Canoe Trips

All boat trips take place on flat or moving water (no whitewater involved). Many students who choose to canoe have never been in a boat before (or if they did it was on a sixth grade trip where they had grapes for lunch and some kid was sick on the bus going home).

There is time to learn and the daily mileage is not unreasonable for beginners.

Most of these trips have a day hike up a nearby mountain, just to so you don’t spend the whole time sitting down.

• Photo album

Saint Regis (Intermediate)

Long known as one of the all-time great canoe trips in the Adirodacks, this trip is for people who want their peace and solitude broken only by the call of the loon, not the whine of the outdoor motor This trip sets out from the town of Paul Smith's, and heads on a route that connects small ponds and portages to get into one of the most remote areas in the park. Partages and paddling take you to places where few have been.

Blue Mountain Lake (Novice)

This is a 25-mile round trip paddle between Raquette Lake and Blue Mountain Lake via the meandering, wildlife-choked Marion River.

Mid-point of the journey is the six-mile (round trip) hike up Blue Mountain, which is right in front of you throughout the entire first half of the trip. From the top you get to look over an amazing view, including your route back to Raquette Lake!

Fulton Chain (Intermediate)

Become a member of the almost legendary "chain gang": a great AA tradition. This 20-mile trip begins on Seventh Lake and heads along the Fulton chain of lakes, including portaging over (and sometimes falling off) the numerous beaver dams, to the Marion river and Blue Mountain Lake.

This trip crosses large and small lakes, narrow rivers, and places where careful navigation is needed to follow the stream through expansive wetlands.

Raquette River (Novice or Intermediate)

This trip covers 28 miles of the Raquette River and Long Lake. Highlights include the peaceful Raquette River scenery and viewing Raquette Falls. Two trips travel this route (one in each direction), and the portage around Raquette Falls allows an opportunity for these trips to camp together and swap boats rather than carry them the distance (one mile) around the falls. The Raquette River Upstream trip is an intermediate challenge, while Raquette River Down is a novice trip.

Saranac Lake (Novice-Intermediate)

Two groups will travel this route in opposite directions, through Upper, Middle and Lower Saranac lakes. The trip involves about 25 miles of canoeing and a half-mile portage.

This trip also allows the option of hiking Ampersand mountain and getting one of the best views in the Adirondacks.

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