The Adirondacks and America's Longest Water Trail
Discover more about the Northern Forest Canoe Trail that runs through the heart of the Adirondacks.
Most Adirondack paddlers know the 90-Miler. Far fewer realize they're paddling the opening chapter of a much larger story.
Stretching 740 miles from Old Forge, New York, to Fort Kent, Maine, the Northern Forest Canoe Trail is America's longest inland water trail—a connected network of lakes, rivers, ponds, and portages that has served as a transportation corridor for Indigenous peoples, guides, settlers, and adventurers for centuries.
This week on ADK Talks, Jane and Steve sit down with Karrie Thomas, Executive Director of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, to explore the remarkable story behind one of the Northeast's greatest outdoor recreation assets.
Whether you're a lifelong paddler, a 90-Miler veteran, or someone who's simply wondered what lies beyond the next bend in the river, this episode offers a fresh perspective on the waterways that define the Adirondacks.
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What you'll hear.
Why America's longest inland water trail begins in the Adirondacks.
The surprising history behind the legendary Adirondack Canoe Classic (the 90-Miler).
Karrie Thomas on how paddling restores the mind, body, and spirit.
Hidden paddling gems from Forked Lake to the Saranacs.
Why the people along the trail may be its greatest asset.
More than a trail.
The Northern Forest Canoe Trail isn't simply a route on a map.
Established in 2000 and officially opened in 2006, the trail connects 23 rivers and streams, 59 lakes and ponds, and 65 portages across New York, Vermont, Québec, New Hampshire, and Maine.
It is, quite literally, a journey through the Northeast.
Paddling on the Raquette River.
As Karrie explains during the episode, many sections follow traditional travel routes used by Indigenous peoples for trade and migration long before roads and railways crossed the landscape. Later, these same waterways carried settlers, guides, loggers, and explorers—including Henry David Thoreau.
Today, tens of thousands of people paddle portions of the trail each year. Only a handful complete the entire route in a single season.
It's by people, of people, and for people.
One of the most memorable moments in the conversation comes when Karrie reflects on what paddlers remember most after their trip.
It's not necessarily the mileage.
It's the people.
Families who leave cold drinks in a refrigerator for through-paddlers. Communities that welcome weary travelers. Fellow paddlers who stop to help when conditions deteriorate.
"The people are what make it so special," she says.
That spirit of connection runs throughout the conversation and through the trail itself.
See the trail in action.
While many Adirondack visitors recognize the 90-Miler, far fewer realize they're paddling a small section of America's longest inland water trail. This short film offers a glimpse of what makes the Northern Forest Canoe Trail so compelling—from quiet carries and misty mornings to the communities that welcome paddlers along the way.
Watch paddlers experience a portion of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail in the Adirondacks, where waterways, communities, and history connect across one of America's great outdoor adventures.
For travelers planning paddling trips in Old Forge, Long Lake, Tupper Lake, Saranac Lake, or beyond, the Northern Forest Canoe Trail offers countless ways to experience the Adirondacks from the water.
Beyond the 90-Miler.
For many listeners, the Adirondack Canoe Classic—the legendary 90-Miler—will be their entry point into the story.
Held the weekend after Labor Day annually, the three-day race follows the first 90 miles of the trail from Old Forge to Saranac Lake. Participants paddle through changing weather, long carries, and some of the Adirondacks’ most iconic waterways.
It's demanding.
It's memorable.
And according to Karrie, it's the kind of experience that keeps people coming back year after year.
Yet the race is only one chapter.
The Northern Forest Canoe Trail organization also performs extensive stewardship work across the Northeast, maintaining campsites, improving accessibility, clearing carries, and helping ensure future generations can experience these waterways.
Portage along the 90-miler.
Planning your own paddling adventure.
Thinking about exploring the trail?
Karrie recommends beginning with the Adirondacks.
Classic routes include the Long Lake-Tupper Lake route via the Raquette River, while lesser-known destinations like Forked Lake offer quieter experiences. Saranac Lake remains one of her favorite hubs, thanks to its combination of paddling opportunities, welcoming community, and proximity to the Adirondack Rail Trail.
Her biggest piece of advice?
Wear your life jacket.
“People think paddling is simple,” she says. “And it is—until it isn't.”
Check the weather. Know your route. Tell someone where you're going, similar to the great advice we’ve heard from ADK Talks guests, Search and Rescue of the Northern Adirondacks (SARNAK).
And don't be afraid to start small.
Connected by water.
By the end of the episode, one thing becomes abundantly clear:
The Adirondacks aren't simply a collection of lakes and rivers.
They're part of a larger network of landscapes, communities, and stories connected by water.
And for more than two decades, the Northern Forest Canoe Trail has been helping people discover that one paddle stroke at a time.
Long Lake in summer. One of the stops on the NFCT in the Adirondacks.
Ready to hit the water? Listen to the episode, subscribe to ADK Talks wherever you listen to podcasts, and sign up for the ADK Taste newsletter for more Adirondack adventures delivered directly to your inbox.
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