Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT)

Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT)

The Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT) links the waterways of New York, Vermont, Québec, New Hampshire and Maine.

NFCT offers maps, books, and web-based tools to help connect to our 740-mile paddling route.The NFCT traces a fascinating history from early Native Americans through European settlers. It also introduces paddlers to the places and people at the inviting and exciting waterway destinations along the route in the Adirondacks and Northern New England  today.


The route offers variety of flat water, swift water, and whitewater, on a range of rivers, streams, lakes and ponds and provides extensive opportunities for canoe and kayak recreation. Vibrant communities along the way offer inns, B&Bs and camping facilities, as well as other recreational and heritage attractions.

Paddle the Northern Forest Canoe Trail ...for an afternoon, a vacation, or a lifetime!

The Trail Across Lake Champlain

The Lake Champlain portion of the NFCT travels the Missisquoi River from Enosburgh Falls, Vermont to Swanton; this section is wide and sometimes slow, sometimes swift. Rapids are intermittent and range in difficulty depending on the water level, but at most water levels are Class I-II. Below Swanton, Vermont, the river is slow through the forests and swamps of the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge.

Leaving the Missisquoi River, the Trail crosses Missisquoi Bay to Alburgh, Vermont, Vermont, then follows the east shore of Vermont's North Hero island. Here it passes through 'The Gut' between North Hero and South Hero islands before moving across the broad lake to Plattsburgh, New York. Lake Champlain can be placid or wavy depending on the weather, and the conditions can change very quickly. Lake Champlain paddling is recommended for experienced paddlers, and is best traveled in kayaks.