Northern Forest Canoe Trail to tackle stewardship projects from the Adirondacks to Allagash

The Northern Forest Canoe Trail is inviting people to join them on one of their annual Waterway Work Trips this upcoming stewardship season.

During the work trips, volunteers join one of Northern Forest Canoe Trail’s stewardship crews for a weekend camping trip. Trips begin Friday evening — except those in the Allagash Wilderness Waterway — and wrap up after lunch on Sunday. 

There are 10 projects spanning from Forked Lake in the Adirondacks to Allagash Wilderness Waterway in northern Maine. Projects focus on campsite, portages, privies, access points and other infrastructure used by paddlers. 

In addition to helping the stewardship team, volunteers will have time for paddling, exploration and relaxation.

“Waterway Work Trip volunteers provide an invaluable resource to our stewardship teams, allowing them to complete projects across the trail,” said NFCT Stewardship Director Noah Pollock. “It’s a great opportunity for people to give back to the trail and enjoy some time in the woods.” 

The NFCT is a nonprofit organization that stewards a 740-mile water trail that weaves through New York, Vermont, Quebec, New Hampshire and Maine. It has two crews – a roving crew that works across the trail and an Allagash Wilderness Waterway team. 

This year, stewardship staff plan to tackle at least 20 trail projects overall. 

The stewardship team is led by Pollock and Assistant Trail Director Nick Hall, who oversees the roving crew. Hall took over the new role in September after two years with the NFCT. He started as a Stewardship Intern on the 2024 Allagash Crew, returned the following year as the crew leader.

“I couldn’t be more proud or excited to take on this new position,” Hall said. “Already, I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for the organization, the community, and all the behind-the-scenes work that makes our stewardship efforts possible.”

The Allagash Crew will be led by Ethan Israel, who is returning for his third season as part of the NFCT crew. He will be responsible for overseeing three stewardship interns and community volunteers as the NFCT implements a full season of projects along the Allagash Wilderness Waterway.

The following is a list of this year’s Waterway Work Trips:

June 14-17, Pillsbury Campsite, Eagle Lake, Allagash Wilderness Waterway: Help improve tent pads and access paths at this historic campsite with views of Katahdin, once visited by Thoreau.  

June 19-21, Valcour Island, Plattsburgh, New York: Help construct a new campsite on beautiful Valcour Island, one of the most scenic and historically important islands on Lake Champlain.

June 26-28, Forked Lake, Long Lake, New York: Stay on beautiful Forked Lake while helping implement improvements at campsites and portage trails in the area.

June 28-July 1, Lone Pine, Chamberlain Lake, Allagash Wilderness Waterway: Join fellow volunteers to reduce erosion and improve conditions at this classic Allagash campsite on Eagle Lake. Work will involve setting stone steps and building tent pads. This is a partnership project with Maine AMC. 

July 3-5, McCasland Bridge and Permanent Rapids Access, Bloomingdale, New York: Join us for a weekend of hands-on stewardship, outdoor adventure and connecting with fellow paddlers and nature enthusiasts while upgrading two popular river access points with a gravel ramp, and timber and stone steps.

July 10-12, Missisquoi Paddle Pedal and Access, Richford, Vermont: Help behind the scenes at the Missisquoi Paddle Pedal, a wonderful community event, and then help complete some improvements to a local river access.

July 16-19, Tramway Carry, Eagle Lake, Allagash Wilderness Waterway: Stay at the iconic Thoreau Campsite, visit a set of iconic abandoned train locomotives, and help reduce erosion and improve the tread surface at the historic Tramway Carry.

July 17-19, Umbagog Lake Accessible Campsites, Upton, New Hampshire: Help increase accessibility for users of all ages and abilities at one of the campsites on wild and beautiful Umbagog Lake, a north country treasure. We’ll be doing a variety of projects, including building stone and timber ramps and installing stone steps.  

July 22-25, Smith Brook Campsite, Eagle Lake, Allagash Wilderness Waterway: Help stabilize an eroding access and build a mouldering privy at this quiet Allagash campsite nestled into a scenic bay on remote Eagle Lake.

July 24-26, Gull Pond Stream Carry, Rangeley: Visit the beautiful Rangeley Lakes region and help replace a series of deteriorating bog bridges with a flood resilient and more user-friendly boardwalk.

Space is limited for each trip. There is a $35 registration fee to pay for meals. To learn more or sign up, visit northernforestcanoetrail.org

To learn more about the NFCT’s stewardship work, contact Noah Pollock at noah@northernforestcanoetrail.org. 

The Northern Forest Canoe Trail is a nonprofit organization that maintains and promotes the 740-mile water trail that runs from Old Forge, New York to Fort Kent and connects New York, Vermont, Quebec, New Hampshire and Maine. The trail showcases the mix of landscapes and communities currently lining the traditional routes used by Indigenous peoples, settlers and guides. It is the longest in-land water trail in the nation and consists of 23 rivers and streams, 59 lakes and ponds, 45 communities and 65 portages. To learn more, visit northernforestcanoetrail.org.