The major waterways of the Rangeley Lakes region are part of the 740-mile Northern Forest Canoe Trail. The trail is one of America’s longest recreational blueways and an American Canoe Association Recommended Water Trail.

The Rapid River, Upper and Lower Richardson Lakes, Mooselookmeguntic Lake, Rangeley Lake and the South Branch of the Dead River make up 59 miles of the trail’s 347 miles in Maine from the New Hampshire border to Fort Kent.

Portage trails linking the waterways, waterside campsites and private campgrounds allow canoeists, kayakers and fishermen to spend a weekend, week or longer exploring the natural beauty of the Rangeley region and the communities the trail flows through.

This summer visitors to the region will find a new NFCT information kiosk at the Route 27 Eustis boat landing on Flagstaff Lake. There are a dozen public access points along the trail in the Rangeley region, and paddlers can use an interactive map on www.northernforestcanoetrail.org to learn details about each of the trail’s sections in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York.

For more information, call the NFCT at 802-496-2285.