Five paddlers completed the entire 740-mile inland water trail in 2025: 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, Massachusettes. The NFCT will host a virtual session on Feb. 5, featuring presentations by thru-paddlers along with time for questions and answers.

The NFCT is a mapped inland water trail tracing 740 miles of Indigenous and historic travel routes across New York, Vermont, Quebec, New Hampshire and Maine. The canoe trail starts in Old Forge and ends in Fort Kent, Maine, traversing 23 rivers and streams, 59 lakes and ponds, 45 communities and towns, and more than 65 portages.

“The NFCT celebrates the incredible feat that these intrepid paddlers have achieved,” NFCT Executive Director Karrie Thomas said. “It takes preparation, training and a lot of grit and determination to paddle the entire trail. 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. These five individuals did their homework and proved their mettle — our team couldn’t be prouder.”

Thru-paddling involves traversing the NFCT by paddlecraft, downstream and upstream via flatwater, whitewater and overland, through deep wilderness and trail town communities. 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.

Henry Kohler carries his canoe through muddy waters. (Photo provided)

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 Feb. 5 virtual session will be hosted on Zoom at 7 p.m. EST. 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 bit.ly/thrupaddlers2025.

While thru-paddlers take on the whole canoe trail at once, the vast majority of NFCT paddlers pick specific sections for day trips, overnights and week-long trips. To learn more about shorter suggested trips, or for more information about the NFCT, visit northernforestcanoetrail.org.