SOUTH BAY LAKE CHAMPLAIN & POULTNEY RIVER paddling, hiking

June 22, 2022 - Put in from the state boat launch & headed S into SOUTH B AY staying close to the NW shore which has light development, incl. some rundown buildings & a farm, for a couple of miles - the view S is quite nice with The Saddles (within The Saddles State Forest) & The Diameter (I love that name) bordering the lake.  The Adirondack Blue Line runs down the center of the bay.  The water was a murky pale green, possibly due to the clay soil underneath.  Below The Diameter, talus reached down to the water, so we crossed to the opposite shore to stop for lunch - the shoreline consisted of boot-sucking mud thanks to the clay content but we were able to successfully exit the kayaks with some moderate stress.  There was a variety of lovely flowers on shore.  After lunch, we headed further SW into South Bay Creek which winds gently below rocky cliffs with silver maples lining the varied shores & bullhead lilies in the water - this is the best part of the trip.  Headed back along the SE shore past state forest then light development.  Osprey, gb herons, swallows, r-w blackbirds, Caspian? tern, gulls, turkey vultures.  Temp in the upper 60s, cloudy but no rain, calm at first, light S wind in the pm.  ~9 miles, 4.5 hours.

        

June 8, 2014 - I had Sunday and Monday off from work, it was early June and the forecast was for summery weather. It had been a while since I had last paddled the South Bay of Lake Champlain and I was looking forward to again admiring the cliffs at its southwest end as well as further exploring the inlet stream at that end. I had nothing specific planned for Monday and would let serendipity rule.
SOUTH BAY OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN - NY 22 crosses South Bay just outside of Whitehall and there is a NYSDEC boat launch and fishing pier just past the bridge. There were quite a few boat trailers already parked there and fishermen were launching their motorboats as I arrived. Most ended up heading north toward the main part of the lake. As I was getting ready I heard a familiar sound and I turned to see an osprey fly off its nest located on top of a nearby power line tower.
I paddled out onto the murky khaki-colored water, its surface sprinkled with yellowish tree pollen. Giving the fishermen on the pier a wide berth I passed under the NY 22 bridge and angled for the southeast shore. For about a mile there were some houses along the shore, then some state land with a designated campsite, a poor landing perhaps being the reason it looked like it wasn't used very much. Further along I noticed some signs marking land owned by The Nature Conservancy.
As I approached a small cliff an immature bald eagle vacated its rocky perch and flew off to a nearby white pine then took off over my head. Great blue herons and kingfishers were often seen and sometimes heard. Occasionally I saw yellow flag (iris) along the shoreline and while exploring some shallow coves I discovered some yellow water-buttercups and bullhead-lilies. Exiting a cove, a mature bald eagle passed overhead while to the west tall steep cliffs peered over the water, first Little Diameter and then The Diameter rose hundreds of feet skyward.

After having paddled close to five miles the shores closed in as I entered South Bay Creek and the water was amazingly clearer. I felt I was now in a wilder place. Both shores here are technically within the boundaries of the Adirondack Park.
Paddling upstream against a very gentle current I passed through a swampy area and had some difficulty locating the main channel. I had to lift over a small beaver dam then squeeze past a downed tree. The creek meandered as many Adirondack streams do and I soon reached another beaver dam, this one much bigger than the previous one. After lifting over the dam I was able to go only a little further before seeing two more dams ahead. Hearing a car go by up ahead I figured I was close to civilization again and it was time to turn around.
The Diameter was impressive as I paddled back past its lower talus-filled slope. To the east the two rocky nubbles of The Saddles on West Mountain stood out. Houses and farms appeared after Little Diameter and I still had an hour of paddling to go before reaching the boat launch culminating my almost six-hour-long trip. Observing the cliffs of The Nature Conservancy's Helen W Buckner Memorial Preserve at Bald Mountain to the north reminded me of the time I had hiked there and what wonderful views of the South Bay were had.
Paddling upstream on the Poultney River is also very interesting - Vermont will be to your west and NY State to the East!

Lake Champlain is narrow and very scenic N of the Poultney River but sees a bit more motorboat activity than I would like.

The drive north on NY 22 is quite scenic and there are glimpses of Lake Champlain en route. I was considering camping out at the state campground in Crown Point since I had never been there before but as I approached Ticonderoga I decided to head to nearby Rogers Rock State Campground on the northern part of Lake George. There were very few campers staying there on a Sunday night and I was able to secure a choice campsite next to the swimming beach. The evening's entertainment included enjoying the lake view, watching a loon and photographing a five-foot-long rat snake slither its way along the back edge of the beach.

Oct 21, 2002 - Poultney River kayaking from South Bay of Lake Champlain. Vermont is to the W & NY is to the E - how can that be? State boat launch is to the NW of Rt.22 bridge over South Bay of Lake Champlain just outside of Whitehall. Launching into South Bay we paddle N & under a railroad bridge then R. Nature Conservancy owns most of the shorelines & little development is seen throughout the trip. Hills to the N have interesting cliffs. After about 2 miles we bear left into the Poultney River (maps may show it as East Bay). Here the river is about 100' wide but slowly narrows as we work our way upstream (no current noticed early on). Shores are lined with yellow-leaved silver maples; good fall colors on the hills. White cliffs on Warner Hill to the E contrast nicely. As we paddle N, the W shore is in VT & the E shore in NY. A dirt road follows the river on the VT side most of the way. More cliffs to the W on Bald Mtn. Turn around as river gets shallower & a good current is felt just short of Coggman Pond. Very peaceful day. A one way trip in spring would take advantage of higher water levels & the current. Map. 14 miles, 6 hrs. Impex Irie , a 13'6" fiberglass light touring kayak - I like the butt-shaped seat & ratchet backband, roomy cockpit area, the double hard-chined hull offers very good primary stability yet still allows for responsiveness when edged, tracks well (rudder stayed up) & turns easily - sweet boat for this kind of trip.

July 30. 2000 - South Bay, Lake Champlain. Put-in is off Rt.22 from NYS boat launch a little north of Whitehall. While it rained most of the day in Albany, the eastern Adks. were being spared. Had some parental duties to take care of so did not get on the water til after 4:30pm. Start of trip was not too promising: water was murky pale olive color, smell from nearby cow farm wafting in my direction. Headed down west shore with some farm & camps for 3 miles poking into an inlet for variety; nice views of small mtns. & cliffs to south (great names like Little Diameter & The Diameter to the west & West Mtn. to the east?!). Spotted a bald eagle. At southern end, picked out a channel thru the grasses & entered South Bay Creek & the enjoyment increased immensely. Shores lined with grasses & silver maples with cliffs rising hundreds of feet above on The Diameter; water now much clearer. Didn't want to leave too soon but knew darkness would come. Returned on the east shore; less development & a little more interesting; lots of great blue herons. Saw about 100 gulls congregating in middle of bay; fish were jumping all around. Next time would give myself at least 6 hours to fully explore south end. Total trip 8 to 10 mi. Headwind on way out; calm on way back (tailwinds tend to avoid me). Did not notice any potential campsites; more unposted land on east shore. Paddled the Dagger Cypress, longer (13') more efficient rec. kayak (touring kayak wannabe) suitable for trips up to 15 miles & the occasional overnight with minimal gear; find it easy to cartop & simple to use; one hatch for storage. Regularly use Werner Camano lightweight paddle.

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