Adirondack Sports June 2024

JUNE 2024 19
PADDLING continued from 17
(PDF) shows the river, boat launches,
and hiking trails: parks.ny.gov. You can
also find it here: friendsofmoreaulake.
org. According to the map, if you have a
lightweight canoe or kayak, you can use
the portage trail on the northside to get
around the Spier Falls Dam.
Moreau Lake – In the main section of
the state park, the lake can be a pleasant
non-motorized spot to paddle, especially
if you would like to do some fishing, picnicking,
or combine it with a swim at the
beach (with new food/drink options). The
pond is fairly small so you are not going
to do any kind of mileage on it, and the
beach may be busy on most sunny summer
days. However, the water is very clear,
and it can be attractive for a short cloudy
or early/late day paddle.
Hudson River from Spier Falls Boat
Launch – Again, motorboats are allowed
on this five-mile section of the river, however,
there is only room to park five or six
vehicles with trailers, so the river won’t be
overrun with motors.
Paddling downstream, soon passing
an area of bedrock that seems to jut out
into the river from the south shore, it is
about a mile to the top of Spier Falls Dam.
Paddling upstream from the boat
launch, you pull away from civilization.
The north shore is still part of the state
park for a couple of miles and the forest
consists mainly of deciduous trees, while
the south shore is comprised of conifers.
After going about three miles, a smokestack
and paper mill are seen on the south
shore. You may then notice an increase in
the current and that the water becomes
somewhat squirrely as you approach the
Palmer Falls Dam in Corinth – it is best
to turn back here, if not sooner. On the
return, the Palmertown Range dominates
the scenery to the southeast, rising 700
feet above the river.
In summer, many wildflowers can be
seen dotting the shores and shallows of
the river; look for cardinal flower (red),
buttonbush (white), pickerelweed (purple),
blue flag iris, closed gentian (blue),
and more. If you’re lucky, you may find
some blueberries and huckleberries too.
Watchable wildlife can include anything
from dragonflies to whitetail deer to families
of common mergansers.
Kayaderosseras Creek and Lake
Lonely Outlet – The Kayaderosseras is a
lovely meandering lowland stream. The
three-mile stretch between the Northway
(I-87) and Saratoga Lake is often paddled,
and a side trip up and down Lake Lonely
Outlet can add another couple of miles.
A good access point is a small beach at
Waterfront Park on Crescent Avenue. This
does require paddling along the north
side of Saratoga Lake for a half-mile to
reach the mouth of the “K” – this may be
less desirable on a windy day or during the
height of the motorboating season so stay
close to shore.
An alternate put-in, just upstream
from the mouth of the creek, can be found
at the Arrowhead Casino Archaeological
Preserve at the end of Arrowhead Road, 0.7
miles from Crescent Ave. You will have to
carry your boat along a trail for up to 200
yards and it may be muddy, although possibly
less so slightly downstream to the left.
For a fee, you can launch at the boat
shop on Crescent Avenue where the road
crosses over Lake Lonely Outlet. You can
then paddle 0.9 miles downstream to
meet the Kayaderosseras at a point one
mile from Saratoga Lake.
For a more detailed description of the
Kayaderosseras, check out my Adirondack
Sports article in the April 2019 issue: adksports.com/2019-04-paddling.
The above wilder and quieter paddles
are all a short drive from the Capital,
Saratoga and Glens Falls region. A good
guidebook that covers Saratoga County
and areas to the west, north, and east is
Russell Dunn’s A Kayaker’s Guide to Lake
George, The Saratoga Region & Great
Sacandaga Lake.
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. For more
of Rich’s adventures, visit: northeastwild.
blogspot.com.
▲ SPIER FALLS SECTION
OF THE HUDSON RIVER
FROM THE WESTERN
RIDGE TRAIL IN MOREAU
LAKE STATE PARK.
▲ HEADING TOWARD THE
SHERMAN ISLAND DAM.
▲ LAKE LONELY OUTLET.