The Adirondack Canoe Classic is scheduled to take place in Old Forge the weekend after Labor Day with paddlers to depart from the Old Forge Pond lakefront at 8 a.m. on Friday, September 9th.
Participants are asked to gather on the evening of Thursday, September 8 to register and make final preparations.
This year’s event, organized by Brian and Grace McDonnell of the Adirondack Watershed Alliance, will be limited to 250 vessels consisting of guide boats, voyageur canoes, and kayaks; as well as solo, tandem, and four person canoes.
Traditionally, the Adirondack Canoe Classic has over 500 participants, 100 direct volunteers, 500 people on pit crew, and thousands of spectators, making it a truly unique event.
On the first day, participants will follow the Fulton Chain of Lakes up through Eighth Lake portaging their boats between Fifth and Sixth Lakes, and again between Seventh and Eighth Lake.
Participants will then paddle on towards the Brown’s Tract, across Raquette Lake to St. Hubert’s Bay, up the Marion River and across the railroad grade to Lakes Utowana and Eagle, where they will finish the 35-mile day at the Blue Mountain Lake finish line.
Day two will begin at Endion on Long Lake.
Paddlers will take off in waves toward the north end of the lake, following the Raquette River down to the DEC fishing access east of Tupper Lake.
The approximate distance for Day Two is 30 miles.
The final day of Adirondack Canoe Classic begins at the DEC Fish Creek Campground where paddlers will then cross Square Pond and head down Fish Creek to Upper Saranac Lake.
Upon reaching Upper Saranac, participants will paddle across Middle Saranac and through Lower Saranac Lake until they reach the Saranac River and Oseetah Lake.
After a distance of 90 miles over the course of three days, participants will be greeted at the finish line on Lake Flower in the Village of Saranac Lake.
In addition to the Adirondack Watershed Alliance, a host of businesses have pledged to support the paddlers along the 90 mile route.
Those wanting more information about the 29th Annual Adirondack Canoe Classic or the Adirondack Watershed Alliance can contact the AWA at (518) 891-2744 or Brian at MAC’s Canoe Livery at (518) 891-1176.
