Northeast Wild

  July 1, 2022 - At the western edge of the High Peaks Wilderness Area, Stony Creek is not much over 1.5 miles long but one's trip can easily be extended by paddling Stony Creek Ponds to the north, Ampersand Brook to the east, and/or the Raquette River to the south. One can find a good access by the Coreys Road bridge that crosses over the creek – from NY 3 (halfway between Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake), drive south on Coreys Road for 2.5 miles (the last mile on dirt) to the bridge. You can also start your paddle on the northwestern lobe of the ponds or at Axton Landing on the Raquette River. From the bridge, we paddled upstream. It comes as no surprise that this stream meanders about, but, unlike the East Branch, this time silver maples rise up from grassy shores and the Joe Pye weed was slightly more advanced in its flowering display here. Once again, damselflies were also seen in abundance. Grasses and other underwater vegetation bent downstream in the light current. A straight...

June 30, 2022 - The 22-mile-long East Branch flows out of Meacham Lake, travels northwest, drops 20 feet at Everton Falls before turning south, and soon joins the main branch of the St. Regis River near Santa Clara. To get to the put-in from NY 30, drive west on Red Tavern Road (CR 14) for 8 miles and look on the right for a parking area at The Nature Conservancy's (TNC) Everton Falls Preserve. You may want to take a short walk further along the road to get a look at the falls before carrying your canoe or kayak across the road and down a 125-foot trail to the river above the falls. Upstream, you will find over 9 miles of flatwater – you will be going against the current but you can turn around whenever you desire and return with the flow. Three days before our trip, it had rained well over an inch and the current was still very noticeable – we paddled upstream for 2.5 hours, and returned in 1.5 hours! The first mile or so passes through lands owned by TNC, after that you are on ...