Five paddlers completed an epic accomplishment last year, paddling the entire length of the 740-mile Northern Forest Canoe Trail in one shot.
Officials with the Northern Forest Canoe Trail recently recognized the five paddlers for their accomplishment, adding them to the roster of official thru-paddlers.
Completed in 2006, the Northern Forest Canoe Trail is a 740-mile water trail from Old Forge, New York to Fort Kent, Maine. The route follows traditional travel routes used by Native Americans, settlers, and guides. It is the longest inland water trail in the United States. The route includes 23 rivers and streams, 59 lakes and ponds, 45 communities and towns, and more than 65 portages.
The five paddlers who completed the entire water trail in 2025 are Austin Garber of Hermon, Maine; Jonah Vitale-Wolff of Petersburgh, New York; Cassandra Smith and Henry Kohler of Martinsburg, Pennsylvania; and Justin Reich of Arlington, Massachusetts.
“It takes preparation, training and a lot of grit and determination to paddle the entire trail,” said NFCT Executive Director Karrie Thomas. “It’s one thing to prepare yourself mentally and physically for logging long days of paddling and portaging, but you also need to contend with mosquitoes and black flies, unpredictable water levels, temperatures that can range from freezing cold to blisteringly hot and so many other variables — thru-paddling is not an adventure to take on lightly.”
To be recognized as an official NFCT thru-paddler, individuals must complete the entire route as one expedition during a single season. They are also required to formally register their trip for thru-paddler status.
Thru-paddlers are classified in two categories: those who complete the trail from west to east self-propelled, and those who complete the trail west to east supported by shuttles. All five paddlers in 2025 were recognized as self-propelled.
The NFCT will host a virtual session on February 5, featuring presentations by thru-paddlers along with time for questions. The session will be hosted on Zoom at 7 p.m. Presenters include 2025 thru-paddlers Cassandra Smith, Henry Kohler, and Justin Reich, as well as Bobby Nolan, a 2023 thru-paddler who completed his thru-paddle with shuttle support. The link to participate is https://bit.ly/thrupaddlers2025.
