The many bays of this large lake will provide hours of exploration. Along the way you're sure to spot a Great Camp. Take the time to paddle the two mile channel of South Inlet. To the west, Browns Tract Inlet winds through a march to a one mile carry that connects to Eighth Lake on the Fulton Chain. From the northeast outlet bay a half mile carry leads to Forked Lake.
Main Route - The main routes divide at Raquette Lake. The route leading to Tupper Lake, the Saranacs, Paul Smiths, etc. extends north through Raquette Lake past Indian Point, the Needles and Bluff Point. From there, the route heads down Outlet Bay northeast to the landing on the north shore of the bay, near the Raquette Lake outlet. It is 8.5 miles from Raquette Lake Village to the landing. A word of advice-it is wisest to plan to cross Raquette Lake early in the morning.
Another route ends at Blue Mountain Lake. This involves crossing Raquette Lake east from Raquette Lake Village and following up the Marion River to the Marion River carry. This route is described in the next section.
Coming into Raquette Lake from Browns Tract inlet there is a small wooded island that lies dead ahead. Keep left of the island and head for the opening between the next small island and what appears to be the mainland (but is really Big Island). When in the narrow channel between these two, bear right around a point on Big Island into a small bay and to the lean-tos. Golden Beach Public Campground is located at the eastern end of South Bay.
To reach the shelters on Clark Point, start from the Browns Tract Inlet, follow the left shore to and around Antlers Point and head west to a point on the north side of Lonesome Bay where two lean-tos and a spring are located.
From Clark Point to Outlet Bay (about seven miles) the course is generally northeast. Head through the narrows and around The Needles (indicated as Needle Island on the USGS topographic map), where a buoy is usually located. About 2 miles from Clark Point, on the east shore of the lake, is Tioga Point, the location of fifteen lean-tos. These are in the same category as a public campground with a service charge and a caretaker on duty during the DEC's camping season. Bluff Point juts out prominently dead ahead on the eastern shore.
The northeasterly course to Outlet Bay is evident after bearing right around Bluff Point. Rounding Bluff Point, the Boucher lean-tos are found on the north shore of Outlet Bay. After the bay begins to narrow, you will see a lean-to sign on the north shore. From this point, it is a short mile to the old dock and a sign marking the carry to Big Forked Lake.
The 0.5 mile carry from Raquette Lake into Forked Lake follows a road leading northward. A phone booth marks where this carry crosses the North Point Road (County Route 13) that extends from North Point on Raquette Lake to Deerland.
After "putting in" on the south shore of Forked Lake at the end of the carry, follow the shore eastward, past a lean-to and proceed 3.25 miles to the outlet where a public campground is located. For tent sites, see the caretaker. At this point, it is necessary to leave the water and carry for 1.5 down County Route 20, a dirt road. Be sure to keep left where the road forks one mile from the dam. Proceed past the rapids in the Raquette River to where the river becomes navigable for small boats. The Pine Brook lean-to is located here.
After putting in, canoe about a mile downriver to the head of Buttermilk Falls. At the falls there is a carry of about 0.1 mile on the east side of the stream. After the carry, you can canoe for about 0.5 mile to a plainly indicated landing on the east shore of the stream. This carry is about 0.5 mile long and avoids the rapids. You can put back in near the two Deerlands lean-tos about 0.5 mile above the head of Long Lake.
from Away.com
