Canoeing & Kayaking The Maine Highlands is covered in lakes, streams, ponds and every one of them has an adventure waiting to happen! With over 100 boat launches it’s very clear why so many come to enjoy The Maine Highlands waters. Experience the solitude and amazing scenery that can only be found by taking to our waterways.   Bring your own or rent, take a class or follow a guide through our unspoiled lakes and ponds. FMI: Katahdin Area Lincoln Lakes Area Moosehead Lake Area The Northern Forest Canoe Trail The 740-mile Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT) traces Native American travel routes across some of the most scenic paddling country in the Northeast from Old Forge, New York, across Vermont, Québec and New Hampshire, to Fort Kent, Maine. This nationally recognized water trail represents a series of more than 50 interconnected destinations, extending through a diversity of waterways, landscapes, and communities within the Northern Forest Region. The Maine section of the NFCT is some 348 miles long, and is characterized by a string of beautiful and unique destinations, each offering a complete vacation experience on its’ own.  Kayakers and canoeists can enjoy Trail outings from a day to a weekend or more on The Maine Highlands portion of the NFCT which is characterized by dramatic features and a rich history. Moosehead Lake offers paddlers a lifetime of adventures available on its 40 mile length. Winds can be fierce with large waves, so a seaworthy boat is essential.  Plan for an extra day and pack a novel, but beauty is almost guaranteed.  Thoreau traveled this section of the NFCT, writing of his trip in The Maine Woods.  Don’t forget your hiking shoes, as the short hike up Mt. Kineo on the lake’s eastern shore is not to be missed.  The storied Northeast Carry, used for centuries by Abenaki and early white settlers, takes paddlers a relatively short distance into the West Branch of the Penobscot, but it’s symbolically a bigger passage into the wilder region of northern Maine. An alternate way to access the West Branch is through the North Maine Woods Multiple Use Management Area. The river is wide and slow and for 20 miles paddlers are enticed around the next bend by moose and heron before ending in the open stretches of Chesuncook Lake. In historic Chesuncook Village paddlers will find amenities to ease their trip. This area is not for the inexperienced, but with proper preparation, its rewards are unparalleled.  It certainly represents a destination that can inspire wonder even after a lifetime of visits.  Learn more about The Maine Highlands Region section of the trail including outfitters, business and services along with the NFCT interactive Map Tool at www.northernforestcanoetrail.org or call 802-496-2285. Photos by Northern Forest Canoe Trail