Paddling

Starting at Axton Landing, you will need to paddle about eleven miles to The Crusher launch where you can take out, or you can keep going by paddling right to Tupper Lake. From Axton Landing to The Crusher there are multiple spots where you can pull off for lunch or to take a break.

How to get there: From the intersection of Route 30 and Route 3 in Tupper Lake, follow Route 3 toward Saranac Lake. Continue past the other junction with Route 30 and continue on Route 3. Locate Coreys Road, turn right and continue down until you see the turn off to the right for Axton Landing. Continue down the dirt path until you come to the launch.

Type of Launch: Soft boat launch, easily accessible.

Type of water: Flat water, along the Raquette River.

To reach The Crusher from Axton Landing, put in and bear right after leaving a small bay. You will follow the current downstream toward Tupper Lake.

You can also access a couple of other paddling destinations from Axton Landing, including Raquette Falls and Stony Creek. From the put-in at Axton Landing you will proceed north (left) upstream along the Raquette River. After about 0.5 mile Stony Creek will come in on the left. This widening is easy to recognize, a bridge on Coreys Road can be seen just upstream over Stony Creek. Cross under under the bridge and into the waterway as it narrows and becomes very windy through red maples and alders. To reach Raquette Falls, pass by Stony Creek and continue upstream for several miles.

At the exit of Stony Creek you will be at the southern end of Stony Creek Ponds. There are two ponds which are private, as can be seen on the map all others are free to voyage.

A short trail called Indian Carry is found at the north end which accesses Upper Saranac Lake.

How to get there:

At the intersection for Route 3 and Route 30 in Tupper Lake follow Route 3 toward Saranac Lake. Continue past the intersection for Fish Creeks and locate Coreys Road on the right. Follow Coreys Road for 2.1 miles to the dirt access road for Axton Landing on the right. Drive this for about 0.1 miles to the boat launch. This is a very rough access road, take caution. 

Type of launch:

Roadside, dirt

Type of water:

This section of the Raquette River is very low current, but it doesn’t go unnoticed, especially paddling upstream.

Camping

Camping can be found on the northwest peninsulas as you pass through the narrows to the northwest pond.

Birding

This is an excellent paddle for birding and other wildlife viewing. A variety of wetland, bog, and boreal birds with raptors along the river.

Find out more

Read our blog post, How to enjoy a couple days on Raquette Lake.