ADK Journal  /  Paddling

Paddling in the Adirondacks

There's a strong case that paddling is the defining Adirondack experience. More than 3,000 lakes and ponds, 30,000 miles of rivers and streams, and entire wilderness areas where the only way in is by boat. Whether you're out for an hour on a quiet pond or loading the canoe for a three-day carry-to-carry route, the water is where this park opens up.

How We Paddle
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Flatwater Day Paddles
Lakes, Ponds & Easy Rivers
Load up at a launch, paddle a couple hours, pack it back in. Lower Saranac, Long Lake, Blue Mountain Lake, Mirror Lake. Friendly for beginners, families, first-time SUP paddlers, and anyone who just wants to be on the water.
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Pond-Hopping & Carries
Linked Waters & Portages
The St. Regis Canoe Area is built for this — pond to pond by short carry, no motors allowed anywhere in the 18,000+ acre wilderness. The Nine Carries Route, Saranac Chain, Fish Creek ponds. This is Adirondack canoe country in its purest form.
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Multi-Day
Canoe Camping Routes
Paddle in, camp on an island or a shoreline site, paddle more the next day. Little Tupper, Lake Lila, the Saranac Lake Islands. Some of the best campsites in the park are only reachable by water — and that's exactly the point.
From the Field
Paddling in the Adirondacks

Watch our full Adirondack paddling playlist on YouTube →

We've spent years documenting paddling trips across the park — quiet morning paddles on small ponds, multi-day canoe camping routes through motor-free wilderness, island camps on the Saranac chain, and slow drifts down the Raquette. This is our full Adirondack paddling playlist, updated as new trips get filmed. Hit play, queue it up, and let it run.

Before You Go

Life Jackets (PFDs)
NY law requires a USCG-approved PFD on board for every person in any vessel. From November 1 through May 1, every person in a pleasure craft under 21 ft must actually wear the PFD — not just have it with them. Kids under 12 must wear a PFD at all times.
Boat Inspections & Invasives
The Paul Smith's College Adirondack Watershed Institute staffs over 60 free boat inspection and decontamination stations across the park each summer. Stop in — five minutes keeps milfoil, zebra mussels, and spiny water flea out of the next pond. Yes, this includes canoes and kayaks.
Motor-Free Waters
Entire wilderness areas — the St. Regis Canoe Area, William C. Whitney Wilderness (including Little Tupper and Lake Lila), and others — prohibit motors of any kind. Know before you go, because it changes who you'll share the water with.
Wind, Weather & Water Temp
Big ADK lakes get rough fast when wind picks up. Check the forecast, plan crossings for morning calm, and know that spring/fall water is dangerously cold — cold-water immersion kills strong swimmers every year. Dress for the swim, not the paddle.
Primitive Camping Rules
Water-access sites follow the same rules as backcountry camping: camp 150 ft from water, pack out everything, use designated sites where marked. Groups of 3+ nights or 10+ people need a free DEC permit.
Navigation & Float Plan
Cell service is spotty to nonexistent across most of the park. Carry a paper map, tell someone your route and expected return, and consider a dry-bagged GPS or satellite messenger for longer trips.

Don't own a boat? Two long-running ADK outfitters worth knowing: St. Regis Canoe Outfitters in Saranac Lake (since 1984, the St. Regis Canoe Wilderness specialists) and Raquette River Outfitters in Tupper Lake (since 1983, fourth-generation Adirondackers covering the Raquette River corridor). Both rent boats, plan routes, and run shuttles for point-to-point trips.

Featured Paddles

From the PureADK Journal

Our Favorite Paddles in the Adirondacks

  • Raquette Lake — 99 miles of shoreline, the largest natural lake in the park, water-access campsites Read Trip Report →
  • Bog River Flow — 39 first-come campsites, three miles of flatwater between A.A. Low's historic dams Read Trip Report →
  • St. Regis Canoe Area — the Nine Carries Route, no motors anywhere
  • Little Tupper Lake — 23 primitive sites, motor-free, Whitney Wilderness
  • Lake Lila — boat-access only, dead quiet, peak Adirondack solitude
  • Lower Saranac Lake — island camping, great for first-timers
  • Long Lake — classic open water, connects to the Raquette River
  • Raquette River — Axton Landing to Tupper Lake, multi-day flatwater
  • Fish Creek Ponds — short carries, family-friendly, huge network
  • Blue Mountain Lake — small, scenic, and right in the middle of the park

Trip reports for the rest are in progress — check back as we add them.

