Canoe & Kayak Route Suggestions

Please scroll down to see several options and descriptions, and feel free to give us a call for more suggestions and recommendations!

Day & Multi-day Canoe Trips

The Adirondacks has a large variety of waterways to choose from for day and overnight trips.

These route suggestions will help you choose a route suited to your party's time parameters 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 maps & books that will help you get started, please visit our on-line retail store or go to our Paddlesports Press website.

These routes are grouped by number of days. Each trip has or will have a table showing the relative portage distances and overall length of the trip. Also, most of the trips have a map overlaying the intended route.

Note: KML maps on our website are for overall planning purposes only and are NOT intended for navigation. Any trip will vary depending on experience, intended side trips, and conditions, so look though the list and enjoy!

Good preparation is the key to an enjoyable and safe paddling trip.

Day Trips

Paddling in a canoe on lake with sunset in the distance.

Middle and Lower Saranac Lake

This 4-5 hr trip is a popular day trip from our Saranac Lake Base that is also a great overnight trip. Campsites on these two lakes are part of the Saranac Lake Islands Campground -- all sites are boat access only. Fee charged for overnight campsites.

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Portage sign from Upper St Regis Pond to Bog Pond

The Seven Carries - St. Regis Canoe Area

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.

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Kayaking along Rollins Loop

Rollins Loop

This is a justly popular day trip loop from the launch on Floodwood Pond. (4-5 hrs) Beautiful small stream with great lunch spots and swimming. Longest portage is 1/3 mile.

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Kayak on shore of Saranac River

Saranac River

This trip starts right at our Saranac Lake Base and is one of our Day trip Packages that include the boat, as well as pickup and return to our base at the end of the trip. The trip can be a 2 hour trip (5.5 mi) or a 4.5 to 5 hour trip(10 mi) to the top of Permanent Rapids.

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Canoeing through culvert into Follensby Clear Pond

Follensby Clear Loop

A great 5-6 hour loop from the launch on Floodwood or Follensby Clear Pond. Nearly all state land borders the route so there is excellent picnicking, fishing and swimming along the route. Great camping makes this route popular as a short overnight trip, too.

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Slang Pond

Long Pond to Hoel Pond: Paddle & Hike

This 4 hour trip includes an optional hike up Long Pond Mountain (additonal 2.5 hrs and 900 ft uphill). It is almost entirely in the St. Regis Canoe Wilderness Area, where day trip use is limited to groups of 15 or less.

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Solo paddler on Raquette River near Tupper Lake

Crusher to Moody Landing

This is a nice day trip that starts at the Crusher Landing in Tupper Lake. There is an option to paddle around the large oxbow near the Wild Center, then continue your journey along the Raquette River for another mile before coming into the main river bed out to Simon Pond.

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canoe on Raquette River

Axton to Crusher on Raquette River

Axton Landing to the Crusher Landing on the Raquette River is an easy full day trip with no portages. The 9 mile route takes you down the scenic Raquette River. There are nice camping spots if you wanted to make this into an overnight trip.

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Canoes on shore at Quebec Brook

Madawaska Flow to Quebec Brook

Madawaska Flow to Upper Quebec Brook is a beautiful day trip with a 3-4 hour paddle. Drive into the Madawaska Flow parking area and portage approximately 1 mile (portage wheels can be used). The trip starts at Madawaska Flow. Paddle up Quebec Brook and return the same route.

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Overnight Trips - Two Days

canoeing on river with mountains in distance

Saranac Lake Base to Franklin Falls

This overnight river trip starts as our Saranac River Base. Spectacular mountain scenery, pastoral, and swamp land lead to a 1.2 mile long class II+ rapids called Permanent Rapids (customers must portage this rapid if renting boats from us). This is a nice trip even doing the portage.

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Sunset on Square Pond

Floodwood Pond Loop

A justly popular loop, with options to start at any of the six accesses along the route. This trip generally runs counterclockwise to go with the mild flow of the beautiful Fish Creek, and passes through Follensby Clear and Hoel Ponds before entering the Canoe Area.

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canoeing on pond at sunset

Fish Creek Ponds Loop

Two popular loops combined to make a longer trip. The route can be accessed from anyone of the 4 launches along the route. This area may be explored from a basecamp -- the western loop taking about 5 hours and the eastern loop about 6 hours.

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Canoe on a beaver pond for the portage from Nellie & Bessie to Long Pond

The Nine Carries - St. Regis Canoe Area

Famous for great brook trout fishing, solitude and demanding portages, this route goes through the heart of the Wilderness Area. Also possible as a loop trip. Sometimes done as a day trip in 8+ hours. Great as a three-night trip with time for fishing or hiking up Long Pond Mountain.

