Canoe trip Route for a Newbie

[sam_fink]

Hi there,

There are 2 of us from Canada planning on doing a 2.5 day, 2 night canoe trip in the Saranac lake/Lake placid area in early June.

I am looking at maps and suggested routes and having some trouble figuring out a route that would make sense - from the suggested routes, some are too short (1 day) and some are too long.

We plan on parking a car at one of the rental locations - we will be renting canoes/gear and will need to plan for a pickup at the end of the trip back to the car.

Looking to you folks with Adirondack experience - all I'm familiar with is some Algonquin canoe trips back when I was a teen.

Thanks!

[yellowcanoe]

Here are some suggestions..
http://www.canoeoutfitters.com/trip-planning/routes

What outfitter are you using? They usually have some other ideas.

[JimVroman]

Long lake to Axton Landing is a nice two day trip with only one carry around Raquette Rapids.
There are camping spots just below the the end of the carry around the rapids.
Not too long, a nice trip.
You may want to take a slight detour up the Cold River at the end of Long Lake to a lean to there. Nice spot.
The carry around the rapids is not difficult.
It's an easy paddle, downstream to Axton.
Jim

[sam_fink]

Thanks guys.

Looking for something leisurely and to stay on the rivers - not looking to portage if we don't have to.

What about the lower-middle-upper saranac lake? Is there a route?

[Wldrns]

Originally Posted by sam_fink

Thanks guys.

Looking for something leisurely and to stay on the rivers - not looking to portage if we don't have to.

What about the lower-middle-upper saranac lake? Is there a route?

There is a short half mile carry, mostly on a dirt road at Bartletts Carry between Upper and Middle Saranac Lake. After Middle, you can either take the self-operated lock, or carry about 40 feet around it to get to Lower Saranac Lake. From there you can either take out at Ampersand Bay, or at a boat launch at the Rte 3 bridge, or continue further down on the Saranac River to take another lock (or carry 75 yards around it) to paddle directly to Saranac Lake village.

One thing to consider when planning to be on the larger lakes... you are more likely to have to deal with wind and big waves, and on nice summer afternoons there will be motorboat traffic, sometimes many of them generating annoying wakes and noise. The Saranacs (Upper/Middle/Lower) are very popular with large fast motorboats as well as paddlers, and that's not a good mix. If you go on Long Lake, such motorboat traffic tends to drop off when you get about half way down the lake, and disappears once you get into the river.

[Buckladd]

So many choices! Lake Lila to Lows/Bog River; St. Regis Canoe Area, Oswegatchie???/

The Paddlers Guide and Paddlers Map North will help you decide:
http://www.canoeoutfitters.com/store/maps-guidebooks

[mgc]

Originally Posted by sam_fink

Thanks guys.

Looking for something leisurely and to stay on the rivers - not looking to portage if we don't have to.

What about the lower-middle-upper saranac lake? Is there a route?

If you opt for Middle-Lower you need to take into account that campsites require registration. If you fail to do this in advance and if there are open sites you would need to let the Ranger at the Locks know you need one (presuming you are coming from Bartlett Carry) and then paddle to the registration desk at the launch and then to your site.
If you want make things easy on yourself try to travel West to East....that normally puts prevailing wind behind you. Some of these lakes can kick up some healthy squalls.

For a quick trip with a short carry I always suggest Blue Mountain Lake to Racquette. There are lot's of very nice sites on Racquette.

[Buckladd]

Originally Posted by sam_fink

Thanks guys.

Looking for something leisurely and to stay on the rivers - not looking to portage if we don't have to.

What about the lower-middle-upper saranac lake? Is there a route?

Fish Creek Ponds loop. Start at Rollins Pond and leave a vehicle there and leave another at Fish Creek Campground. You'll have to register but there will be no carries, other than if it's shallow in a short stretch between Rollins and Floodwood.

[rickhart]

Lots of good ideas. Another place you could do a nice 2 or 3 day trip with minimal carry is Little Tupper Lake/Round Lake/Rock Pond. No carry at all between LTL & Round; a very short, flat carry along the outlet stream leading to Rock Pond, but it's a great place. Little Tupper can be a bit rough in windy conditions.