Improving Public River Access

Northern Forest Canoe Trail recently enhanced 180 feet of boardwalk on Valcour Island’s Nomad Trail and reconstructed an additional 40 feet of eroded trail. The Valcour Island effort is one in a series of projects deploying students and volunteers to key public access areas along the Canoe Trail, which stretches over 700 miles from Old Forge, New York to Fort Kent, Maine.

With community engagement at its center, the project was focused on public access improvement, water quality protection, and flood resilience on the Saranac River, Valcour Island, and the Lamoille River. Multiple carries, campsites, hiking trails, and river access points were selected for restoration work by teams of community volunteers, interns, and local recreationists.

Work began at the Kent Falls Carry and Five Fauls campsite on the Saranac River in June 2024. In July, teams tackled projects at Lower Locks Carry on the Saranac River, Lake Champlain’s Valcour Island, and the East Berkshire Access to the Missisquoi River. The Dog Head and Crossing Falls portages on the Lamoille River are slated for work in August.

By coordinating diverse groups of seasonal interns, community volunteers, and local recreationists, the Northern Forest Canoe Trail has increased community stewardship while enhancing access to invaluable natural places that will service Basin residents and visitors for years to come.