Going Bigger: The Northern Forest Canoe Trail
The Northern Forest Canoe Trail is a 740-mile water route from Old Forge, NY to Fort Kent, ME — and the first ~140 miles run straight through the Adirondacks. Old Forge, the Fulton Chain, Raquette Lake, Long Lake, the Raquette River, the Saranacs, and out the Saranac River. You don't have to thru-paddle to Maine to use it; the ADK section alone is essentially a curated multi-day route across the heart of the park, with maps, established carries, and a community of paddlers behind it.

Paddlers We Follow

Creator Spotlight

Butch & Barb — Canoe Camp Climb

Butch and Barb run Canoe Camp Climb, a YouTube channel dedicated to authentic Adirondack canoeing, canoe camping, and backcountry trips — the remote kind most people never see. Ultralight pack canoes, real wilderness, no frills. If you want to get a feel for what multi-day ADK canoe tripping actually looks like before you plan your own, their channel is one of the best places to spend an hour.

We've met Butch in person — fellow ADK adventurer with mutual friends in the community. Genuinely good human, genuinely good paddler.

Watch on YouTube →

Canoe Camping

Paddle In. Camp. Paddle More.

Some of the best campsites in the Adirondacks are only reachable by water — island sites on the Saranac chain, remote lean-tos on Lake Lila, tucked-in shoreline spots in the St. Regis Canoe Area. Our Camping page covers reservations, regulations, and the full setup for making an overnight of it.

Explore Camping →

Protect the Water

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Clean · Drain · Dry

Yes, Canoes and Kayaks Spread Invasives Too

Aquatic invasive species — Eurasian milfoil, zebra mussels, spiny water flea, hydrilla — hitchhike on hulls, in bilge water, on paddles, and tangled in straps. They don't care if your boat has a motor. A canoe moved between two ponds is just as capable of seeding the next infestation as a 200-horsepower bass boat. The damage to native ecosystems is permanent and the cost to local communities is real.

Three steps, every time you move between waters:

  • Clean — remove all visible plants, mud, and debris from your boat, paddles, anchor, and gear.
  • Drain — empty all water from the hull, hatches, dry bags, and any compartment that holds water.
  • Dry — let everything dry completely (5+ days when possible) before launching in a new waterbody.

Even better: stop at one of the 60+ free AWI inspection stations running across the park from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Five minutes, no charge, real impact.

Annual Paddling Events

If You're Going Deep

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Maps & Guidebooks

Adirondack Paddler's Maps & Guidebook — St. Regis Canoe Outfitters

Published by Paddlesports Press, the in-house map operation at St. Regis Canoe Outfitters (Saranac Lake, NY)

The Adirondack Paddler's Map is now in its 13th edition — waterproof, tear-resistant, and detailed in a way no generic recreation map will be. Up-to-date portages, numbered campsites, color-coded land status (state vs. private vs. wilderness). Pair it with the Adirondack Paddler's Guide (5th ed., 2022, 312 pages, spiral-bound) and you've got the deepest paddling reference set for the park, full stop. There are also close-up sheets for specific areas — St. Regis Canoe Wilderness, Saranac Lakes, Whitney Wilderness (covers Bog River Flow and Lake Lila), the Raquette River, the Newcomb area and Upper Hudson watershed. Made by paddlers who've been outfitting the park since 1984.

Browse the Full Series →

Planning Resources

Keep Exploring

Looking for whitewater instead of flatwater? Head over to our Whitewater Rafting page. Want to explore all six million acres? The Recreation Hub has everything we cover — hiking, biking, skiing, fishing, and more.