Route Itinerary
1
Blue Mountain Lake → Raquette Lake
~13 MILES1 CARRY (0.4 MI)CLASS ICAMP: BIG ISLAND
EARLY AM
Put in at BML town beachWest of NY-30/NY-28 junction. Sandy beach by old firehouse.
PADDLE
~1 HR
Eagle Lake, then Utowana Lake2 miles. Utowana curves — you'll think you see the end before you do.
PADDLE
~2 HR
Marion River Carry — Utowana → Marion River~0.4 mi, flat, wheelable. Watch for beaver dam near put-in.
CARRY
~3 HR
Down the Marion River into Raquette Lake4.5 miles of slow, winding marsh river. Blue Mountain ahead the whole way.
PADDLE
~5 HR
Camp: Big Island, Raquette LakeDEC tent sites, free, first-come. 2–3 sites on north end of island near Pine Knot Point.
CAMP
Raquette Lake can get choppy by afternoon — if you arrive early, explore the lake before settling. Motor traffic on Raquette is real; stay visible near the channel.
2
Raquette Lake → Forked Lake
~8 MILES1 CARRY (0.5 MI)OPEN WATER CROSSINGCAMP: FORKED LAKE CG
EARLY
Cross Raquette Lake to north end~5 miles of open water. Leave early — wind builds fast on this lake.
EARLY START
MID
Raquette Lake → Forked Lake carry0.5 mi, flat, easy. Hubert Cove area. Carry west of channel.
CARRY
AFTER
Paddle Forked Lake east to campground~3 miles. Beautiful, quiet lake. Few motors.
PADDLE
EVENING
Camp: Forked Lake CampgroundDEC campground — RESERVATION REQUIRED via ReserveAmerica. Bear boxes on site.
CAMP
Book Forked Lake before you book anything else. It fills fast in summer. Sites 40–45 on the west side of North Bay are considered some of the best — all have docks.
3
Forked Lake → Long Lake (south end)
~5 MILES PADDLE3 CARRIES (2.2 MI TOTAL)CARRY-HEAVY DAY
MORNING
Forked Lake → Raquette River carry1.5 mi, mostly road — wheelable. Fill water at Forked Lake Ranger Station before you leave.
CARRY ✓WHEEL
MID AM
Paddle Raquette River to Buttermilk Falls~2 miles of beautiful flat river. Current helps. Stop well before the sound of falls.
PADDLE
MID
Buttermilk Falls carry0.1 mi over boulders — Class IV falls, do not run. Leave the cart here. Uneven trail.
CARRY NO WHEEL
MID
River → Long Lake carry (Deerland)0.6 mi, rocky and rooty trail. North Point Road. Not cart-friendly. Puts you right at Long Lake's south end.
CARRY
AFTERNOON
Camp: Deerland Lean-tosTwo lean-tos right at the Long Lake put-in. Free. A short herd path leads north from the carry trail.
CAMP
Day 3 is shorter miles but the hardest work. Plan to be done by early afternoon. The Deerland lean-tos are the reward — right where the river opens into Long Lake, with good fishing nearby.
4
Long Lake → Long Lake Hamlet
~14 MILESNO CARRIESPREVAILING WIND: AT YOUR BACK
MORNING
Put in at Long Lake south end, head northLong Lake is 14 miles long and narrows to a river at times. Beautiful mountain views both sides.
PADDLE
ANYTIME
Stop, explore, swimThis is the easy day. Take it. Campsites and lean-tos along the east shore if you want to split it.
PADDLE
AFTERNOON
Take-out: Long Lake DEC launchNear the hamlet. Dock Rd off NY-30. Shuttle, food, and a cold drink are all close by.
FINISH
This is the day you earn. No carries, no schedule. Just paddle one of the most beautiful lakes in New York with the wind behind you.
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