These route suggestions will help you choose a route suited to your party's time and experience. The rivers are mostly flatwater and the numerous lakes and ponds are connected by portages or small streams that lend themselves
to exploration. For a list of publications that will help you get started, please visit our mail order/retail area.
Good preparation is the key to an enjoyable and safe canoe trip.
Old Forge to the Saranac Lakes: 90-95 miles, 10 portages, 8-10 days. Starting on the Fulton Chain of Lakes, this route leaves the Moose River drainage, follows the Raquette River, and then ends with the Saranac Lakes. You may end at either base. This is an historic route. Our transportation to Old Forge facilitates this trip.
Blue Mtn. Lake to the St. Regis Area: 72-80 miles. 9 portages, 6-8 days. Probably the most popular of the extended trips, this route offers beautiful mountain scenery, optional hikes and good fishing in both warm and cold waters. The route follows the Marion River, the Raquette River and Upper Saranac to Fish Creek & our Floodwood base. The Cold River Area is a pleasant wilderness side trip. It's best to have us transport you to BML and paddle back to our base.
St. Regis Area - Tupper Lake: 35 miles, 1 portage, 3-4 day trip from our Floodwood Base to Tupper Lake. May be extended to 6 or 7 days. A great variety of terrain - ponds, small streams, rivers and lakes including rocky shorelines, islands, extensive marshes and beautiful mountain scenery. A side trip to Raquette Falls adds about a day. Most parties start at Floodwood and have us shuttle their vehicle to Tupper Lake.
Saranac Lake Base to Franklin Falls: 15 miles, 0-1 portage, 1-2 days. This overnight river trip starts as our Saranac River Base. Spectacular mountain scenery, pastoral, and swamp land lead to a mile long class II+ rapids called Permanent Rapids, that may be portaged along an adjacent road. Great fishing.
Saranac Lake Base to Tupper Lake: 40 miles, 2 portage, 3-5 days. A spectacular lake and river trip. Beautiful islands and optional side trip to Raquette falls. Reservations necessary for first night at Saranac Lake Islands Campground.
Floodwood Pond Loop: 12-15 miles, 5 portages, 3-4 days. A justly popular loop, starting and ending at our Floodwood base. This trip starts with beautiful Fish Creek, and passes through Follensby Clear and Hoel Ponds before ending in the Canoe Area. A layover day in the Canoe Area allows a hike up Long Pond Mtn. Numerous campsites, great swimming, and an unusually good view from the mountain.
Fish Creek Ponds Loop: 6-12 miles, 4 portages, 1-2 days. A popular loop exploring 7 ponds and a delightful creek. A great 3 day trip with younger children. Start and end at our Floodwood Base.
St. Regis Ponds Loop: 35-40 miles, 10-14 portages, 4-5 days. This is a strenuous, remote trip with numerous ponds and a couple of small streams. It lies mostly within the wilderness area. Included are Floodwood Pond, Upper Saranac Lake, Hatchery Brook, St. Regis Pond and Fish Pond. This route starts and ends at our Floodwood Base.
Long Lake to Tupper Lake or the Saranacs (Northern Forest Canoe Trail): 45 miles, 1-3 portages, 3-5 days. A popular and relatively easy lake and river trip. The Raquette River may be followed to Tupper Lake or one may portage to Upper Saranac and end either at our Floodwood base or Saranac Lake Base. Most parties use our transportation to the put-in and paddle to our base.
St. Regis Canoe Area - Nine Carries: 12-15 miles, 6-15 portages, 1-4 days. Famous for great brook trout fishing, solitude and demanding portages, this route goes through the heart of the Wilderness Area. Any of three leads back to our base. Also possible as a loop trip.
The Saranac Lakes: 20-30 miles, 1-2 portages, 2-5 days. Beautiful islands and mountain scenery with optional mountain hikes. Route includes Fish Creek and Upper, Middle and Lower Saranac Lakes. Designated campsites. An excellent first trip in this area. This trip may be extended to our Saranac River Base and beyond. It is most convenient to start at our Floodwood base and utilize our transportation or shuttle.
Paul Smiths through the St. Regis Canoe Area: 9-12 miles, 6 portages, 1-3 days. This is the well-known "Route of the Seven Carries" including the three St. Regis Lakes and a delightful variety of ponds connected by short portages. Plan three days to include the hike up St. Regis Mtn. Our transportation makes this a convenient one-way trip.
Lake Kushaqua to the St. Regis Canoe Area: 20 miles, 8 portages, 3- 4 days. This moderate route has good fishing in a great variety of waters,. The route includes Rainbow Lake, the St. Regis Lakes and the wilderness ponds of the Canoe Area, ending at Little Clear Pond. This is rightfully one of our more popular trips. Our transportation facilitates this one way paddle. This route may be extended by 2 to 4 days by either of two routes to end at our Floodwood or Saranac Lake Base.
