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  • Trip Info/advice..

    My wife and I are planning a 5 day trip in a few weeks for our anniversary. I've been to Bog/Hitchins/Low's twice before, my wife did a 3 day trip with me last spring down Pine Creek Gorge (PA Grand Canyon) but she has never been on a trip in the Adirondacks.
    I mentioned doing the Oswegatchie Traverse but got shot down.....We are looking for a leisurely trip with emphasis on camping, fishing, using the canoe for day tripping and short hike if possible.
    I was trying to decide between Lake Lila, Bog/Low's, or Little Tupper/Rock Pond. I thought about Cranberry Lake but would prefer a more wilderness feel and there are motor boats allowed. Looking at the map I noticed the southwest finger of Cranberry called Dead Creek Flow. That "looks" like it might be ok. Any ever been there and can tell me what it's like? Also does anyone know if you can park in either of the parking areas by Wanakena and launch a canoe there?

    As I previously said I've done a couple trips to Low's before but never fished in the Adirondacks. I fish but do not consider myself a fisherman, my wife loves to fish so any fishing advice would be much appreciated. What fish are common in the lakes or ponds mentioned?

    Here is a picture of the Dead Creek Flow and parking areas near Wanakena parking areas. The land right around that inlet looks to be private up to the state ranger school.



    Thanks for any help or advice.
    If you get lost come straight back to camp.

  • #2
    You can launch a canoe there and there is some parking. I did that trip in a Rapidfire around 5 years ago in mid May and camped at site 34 or 35 on the map you show. Too many power boats for me (including S end of bay) and some rough water with windy conditions. I make repeat paddling trips to many ADK lakes but won't to Cranberry.

    The other lakes you mention are much more paddler friendly, wilderness feel and I've heard some would say good (but not equal) fishing.

    Comment


    • #3
      Thanks Bob, Cranberry is definitely out then.
      Fishing....what do you mean, but not equal?
      If you get lost come straight back to camp.

      Comment


      • #4
        Hey Barefoot! MDB and I also spent our anniversary on a canoe wilderness trip...our 1st anniversary, it was great. Good thing I have photos to jog my memory, that was 37 years ago!!
        I'm with Bob, Cranberry is too busy for me, and too big. MDB and I once started at Wanakena, and when we got to Dead Creek Flow, I thought we were on Cranberry proper, everything there is so big, my scale of reference was all wrong.

        I think Lila would be a much better option. Between the climb up Frederica, paddling up Shingle Shanty, Harrington and Rainer Brooks, exploring the Beaver River, the train station (or what's left of it), and the swimming, you can't find a better spot, I guess that's why it's so busy on the weekends.
        Can't speak for the fishing.
        I think this fits your definition of a leisurely trip, but if you needed more to fill your time, you could day trip Little Tupper or Round Lake, maybe the lower Bog River if you bring a bike to ride back to your put in. An up and back day trip on the Bog from the falls is fun too!
        Last edited by stripperguy; 07-25-2015, 07:11 PM.

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        • #5
          Another possibility this year or some other is Long Pond (not Long Lake). Next to no carry down to the water, and yet no motor boats or development, beautiful lake, some great sites. You can paddle to a trail up the mountain, where the view is spectacular. A few other ponds can be reached after short carries. I fished it once and had so-so bass luck, but others have had better luck (or skill) there. The water holds trout as well.

          Lila has great fishing and so on as mentioned, but wind can be a big problem on that water.

          Comment


          • #6
            I recently did a loop that included Long Pond and had great luck bass fishing there, as well as on the other ponds in the loop. (We did the Floodwood loop).

            The carry to Long Pond is short (.5 mile) but if you'd rather have no carry either Follensby Clear or Floodwood ponds would fit your needs. I didn't fish either of these ponds on my trip but I hear the fishing is good in both.

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            • #7
              Wind can be avoided on any of these lakes if you start very early.

              I'd vote for Lila or Lows from your choices. We've caught plenty of FIsh in both of these ( sometimes caught- it is called "fishing" and not "catching" for a reason! LOL) Lila is straight forward. But Lows can you could benefit from some advice. The big part of Lows can get windy, but you can duck it by sticking close to shore or the windward side of the islands, etc.

              You could go the evening before, and camp on the lower lake ( Hitchen's Pond), then pack up and do the short carry on a road around the dam ( very wheelable if you have 'em- but not necessary, - +/- 200yards at most) to Lows first thing. Or if you have time, you can probably find a site just after this carry. Note there is a bog that pinch's off in this lower part of Lows, If you look close, you can see it on the topo and the satellite image, stick to right side for a tiny clear channel, you may have to get out an pull the boat through … You'll be able to reach anywhere on the lake pretty early this way. If it is breezy and you want to get to say Grass pond, there is a tiny portage ( see map) behind this "point" of about 20 feet over a road… this will help greatly. You'll miss any big waves this way.

