Where: Raquette River Canoe Carry: From the North Point Road, near Long Lake Length: 2 miles (round trip) Difficulty: Easy - Family Friendly. This is a flat walk along the river. Starting at the lean-tos where the river widens into Long Lake, the path heads southwest towards Buttermilk Falls. There are only a few trail markers, but the path is obvious. There are a few wet sections as you approach Buttermilk Falls, but it is generally easy going the entire way. Access: From Long Lake, head south on Route 30 toward Blue Mountain Lake. Starting at the junction of Routes 30 and 28N (in front of Hoss's Country Corner store), it's three miles to the North Point Road. The parking area is on the North Point Road, just over a mile from that intersection. A small "Canoe Carry" sign, on the right, marks the spot. From the parking area, go down the hill to the lean-to on the left. In front of the lean-to, head towards the river, the path begins from the clearing below the lean-to.
The Raquette River Canoe Carry trail (from the North Point Road, near Long Lake) is not the kind of hiking route that I have typically written about. The round trip covers just two miles, and part of the route is not a formally marked trail. This walk follows two canoe carry trails, connected by an unmarked path, and much of the trail is within earshot of the North Point Road. Even so, this short hike is appealing for two reasons: 1) It's a family friendly hike, and the starting point is just a 10 minute drive from the junction of Routes 30 and 28N in Long Lake, and 2) it's a delightful walk along the river, with lots to see and Buttermilk Falls as the destination. This is nice walk at any time, and, late in the day, as the sun is setting, it is spectacular.
I've created a video to show you what I mean. You can view it on YouTube.
You can walk this route in either direction, starting at Buttermilk falls or at the canoe carry parking area (as described). Buttermilk Falls makes a nice destination so I think it's nice to walk up river. Either way, the round trip is bout two miles. I'll let the photos tell the rest of the story. The photographs were taken on several different visits, at different times of day.
Early morning sun near the lean-to.
Buttermilk Falls
Along the river. The water was high following heavy rains in the week before.
Along the River, late in the day.
Buttermilk Falls can be heard long before it comes into view. It is seen here looking up river from a few hundred yards away.
Along the way
The river on a foggy morning
One of the take out points for paddlers
The foam is the result of the high concentration of tannins in the water.
A section of the path on a foggy morning. The path is through a mature forest, some of which appears to have never been logged.
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