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 and paddle right to the village of 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.

Paddling

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

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 the bridge and into the waterway as it narrows and winds 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.

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

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 (including) raptors along the river.