North Woods Paddle
North Woods Paddle. Photo: Shaw & Tenney.
The design of the North Woods paddle was popularized in western canoe-culture through tourism advertisements that depicted Maine Guides (see Maine Guides Icon) leaning on paddles as tall as they were. But the tall paddle originated in indigenous cultures long before Guides were paddling their "sports" around.
The three distinguishing characteristics of the North Woods paddle are its length, the shape of its grip, and the size of the blade. The length allows a paddler to continue paddling or steering while standing in the stern of a canoe, enabling them to see over the banks of a river, or further downstream. The grip is sculpted so that the user can hold it in different positions depending on whether they are standing, kneeling, or sitting in the canoe. The extra-large blade "catches" more water than a standard canoe paddle and provides more thrust, faster turning, and more responsive braking. They are typically made from spruce for lake paddling, and from ash for river travel.
