Two college friends, Sam Brakeley and Andy Rougeot, embark upon a 39-day canoe trip on the Northern Forest Canoe Trail through New England. Rapids, wildlife, and mishaps all add spice to their 740-mile journey, but it is the unique flavor of northern New England and the eclectic individuals who populate the region that make it singularly memorable.

The 740-mile Northern Forest Canoe Trail is the largest inland water trail in the United States. The trail follows the traditional travel routes of Native Americans, including the Wabanaki and Iroquois, as well as their Paleo-Indian ancestors. Beginning in Old Forge, New York, and ending in Fort Kent, Maine, the NFCT encompasses 58 lakes and ponds, 22 rivers and streams, 62 portages totaling more than 55-miles. With just over 347 miles, Maine is home to more of the trail than any other state and it is the wildest, least populated section. The Canoe Trail in Maine includes Umbagog, Moosehead, Rangeley, Flagstaff, Chesuncook, and Chamberlain Lakes, as well as the entire 92-mile Allagash Wilderness Waterway. This is a guide for doers, as well as dreamers. Practical information on paddling, gear, safety, plus maps will help you get started; and the beautiful photography will inspire you to prepare and help you stay motivated until it’s time to head out. A paddle on the Canoe Trail is a trip through time as canoeists and kayakers discover the rich Native American and forestry history of the region, pockets of pristine wilderness, and an abundance of wildlife, including moose, bear, deer, beaver, bald eagles, and loons. It’s the backwoods paddling experience of a lifetime.

Create a canoeing or kayaking experience you’ll never forget, through Florida’s Everglades National Park and the 99-mile Wilderness Waterway. Those in the know will tell you there is only one way to truly experience Florida’s Everglades National Park, and that is by canoe or kayak. Whether you are a novice paddler or a seasoned whitewater river runner, Paddling the Everglades Wilderness Waterway is your all-in-one guide for safe adventure on this spectacular route. Authors Holly Genzen and Anne McCrary Sullivan present 17 of their favorite day- and overnight trips from various Everglades departure points. Having spent years exploring this maritime labyrinth, the authors share their intimate knowledge of historic Everglades rivers and bays, the endless horizon of its Gulf Coast, the eerie beauty of its mangrove forests, and the secrets of ancient tribes and early American pioneers. Descriptions of wildlife abound (the birds! the alligators!), as do the details of exquisite flora that flourishes here. Inside you’ll find: The complete 99-mile Wilderness Waterway route between Everglades City and Flamingo—north to south and south to north 17 day trips and overnight paddles Nearly 30 campsites and gazebo-like chickees stilted over the water Maps, GPS coordinates, trip preparation, safety tips, and waterway etiquette An expansive directory of Everglades flora, fauna, people, and places Intimate observations about Everglades history, environment, and its future Whether you only have time for a brief Everglades visit or are embarking on a 10-day expedition, this book is for you.

Paddling Southern Wisconsin will guide you down some of the state's most alluring rivers, immersing you in its shifting landscape and infinite beauty.

In Greenville, New Hampshire, a small town in the southern part of the state, Henri Vaillancourt makes birch-bark canoes in the same manner and with the same tools that the Indians used. The Survival of the Bark Canoe is the story of this ancient craft and of a 150-mile trip through the Maine woods in those graceful survivors of a prehistoric technology. It is a book squarely in the tradition of one written by the first tourist in these woods, Henry David Thoreau, whose The Maine Woods recounts similar journeys in similar vessel. As McPhee describes the expedition he made with Vaillancourt, he also traces the evolution of the bark canoe, from its beginnings through the development of the huge canoes used by the fur traders of the Canadian North Woods, where the bark canoe played the key role in opening up the wilderness. He discusses as well the differing types of bark canoes, whose construction varied from tribe to tribe, according to custom and available materials. In a style as pure and as effortless as the waters of Maine and the glide of a canoe, John McPhee has written one of his most fascinating books, one in which his talents as a journalist are on brilliant display.

In 1775, Benedict Arnold and an army of 1100 set off into the Maine wilderness. Enduring floods, frostbite, desertion and starvation, they traversed over 300 miles of untraveled wilderness. While ultimately unsuccessful in their attack on Quebec City, Arnold and his men were lauded as "indefatigable" and "famine-proof" for their courageous feat. In 2013, author Sam Brakeley sets out to re-create their journey. While easily evading starvation and hypothermia, he discovers that the 21st century nevertheless brings its own set of challenges. Complete with aggressive land-owners, lascivious women and massive oil spills, we find that life on the river is always exhilarating. Combining 18th and 21st century adventures, Sam Brakeley vividly recreates Arnold's expedition to Quebec while telling his own modern-day saga. With humor, warmth and compassion, he reminds us that by connecting with the past we can more fully experience the present and future.