Please remember to be kind to other paddlers, shoreline property owners, and, most of all, the Black River!

1. Take Out what you Take In
If you bring water or food with you for your paddle, please make sure you take it all out. Litter ruins the beauty, creates hazards for wildlife in and out of the water, and aggravates shoreline land owners. Leave no trace of your paddling on the river.

2. Leave What You Find
You'll probably find a lot of interesting things while you paddle the Black River. Please do not take plants, rocks, or other natural objects. Please leave cultural or historic structures or artifacts alone. Examine them, but leave them for others to examine as well. If you want to take something with you, be a hero and take the litter you may find that other less considerate paddlers may have left.

3. Respect Wildlife
Never feed animals you may see along the Black River. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors, and exposes them to predators and other dangers. Control your pets at all times or leave them at home. Please avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, etc.

4. Be Considerate of Others
Let nature's sound prevail, avoid loud voices and noises. Be courteous to others you meet on the river and be courteous to landowners you may meet along the river. Yield to other paddlers.

5. Let the River Be Your Guide
The southern branch of the Black River is beautiful and full of history. There are parts of the river that are narrow and parts that are wide. Some stretches of the river are shallow and while other stretches are deep. Lazy, slow moving waters give way to faster flowing waters. But, regardless of the water, the Black River is beautiful and full of life. It is there to be enjoyed and appreciated.

6. Report Your Experiences
Please feel free to email the Bangor/South Haven Heritage Water Trail Association board of directors with reports of your experiences. We are interested in hearing both your positive accounts and those that may be less than positive. We want to know if a new obstacle has fallen across or into the river. We want to know what things to tell other people. We want to know what we may need to address in caring for our stretch of the Black River. Email us at h2o_trail@yahoo.com.

THANK YOU!