Northern Forest Canoe Trail Through-Paddler's Companion
A companion guidebook for paddlers who intend to canoe or kayak the 740-mile Northern Forest Canoe Trail in a single trip from Old Forge, New York to Fort Kent, Maine.
Written by Katina Daanen who through paddled the entire Trail in her canoe twice (2011 and 2021).
FIFTH EDITION. Updated in February 2026. The Northern Forest Canoe Trail Through-Paddler's Companion is the first (and only) comprehensive resource guiding paddlers from the first put-in to the last take-out on a 700-mile expedition. This fully updated guide is a must-have resource for aspiring Thru-Paddlers or for any paddler looking for additional Northern Forest Canoe Trail details. It provides comprehensive and tactical advice about specific water bodies, including upstream paddling directions, portage (or carry) descriptions and distances, and mileage markers, while offering suggestions for ordinary, yet sometimes elusive concerns, such as where one might spend the night. In addition to listing new campsites and updating the services section, the revised fifth edition now includes an appendix outlining an Integrated Thru-Paddler "downstream" itinerary.
The revised Fifth Edition "Companion" guidebook includes:
• 34 consecutive segment descriptions documenting the entire Trail including 160-plus miles of upstream paddling
• 25 illustrated maps highlighting challenging trail sections
• Details about every portage (or carry) with recommendations about how “wheelable” each may be
• Statistics about average paddle times
• Tips for planning daily mileage goals
• Lists of services found along the Trail
• A quick reference list of all the official NFCT portages
• NEW! Mack's integrated downstream thru-paddling plan
Paperback, 5.5" x 8.5", 276 pages, 5th edition.
