PADDLING THE ADIRONDACKS for folks who are new to kayaking

 


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Some more thoughts on the destinations:

Putnam Pond:  wild shorelines outside of the campground, away from traffic noise, motors allowed but seldom seen, once put up with a jetski, very quiet off-season.

Lewey Lake - close to a fairly busy road, very scenic with mountain views, can go far up the inlet Miami River if you don't mind pulling up over a few beaver dams.


Lake Durant - right along a busy road so don't expect wilderness, nice view of Blue Mtn, loons, there are a couple of other free places to launch other than the campground, you can get to Rock Pond but getting around the bridge that blocks the way is iffy.


Thirteenth Lake - scenic with shores mostly wild, some houses in view, 200' wheelable carry to the put-in, very popular, good hiking & primitive camping in the area.


Garnet Lake - easy put-in, some houses at N end but southern half is wild, good hiking nearby, nice primitive paddle-in campsites, I only ever saw 1 motorboat, jetskis not allowed in Town of Johnsburg.

Mason Lake - undeveloped, scenic but close to busy road, loons.

Schroon River - some sandy beaches just south of the lake, road noise from the Northway, very little current between the lake & the dam, some development.

The Kunjamuk - usually several beaver dams to get over so need to be able to get in & out of kayak in less than ideal conditions, very scenic, undeveloped until you get to Elm Lake.

Indian Lake - mix of wild areas & development, some road noise, scenic mountains & islands (state campground), can get rough when windy, moderate motor use in summer.

Northwest Bay Brook/Lake George - nice short paddle on brook but motor & wind issues on the lake, very scenic, some road noise, state campground on islands.  Dunham's Bay Brook would be ok for novices.

The stream to West Lake is nice but Canada Lake (fairly developed, close to road) is big enough to have wind issues & may have moderate motor use,  Best for novices to go down the outlet thru Lily Lake to Stewarts Landing.

Great Sacandaga Lake - lots of motors, road noise, very developed.

Blue Mountain Lake - gets more wind than you would think, light motorboat use, road noise, scenic tho, can combine with Eagle & Utuwana Lakes.

Raquette Lake - big lake with motors & wind, Marion River section is nice & there are some interesting inlets to explore like Browns Tract & South Inlet.

Little Tupper Lake - wind & waves, great wilderness camping the further you go, get some experience first.

Stillwater Reservoir - wind & waves, light motorboat activity, nice primitive camping, not for novices, mostly undeveloped, good access to wilderness if you don't mind 1-mile carries.

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