Adirondack Sports August 2023

PADDLING & CAMPING from page 7
AUGUST 2023 9
ENTERING LITTLE
SQUARE POND FROM
FISH CREEK.
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
INDIAN LAKE’S WATERS
GET DRAWN DOWN IN
LATE SUMMER.
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 twomile-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.
ON PUTNAM POND.
THE OSWEGATCHIE RIVER AT INLET
ROAD IS A SHORT DRIVE FROM
CRANBERRY LAKE CAMPGROUND.
PHOTOS BY RICH MACHA