Main Route - The main route from Saranac Inn to Paul Smiths extends through a series of ponds long known as "the Route of the Seven Carries." From Saranac Inn, you carry 1.5 miles over the road to Rat Pond, then carry along the north side of the railroad track to Little Green Pond. It is 0.5 mile across Little Green Pond to the carry on the east side of the pond. This carry is 0.125 mile long and brings you into Little Clear Pond. An alternate route would be to canoe up Lake Clear Outlet on the northeast shore of Upper Saranac Lake, then upstream on Hatchery Brook past two wooden bridges to the takeout point at Rt. 30.

There is a 0.75 mile carry to Little Clear Pond. Canoeing through Little Clear Pond to the north end, you will find a well defined trail leading northwesterly to St. Regis Pond. There is a lean-to on the south shore of St. Regis Pond approximately 0.75 mile east of the outlet. By following the east shore of St. Regis Pond a short distance, you reach a carry of 0.1 mile east to Green Pond. This pond is only about 0.25 mile wide and one soon reaches the carry at the northeast pan which leads north 0.25 mile into Little Long Pond. Canoeing northeast for about a mile through Little Long Pond one reaches the north end of the pond and a carry of 0.25 mile into Bear Pond.