Trail Crew Performs Maintenance on Brown’s Tract Portage

Staff and volunteers with the Northern Forest Canoe Trail's stewardship program repair and reinforce pilings on the Brown's Tract Carry boardwalk. — Staff and volunteers with the Northern Forest Canoe Trail’s stewardship program repair and reinforce pilings on the Brown’s Tract Carry boardwalk.

NFCT partners with DEC to implement stewardship projects

The Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT), in partnership with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), has completed critical maintenance on an iconic Adirondack portage trail.

The NFCT’s professional stewardship crew teamed up with local volunteers in June to rehabilitate the Brown’s Tract portage trail, which connects Eighth Lake to Raquette Lake. The winding Brown’s Tract inlet flows into Raquette Lake and is a popular paddling destination. The portage sees heavy use in spring, summer and fall, particularly during the Adirondack Canoe Classic, also known as the 90-Miler — an event run by the NFCT every September.

“When you see those aerial photos of Brown’s Tract, it’s instantly recognizable by paddlers from the Adirondacks and beyond,” said Alex Delhagen, the NFCT’s assistant trail director. “The NFCT feels a particular responsibility for taking care of this portage. Hundreds of paddlers trek along the trail and boardwalk every year during the 90-Miler as do dozens of NFCT thru-paddlers and section paddlers throughout the paddling season. We’re committed to ensuring that the trail provides safe passage for these folks while also respecting the surrounding environment and promoting sustainability.”

The stewardship work included rebuilding the final section of boardwalk along the carry, reconnecting the gangway to the dock at the put-in, and fixing pilings that were sinking into the mud below the bridge. Approximately 30 pieces of deck boarding were rotted out or damaged, necessitating replacement. The crew also repaired the bumpers that run along the edges of the boardwalk.

On the portage trail, the NFCT addressed drainage issues and established several bench cuts that help control water flow and prevent erosion, limiting negative impacts on the surrounding forest. Additionally, the NFCT replaced signage and pruned overgrown areas along a privy trail and near the takeout.

All projects were performed in collaboration with DEC. The work was funded by revenue generated by the NFCT’s Adirondack Race Series, which includes the ‘Round the Mountain Canoe & Kayak Race, the Long Lake Long Boat Regatta and the 90-Miler. The NFCT also received a grant from Athletic Brewing’s Two for the Trails initiative.

As the only dedicated water trail crew in the Northeast, the NFCT’s stewardship crew specializes in projects at the interface of land and water, including campsites, portage trails and access points. To learn more about the NFCT’s stewardship work, contact Trail Director Noah Pollock at noah@northernforestcanoetrail.org.

For more information about the NFCT, visit 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, NY, to Fort Kent, Maine, 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.