Adirondack Sports July 2023

JULY 2023 11
A BOREAS PONDS
VIEW – LILY PADS AND
MOUNTAINS.
VIEW OF GOTHICS
AND SAWTEETH FROM
BOREAS PONDS.
A BOGGY ISLAND IS
ATTACHED TO A HUGE
BOULDER IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE PONDS.
PHOTOS BY RICH MACHA
PADDLING, HIKING & CAMPING
Boreas Ponds Update
By Rich Macha
It comes as no surprise that the Boreas
Ponds area has become a popular
destination for folks who are willing
to expend just a little effort so as to
experience the incomparable view of
the Adirondack High Peaks from across
its waters. Access was limited in 2022
due to the fact that the road bridge over
the Boreas River at LaBier Flow needed
replacement, but as of late May of this
year, things are back to normal and the
general public can drive the dirt and gravel
Gulf Brook Road for 5.8 miles to at least
the Four Corners parking area.
Before the dam was built, there were
three separate ponds (1st, 2nd, and 3rd)
– hence the plural in Boreas Ponds – with
the dam, the result is one big 320-acre
pond. The land around the ponds is classified
as “Wilderness” where motors are
not allowed, whereas most of the land to
the south of the ponds was placed in the
Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest. A
“Wild Forest” designation could allow for
some motorized usage.
In June, a couple of friends and I were
able to take advantage of some fair weather
and spend three days of camping, paddling,
and hiking in the area. This was my
third visit to the ponds and my second
that involved camping out. From the Four
Corners parking area, we used carts to
wheel our canoes and kayak 0.9 miles on
a relatively smooth dirt and gravel road
to the put-in at the dam. Along the way
we passed a short carry to LaBier Flow, a
small parking area that requires a permit,
and then a sharp left turn that leads to a
lean-to – at this time it’s the only designated
campsite at the ponds although up to
five campsites are in the plans.
Paddling – Once we had set up camp
at the lean-to, we paddled the perimeter
of the ponds in a counterclockwise direction.
From south to north, the straight-line
length of the ponds is only 1.5 miles, but
by following its convoluted shoreline, you
can easily paddle over five miles. Most of
the shoreline consists of a dense growth of
spruce and balsam fir and there is a definite
lack of good places to land if you are
looking for a break or to stop for a picnic
lunch. The mountain views gained from a
variety of locations do compensate however
– Mount Marcy, Mount Haystack,
and the rock face of Gothics stand out,
although Allen Mountain makes its presence
known because of its proximity to
the ponds. The North River Mountains
and Cheney Cobble loom to the west, and
Boreas Mountain dominates to the east.
Paddlers can find themselves pushing
through froggy lily pads and, soon after,
skirting the skeletons of drowned trees.
Watch for loons diving after fish and the
heads of curious otters popping up from
the water, while grunting at the sight of the
interlopers, before making a quick disappearance.
Keep an eye out for great blue
herons and, if you are lucky, a moose.
On day two, we paddled to the north
end of the ponds and hiked over a mile
on old logging roads to White Lily Pond.
When we returned to our boats after the
hike, we made our way in and out of the
islands as we headed back to camp. Some
of the islands are covered in dense spruce
and fir like most of the shoreline, but there
are also many fascinating boggy islands
with pitcher plants, sundews, and other
vegetation that is usually associated with
bogs. One boggy island has a huge boulder
attached to it. A swim by the dam can
be a satisfying end to the day.
Hiking – As of June 2023, there were no
marked hiking trails in the area although
several are planned. For the time being,
you can hike extensively on old logging
roads, some of which are shown on certain
maps and some advance research is
necessary if you plan to go any distance.
White Lily Pond, near the foot of Allen
Mountain, makes for an attractive destination.
We paddled to the north end of the
ponds and left our boats at the inlet, then
hiked on a hardened logging road going
in a northwest direction. We soon gained
almost 300 feet before dropping to a small
clearing on the left where another logging
See PADDLING, HIKING & CAMPING 13 ▶