To the editor:
Some of the best outdoor adventures rely on the right mix of public and private lands.
On Sept. 15, Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Maine Forest Service hosted a Landowner Appreciation and Cleanup Day. The board and staff of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, a 740-mile water trail from Old Forge, New York, to Fort Kent, would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge our landowner partners in Maine, and all landowners who help make this experience possible.
The Northern Forest Canoe Trail is the longest inland water trail in the nation, and much of the trail is dependent on private landowners who provide public recreational access. We also credit the governments of each state — New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine — for creating laws that protect these landowners from liability.
Outdoor opportunities like the canoe trail are part of a long tradition of private landowners allowing for recreational activities like angling, paddling, hunting and hiking. Hundreds of private landowners give individuals and families lifelong memories through the relatively simple act of supporting paddlers and other outdoor enthusiasts as they venture through private lands along the canoe trail and throughout the northeast. Their willingness to share the land they care for is a defining thread in the fabric of our communities and the culture of our region.
As we thank these landowners, we also implore paddlers — and anyone who enjoys recreational activities on private lands — to continue being respectful of this access. Obey signs and leave as little trace of your visit as possible. It’s a privilege, and one that we are immensely grateful for.
You can still help ensure we are welcome on private land in the future by picking up trash while you’re out on the water anytime.
Karrie Thomas
Executive Director
Northern Forest Canoe Trail