              Lows is a great place. Most of our trips there, we have had no problem at any time of day going anywhere. There is a boy scout camp that in summer, has "ownership" of some of the islands.. so you can't camp there. These are marked on the map at sign in. But no problem, there are a lot of sites, very widely spaced on this lake. You'll feel mostly like you have it to yourself.

              On the way out, if there is a wind it will predominately be at your back, and you can sail out!

              F=Dam Carry
              D=Camping sites before lake opens along here
              B=20' Carry to duck main lake and shortcut to Grass Pond etc.

              Comment


              • #8
                For a 5-day trip, and your criteria, I'd also vote Lila - plenty of side trips as stripperguy mentioned, and fishing there tends to be pretty good. Lotsa smallmouth bass, that's one of the first places I took my son when he was younger - you don't need to be an expert to get lucky! Plastics work well (worms, grubs, twister-tails, etc.). Only issue with Lila is a bit of a carry to get down to it - trail is not wheel-friendly, but for 5 days, definitely worth a little effort!

                Comment


                • #9
                  BareFoot,
                  Did you decide yet?

                  Take a look at the following photos and see if these help...







                  I thought not...Long, Lila, Lows all have their charm. I will mention that the scout camp on Lows has electric lights, a generator and motor boats that are occasionally in use. None of the above at Lila or Long.

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                  • #10
                    Thanks for all the help, info and pictures.

                    Stripperguy, no not yet...

                    I was thinking we'd just go to Low's because I've been there before but I would like to see Lila and Little Tupper/Rock Pond... I'm really leaning towards Lila now.
                    If you get lost come straight back to camp.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Stripperguy, do you know anything about the Beaver River...any rapids to look out for? Can you paddle down to the private land?

                      Any info on the Shingle Shanty Brook?

                      Anyone know if there are any campsites on Shingle Shanty or Beaver River?
                      Looks like site 12 is down the Beaver a little...anyone know (or better yet have pictures) what that site is like?

                      Thanks
                      If you get lost come straight back to camp.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        I have only paddled the upper end of the Beaver. I know the land owners actively protect their private property. Some parts would be really bony this time of year.
                        I think I have a photo of that upper Beaver, I'll have to look, never been to that #12 campsite.
                        Shingle Shanty is very twisty and has boggy shores, not much chance for a camp site until you get pretty far upstream. I stopped for lunch at the end of the carry from Lilypad at a small clearing along the brook, but there's no designated sites there.

                        added: Beaver River near Lila

                        Last edited by stripperguy; 07-27-2015, 01:35 PM.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Looks nice, thanks Stripperguy!

                          Looks like Lila is the winner!
                          We will be arriving early on a Wednesday morning, leave our house around 3am and arrive around 9:30am if all goes as planned.

                          I read a few trip reports and googled Lake Lila and there are a few videos on youtube. I'm getting mixed info on the carry down to the water...some say it's wheelable and others say it's not wheelable. The one video shows part of the trail and it looks wheelable...can anyone confirm one way or the other?
                          I have a cart that I bought a few years ago and never used. If its wheelable I figure I might as well use them. It's not a deal breaker though.

                          Campsites, anyone know of any nice shaded site(s) with a flat spot for a tent, thunderbox, nice view of the lake with trees to string up a tarp to hang out under in case of bad weather?
                          I hear a lot of talk about the island sites.. Are they really nicer?
                          Also heard of a leanto at one (or more?) of the sites. I was never a fan of Leanto's but never seen one in the Adirondacks. The ones I know are the rodent infested ones along the Appalachian Trail..anyone know if the leanto(s) is nice?

                          PM's are fine if you would rather not broadcast a favorite site, I'll keep it to myself.

                          Thanks again for any info.
                          If you get lost come straight back to camp.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            The trail is not wheelable with a fully loaded canoe. Don't even try - start of the trail is real nice, so you will be tempted, but you will need to carry most of your gear most or all of the way. A lightly loaded canoe can be wheeled with two people - so you have one on the back end to help you lift over the many and varied root and rock obstacles. Just plan on making a few extra trips to get everything down, and you will be justly rewarded! Have a great trip - and happy anniversary!

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Trip Info/advice..

                              Island sites are fairly nice, but they get a lot of use and can be beaten down and denuded of firewood. I think all the sites have a thunder box, at least everyone I've been to and they're all pretty well shaded because they're set back into the trees a bit.

                              And I wouldn't bother using a cart. Pack lightly and carry. It's tricky trail with ruts, roots, and ups and downs enough to make a cart a pain over the short haul.


                              Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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