Oswegatchie River (East Branch): 10-40 miles, 0-2 portages, 2-4 days. A two day trip to High Falls and return on a distinctly northern wilderness stream (no motorized vehicles). Cartop your canoe to the put-in at Inlet.
Low's Lake: 25-30 miles, 2 portages, 3-5 days. An easy paddle up the Bog R. to Low's Lake, an excellent place to basecamp and explore by foot or canoe. Designated campsites. Return via the same route. Plan to cartop to put-in at Low's Lower Dam.
Lower Raquette River: 16+ miles, 3-7 portages, 1-3 days. Mixed flatwater and whitewater, this trip has two waterfalls with some class 2-3 rapids with "must moves" above the falls. It is mostly wild land and is best done as an overnight.
Little Tupper Lake to Lake Lila Traverse: 18-22 miles, five portages, 1-4 days. A challenging route with portages marked but still being cleared. A nice sense of remoteness in an area that is off limits to motors. It's best to car top the canoe to Little Tupper Lake (or have us deliver the boat) and then have us shuttle your car to Lake Lila.
Bog River - Oswegatchie River Traverse: 35-40 miles, 4 portages, 3-7 days. Up Bog River and Low's Lake to Deer Pond. Then a 2.2-carry to the upper Oswegatchie River in the Five Ponds Wilderness. Two or more days down the Oswegatchie to take-out at Inlet. Many optional side hikes. A beautiful, remote trip with rewards to justify the portage. It's best to cartop the canoe to the Bog R. and have us shuttle your vehicle to Inlet.
Cranberry Lake: 5-30 miles, no portages, 3-7 days. A beautiful, wild lake with mostly state-owned shoreline. Over 45 state campsites and long secluded bays extending into the Five Ponds Wilderness Area give a remote feeling. Optional hikes to waterfalls and low mountains give unique views. Numerous state-owned islands. Plan to cartop to Wanakena or Cranberry Lake Village.
Whitney Wilderness Area / Little Tupper Lake: 14-20 miles, 2-4 portages, 3-4 days. This area was opened to the public by a State purchase in 1998 and provides one with a wilderness-like 7 mile lake with possibilities to explore neighboring ponds.
NOTE ON ROUTES LISTED ABOVE: All time suggestions are for an average party. Any trip may be extended to accommodate optional hikes or side trips. For more information we recommend one of the books or maps available by mail.
SANTA CLARA TRACT
These routes may all be done as day trips and the public campground at Meacham Lake is popular base for this. These routes are great overnight trips as well and all have great campsites. They all have some moving water and occasionally easy Class I or II rapids, portages and waterfalls.
Middle Branch - St. Regis River - Santa Clara Flow Section
Four Mile Road to Santa Clara Village. Class I & moving water, 1-2 days. 5 hours, 1-2 portages Flatwater and moving water lead to one major portage around falls and the expanse of Santa Clara Flow with great campsites.
Azure Mountain Hike: A great short end of the day hike - 0.9 miles approx 1,000 Ft up. Fantastic views of Middle Branch.
Middle Branch - St. Regis River/Cedar Falls Section: Indian Rock to Blue Mtn. Road Br. Class II, 1-2 days, 5-6 hours, 5 portages. Mostly flatwater, one easy Class II rapid, and a small waterfall on this five hour trip. Beautiful camping site on the esker halfway makes a nice overnight.
St. Regis Mtn Hike: A seven mile round trip hike to an open summit that provides great views of the surrounding lakes and the High Peaks beyond. About 1400 ft. Elevation gain.
Adirondack Park Visitor’s Interpretive Center (Rt 30): Open daily. Good introduction to the Park’s Natural History Programs, exhibits and numerous walks.
East Branch - St. Regis River Everton Falls Upstream : Flat and moving water, 1-2 days, 4-8 hours, no portages. Paddle upstream to a campsite and return. Beautiful, wild lands with a wilderness flavor.
East Branch - St. Regis River Jewell Falls Section: Everton Falls Downstream to Trim Road. Moving water, 1 day (3-4 hours). 3 or more portages. Some easy Class II that may be run.
Osgood River: Flatwater, 1-2 days, no Portages. Paddle upstream from Meacham Lake to campsite on tributary ponds. Famous eskers, great wildlife and plantlife make a great short trip.
Quebec Brook: Madawaska Flow and upstream. Flatwater upstream & return. 1 day, swampy, boggy wonderland. 1-2 portages.
Quebec Brook: Madawaska Flow and downstream to Blue Mtn. Rd. Bridge. Moving and easy rapids. 1-2 days. 2 or more portages. May be combined with Cedar Falls Section of the Middle Branch.
Note: It is recommended that rental for these river trips be picked up at the SRCO River Base in Saranac Lake.
All time suggestions are for an average party. Any trip may be extended to accommodate optional hikes or side trips. For more information we recommend one of the books or maps available by mail.
Return to the top
|