MOOSE RIVER PLAINS paddling, hiking & camping
July 28/29, 2001 - Moose River Plains - Squaw Lake, Indian River, South Branch Moose River. Entered Moose River Recreation Area at Wakely Dam on the Cedar River Flow (SW of Indian Lake Village.) Sign at the gate said Warning: Road Washed Out but most 2WD vehicles will make it ok (I left the Ferrari back home.) 13 mi. of dirt road to the "T" then dirt road goes south another 9 mi. to "the middle of nowhere". Stayed at a campsite near the trailhead for Squaw Lake. Well over 100 drive-in campsites w/outhouses scattered over 30 mi. of dirt road, free too! 7:30am, carry the Merrimack Baboosic (40lb. 14' solo canoe, Kevlar w/cherry ribs) 0.45 mi. down to Squaw Lake over rough trail. Nice campsite to right. Spent 80 min. exploring the shoreline & islands of this less than 1 mi. long lake - real pretty, tho! 4 loons, 1 beaver - no people. Carried back up & drove to southern end of road. Walked short 0.1 mi. path to shore of Indian Lake (not to be confused with the big Indian Lake to the east) - had camped here few years ago, saw loons but lake may be dead due to acid rain - most of this area is over 2,000' elevation & the higher elevation lakes are most stressed. From the gate at end of road, walked into the West Canada Wilderness on an old, unmarked but easy to follow logging road. 2.2 mi. to the Indian River, relaxed on a rowboat someone had left next to river. Water level very low so no hopes of paddling. Continued on past a lightly used campsite & away from the river, thru a clearing & a marsh & eventually turned back. Scouted out potential carry to a stillwater upstream but things are growing in too much - did spot moose tracks in mud, tho. (~3.5hrs.) Drove to campsite #80, 0.7 mi. S of the "T" on W side of road. There is a small "Canoe Carry" sign at roadside but grasses may obscure it. Carried past outhouse 0.4 mi. along very grown in trail to shore of the S. Br. of the Moose River. First section very shallow but river soon deepens. Paddled downstream ~2 mi. to spot where old bridge/beaverdam across river & rapids beyond (doable at higher water levels - class 2.) Nice views of cliffs on Mitchell Ponds Mtn. from this very scenic river which averages 100' in width. On way back, poke into a couple of large sloughs (dead-end side channels) & then into Sumner Brook a ways but shallow water makes this a bit of work & I am running out of time. Future trip could entail putting in on Sumner near Lost Ponds & paddling downstream to the Moose. Stop at Cedar River Flow for a swim & dinner. Moderate bug activity, seemed like a deerfly or 2 buzzing the head most of the time on the trail (I wrap a bandana around the head), also some skeeters & blackflies. Breezy spots always best to avoid bugs. Baboosic handled everything well - do wish it had "shouldered tumblehome" like the Bell canoes which makes for a narrower paddling station.
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