Chesuncook Village as marked on map.

Map 12 ~ Umbazooksus Stream to Umsaskis Lake

• Boat size regulations for the Allagash Wilderness Waterway: The State of Maine maintains canoe/kayak size regulations on the Allagash Wilderness Waterway. See detailed information posted on the Department of Conservation website.
• Mud Pond Carry alternative: Make arrangements with the Chesuncook Lake House to get a shuttle to Chamberlain Bridge.
• An eagle eye member just noticed that there are two typos in the latitude and longitude listings on Map 12:  Bottom right corner, latitude indicators, where it says 69 15', it should correctly read 69 05'; Bottom left corner, longitude indicators, where it says 46 10', it should correctly read 46 05'.

Map 13 ~ Umsaskis Lake to St John River

• Boat size regulations for the Allagash Wilderness Waterway: The State of Maine maintains canoe/kayak size regulations on the Allagash Wilderness Waterway. See detailed information posted on the Department of Conservation website.
• American Dream Campground on the St John River is no longer in operation.

• Riverside Park in Fort Kent, the final take out of the Trail, is immediately after the mouth of the Fish River, not 0.5 miles past it as indicated on the map's route description. Riverside Park is 0.5 miles after you float under the green truss bridge between Fort Kent, Maine, and Claire, New Brunswick.