Late Summer Paddling at DEC Campgrounds

By Rich Macha

The NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation operates 52 campgrounds in the Catskills and the Adirondacks (NYS Parks operates campgrounds in other parts of the state), many of which close in early September. However, a fair number of campgrounds do stay open through October 9 this year, and offer some quiet water paddling opportunities at or near the campground. Non-campers can access these locations with an Empire Pass or by paying a small day-use entrance fee of $6 to $8 ($10 at Nicks Lake and North-South Lake) per car.

There are several good reasons to paddle during this period, especially after Labor Day: biting bugs are usually gone, the waters and campgrounds are less crowded, the water and air are still relatively warm, and the fall foliage is spectacular, particularly in late September and early October.

For the purposes of this article, we will start with northern campgrounds and work our way south.

Meacham Lake Campground is located a few miles north of Paul Smiths. The two-mile-long lake is surrounded by Forest Preserve – motorboats are allowed but their usage is light. The most attractive feature for paddlers is the Osgood River which enters the lake from the south. You can shorten the paddle across Meacham Lake by putting in on the lake’s outlet, the East Branch of the St. Regis River, where it goes under NY Route 30. You then paddle 0.5-mile across the south shore and poke into the river. You can paddle a few miles up the river – expect some beaver dams, lots of meandering, and possibly an obstruction or two. Three small ponds – Mud, Baker, and McCollums – are somewhat hidden by an esker to the east of the river and make for worthy goals along the way.

Ausable Point Campground is located on the shore of Lake Champlain about 10 miles south of Plattsburgh. Except during the calmest of conditions, paddling on the lake is probably best for advanced paddlers. The Ausable River splits into two channels, passes Ausable Marsh, a fascinating natural area, and enters the lake just south of the campground. The river’s Upper Mouth can be accessed from the campground. On a calm day, you can paddle along the lakeshore for under a mile, passing a long sandy beach, to the Lower Mouth and work your way upriver, then loop back to the Upper Mouth. Just south of the Upper Mouth, there is an opening where you can enter the heart of the marsh and explore deeper within it.

Fish Creek Pond Campground is located in the heart of Adirondack paddling country, not far from Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake. Most of the campground borders Square Pond and Fish Creek Ponds, which allow motorboats and offer access to Upper Saranac Lake. Paddlers can easily find quiet water by paddling up scenic Fish Creek to Floodwood Pond with the opportunity to poke around Copperas and Little Square Ponds en route. Non-campers can put in on Floodwood Pond and work their way downstream. Folks who don’t mind doing a couple of short carries can make a loop by incorporating Whey and Rollins ponds into the route. There are many attractive waterbodies within a few minutes drive from the campground like Follensby Clear Pond, Polliwog Pond, and the ponds of the St. Regis Canoe Area.

Cranberry Lake Campground is situated on the northeast shores of its namesake lake. It is a large lake and winds can whip up some healthy waves. Motorboats are allowed, and there are some private camps on the lake, but a lot of the shoreline is state land. If you are not staying at the campground, you can put-in at the state boat launch on the northern part of the lake. To avoid waves, most paddlers will find it wiser to drive over to Ranger School Road in the hamlet of Wanakena and put-in on the Oswegatchie River, then paddle toward the lake and explore the Dead Creek Flow section of the lake. Nearby, an upstream paddle on the Oswegatchie River from Inlet Road (DEC canoe launch) has to be one of the top paddling destinations in the Adirondack wilderness.

Lake Eaton Campground is found on NY Route 30, a short distance west of Long Lake. The lake has a mix of private and state lands around it and motors are allowed. An outing around sunrise or sunset would be tempting, even more so if the loons are wailing. A short drive from the campground brings you to motorless Little Tupper and Round lakes where you will find a greater wilderness experience.    

Lake Harris Campground is in Newcomb, a little south of the High Peaks Wilderness. Motors are allowed and there is a boat launch on the south side of the lake. It is possible to access the Hudson River from the lake by paddling a short distance down the lake’s outlet. You can then take a left and paddle the Hudson upstream to the bottom of some rapids or take a right and paddle downriver toward the NY Route 29N bridge. There is a section of quickwater under the bridge – you may want to scout this out from the road beforehand to determine if you can paddle it in both directions. There is a mile or so of flatwater downstream of the bridge – turn back above some rapids and get a nice High Peaks view on the return.

The Tahawus area is a short drive from the campground, where you can paddle the Sanford Lake section of the Hudson River, and explore the area where the Opalescent River enters the Hudson. From the nearby Upper Works parking area, you can wheel or carry your canoe or kayak 0.4-mile on a smooth trail to two-mile-long Henderson Lake, where the mountain views are outstanding.

Putnam Pond Campground is found east of the Northway (I-87) between Schroon Lake and Ticonderoga. The pond has about five miles of shoreline on the edge of the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness and is a great place to combine some paddling with some easy to moderate hiking. Short hikes lead to wilderness ponds and a longer hike up Treadway Mountain offers rewarding views.

Nicks Lake and Eighth Lake Campgrounds are in the Old Forge area. Nicks Lake is motorless and is totally surrounded by state land. Seventh and Eighth lakes can be accessed from Eighth Lake Campground – Seventh is likely to have more motorized use.

Indian Lake Islands Campground requires a boat to access its campsites. Although motors are allowed, this large lake attracts many paddlers due to the scenery – Snowy Mountain – and lots of islands to help block any wind.

Lewey Lake Campground is adjacent to the Indian Lake Islands Campground and a few of its campsites are actually on Indian Lake, but most are on the west side of NY Route 30. Lewey Lake is a small lake with great mountain views. The Miami River enters the lake from the south, and offers a few miles of typical Adirondack stream paddling with much meandering, and the occasional beaver dam to pull over if you want to make it some distance upstream.

Moffit Beach Campground is located on Sacandaga Lake (not to be confused with Great Sacandaga Lake) in Speculator. Although some motorboats are to be expected, the north end of the lake offers a fair amount of interest. Providing you don’t mind going over a beaver dam or two, Burnt Place and Hatchery Brooks present some interesting exploration via canoe or kayak. Within a short drive of the campground are some of the southern Adirondacks’ best stream paddling on the Kunjamuk River, Fall Stream, and the West Branch of the Sacandaga River.

North-South Lake Campground is our only offering in the Catskills. The lake is not very big so the paddling distance is limited. However, the scenery and the hiking are excellent so the area will favor people who like to hike a lot but still desire a chance to wet the paddle a bit.

A lover of wild places, Rich Macha has led many trips for the Adirondack Mountain Club, and has spent 20 years in the paddle/snowsport business. More of Rich’s adventures can be found at northeastwild.blogspot.com.