Adirondacks State Park

Numerous routes can be taken through the Adirondack lake regions. The most popular Adirondack canoe trip begins at Old Forge (Herkimer County) at the foot of the Fulton Chain of Lakes, and runs through various lakes on up through the upper reaches of the Raquette River.

You can end the trip at a number of spots, including Blue Mt. Lake, Tupper Lake, Piercefield Flow, Saranac Inn, Paul Smiths, or Saranac Lake. For a shorter trip, start from Blue Mt. Lake and proceed through Eagle Lake, Utowana Lake, and then on to the Marion River to Raquette Lake.

First Day:
Old Forge to Eighth Lake Campground distance: 18 miles, including 1.7 miles of carry.

Second Day:
Eighth Lake Campground to Blue Mountain Lake distance: 19 miles, including 2-mile carry; or Eighth Lake Campground to Forked Lake Dam (outlet) distance: 17 miles, including 1.75 miles of carry.

Third Day:
Forked Lake Dam to Lost Channel lean-to on Raquette River below Long Lake distance: 17.1 miles, including 2.1 miles of carry.

Fourth Day:
Foot of Long Lake at Lost Channel to Axton distance: 13.25 miles, including 1.25 miles of carry.

Fifth Day:
Axton to Tromblee Clearing lean-to distance: 8 miles.

Sixth Day:
Tromblee Clearing to Tupper Lake distance: 10 miles. No carry.

Alternate Route

Fifth Day:
Axton to Ampersand Dock boat livery, at east end of Lower Saranac Lake distance: 16.25 miles, including 1.5 miles of carry.

Fifth Day:
Axton to Toms Rock lean-to in Lower Saranac (camping fee charged on Lower Saranac) distance: 14.25 miles, including 1.5 miles of carry.

Sixth Day:
Toms Rock lean-to to Saranac Lake Village via Saranac River distance: 10 miles.