What are the best canoe trips in the Adirondacks?
Four routes define Adirondack flatwater: the motor-free St. Regis Canoe Area, the linked Saranac Lakes chain, the Fulton Chain out of Old Forge, and the Long Lake → Raquette River corridor the 90-Miler race follows. The paddling field guide maps them all →
The motor-free wilderness: St. Regis Canoe Area
New York's only designated canoe wilderness — dozens of ponds linked by carries, no motors, loons for company. St. Regis Pond anchors the classic loop; base out of Saranac Lake and let an outfitter handle the shuttle.
The friendly chain: the Saranac Lakes
Lower, Middle, and Upper Saranac link into multi-day loops with marked island campsites — the best first expedition in the Park, with town close enough to bail if the weather turns.
The highway of water: Old Forge to Saranac Lake
The route of the 90-Miler (the Adirondack Canoe Classic, each September): up the Fulton Chain from Old Forge, across Raquette Lake and Long Lake, down the Raquette River with the Raquette Falls carry, and into the Saranac chain. Race it in a weekend or paddle it self-guided in a week. → route notes in the guide
Quieter water
Forked Lake, Indian Lake, and Cranberry Lake trade crowds for space. Whitewater is a different discipline — that's its own guide. Check live DEC alerts before any carry.
Quick questions
What is the best canoe route for a first Adirondack trip?
The Saranac Lakes chain out of Saranac Lake village — Lower, Middle, and Upper Saranac link into multi-day loops with marked campsites, and you can bail to town if weather turns. Outfitters in the village rent boats and run shuttles.
Where can I paddle without motorboats in the Adirondacks?
The St. Regis Canoe Area — the only designated canoe wilderness in New York, with dozens of ponds linked by carries and no motors allowed. St. Regis Pond sits at its heart.
What is the 90-Miler?
The Adirondack Canoe Classic — a three-day, 90-mile race each September from Old Forge to Saranac Lake, following the historic highway-of-water route through the Fulton Chain, Raquette River (with the Raquette Falls carry), and the Saranac chain. The same route makes a superb self-guided expedition.
Put-ins, portages, rentals, and route-by-route notes for every major water. Paddling: the complete guide →