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Canoeing on river

Osgood River

Flatwater. Paddle upstream from Meacham Lake to campsite on tributary ponds. Famous eskers, great wildlife and plant life make a great short trip.

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Image of water pouring down over rocks

Raquette River to Falls and Return

A flatwater trip upstream to falls and return. It is about 6.5 miles upstream and the same return to Axton Landing. There is an alternate take out about 3-4 hours farther downstream at the Crusher.

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3-4 Day Trips

Image taken from above with Saranac River lined with trees on each side

Saranac River to Trail Rapids

One of our few river trips. Two portages around dams at Franklin Falls and Union Falls. Permanent Rapids (Class II+) must be portaged with our boats or may be run in own boats for experienced Class III whitewater paddlers. The other two rapids may be lined -- no portage trail.

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canoes landing at Moody boat launch

Floodwood Pond to Tupper Lake

From Floodwood Pond to Tupper Lake. May be extended to 5 or 6 days with side trips or layover days. A great variety of terrain -- ponds, small streams, rivers and lakes including rocky shorelines, islands, extensive marshes and beautiful mountain scenery.

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canoeing through culvert with paddler in the distance

Lake Lila to Low's Lower Dam

This has become a relatively popular wilderness trip. There are three possible day hikes from this route to low mountains that provide great views over the canoe route. These include Frederica Mountain, Grass Pond Mountain and Low's Ridge.

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canoe secured to a tree on lake

Saranac Lake to Tupper Lake

A spectacular lake and river trip. Beautiful islands and optional side trip to Raquette falls. Reservations necessary for any night spent on either Middle or Lower Saranac Lakes through the Saranac Lake Islands Campground. Reservations must be made online at reserveamerica.com.

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Canoe with person at campsite on Long Lake

Long Lake to Tupper Lake or the Saranacs

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 Floodwood Pond or in Saranac Lake.

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Front of a canoe looking ahead paddling from Fish Creek to Upper Saranac Lake

The Saranac Lakes

Beautiful islands and mountain scenery with optional mountain hikes. Route includes Fish Creek and Upper, Middle and Lower Saranac Lakes.

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two canoes sitting a canoe landing on Little Long Pond

Lake Kushaqua to the St. Regis Canoe Area

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.

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image of waterfall

Oswegatchie River (East Branch)

A two or three day trip to High Falls and return on a distinctly northern wilderness stream (no motorized traffic). It is about 8 hours up to High Falls and about 5 hours back downstream to Inlet. Cartop your canoe to the put-in at Inlet.

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solo canoe on shore of lake

Low's Lake: Paddle & Hike

An easy paddle up the Bog River to Low's Lake, an excellent place to basecamp and explore by foot or canoe. Excellent short day hikes to viewpoints or lakes. Designated campsites. Some private land restrictions. Return via the same route. Plan to cartop to put-in at Low's Lower Dam.

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on the way to lila

Little Tupper Lake to Lake Lila Traverse

A challenging route with portages marked but still being cleared. A nice sense of remoteness in a wilderness area that is off limits to motors. It's best to cartop the canoe to Little Tupper Lake (or have us transport the boat) and then have us pick you up at Lake Lila.

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canoe along campsite shore looking out at island

Cranberry Lake

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 provide unique views. Numerous state-owned islands.

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Bog area

Whitney Wilderness Area / Little Tupper Lake

This area was opened to the public by a State purchase in 1998 and provides visitors with a wilderness-like 7 mile lake with possibilities to explore neighboring ponds.

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4-5 Day Trips

canoeing on Hatchery Brook

St. Regis Ponds Loop

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.

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Portaging canoe

Bog River - Oswegatchie River Traverse

Up the Bog River and Low's Lake followed by a portage to Big Deer Pond. Then a 2.2-mile carry to the upper Oswegatchie River in the Five Ponds Wilderness. Two or more days down the Oswegatchie to the take-out at Inlet. Many optional side hikes.

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raquette river

Long Lake to Floodwood Pond

This popular one way trip features beautiful scenery, good fishing, and numerous campsites. The trip includes nine miles on Long Lake and about 5 miles on the Raquette River before Raquette Falls, the first of two portages (each about 1.3 miles). This portage passes the in

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Longer Trips

headed north

Old Forge to the Saranac Lakes

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.

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campsite looking through trees at lake with canoe on sandy beach

Blue Mtn. Lake to the St. Regis Canoe Area

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 and finishes at Floodwood Pond.

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whitney wilderness headquarters

Whitney Wilderness - Whitney/Bog River Loop

This strenuous route includes Round Lake, Little Tupper, Lila, Bog Lake, and the Bog River through Low’s Lake to Low’s Lower Dam Access. It provides a degree of remoteness and wild character that is rare. Portages (up to 1.2 miles) are sometimes unmarked and are often rough.

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