HUDSON RIVER SPIER FALLS section paddling Moreau NY

 

Nov. 4, 2001 - Hudson River kayaking, between Corinth & Glens Falls. Weather forecast called for cloudy; radar showed no rain; satellite showed possibility of break in the clouds. 1st put-in at boat launch a little over 1 mile W of Spier Falls Dam on Spier Falls Rd. Paddle NW upstream, river about 100 yds. wide. S shore has mostly evergreens, N shore mostly deciduous (oaks & beech). Go about 3 miles along S shore with no development then see smokestack & International Paper mill. Water a bit squirrelly here paddling against noticeable current. Palmer Dam around the corner, turn around. Watch out for shallow rocks in the turbulence. Follow N shore back & stop for lunch, lots of signs scream no swimming, no camping, no fires! See fish jump right out of water. 2 whitetail deer come to drink. Starting to see more & more blue sky. Ridge of Palmertown Range dominates to the SE rising over 700' above the river. Saw 2 small motorboats. 8 mi. 2.5 hrs.

2nd put-in at Sherman Island Boat Launch a little over 1 mile downstream from Spier Falls Dam. This is a new section of Moreau Lake State Park. Paddle NE downstream with hills rising steeply on both sides - 800' to the R, 1,000' to the L (Luzerne Mtns. incl. West Mt.). Bright yellow aspen leaves dot the hillsides. 4 ATVs momentarily shatter the mood but are soon gone. River comes near to a road before reaching Sherman Island Dam. Surprised to see that very little warning (buoys, markers) before closing in on the spillway. S shore has some small bays between rocky points & an island (Sherman?) Paddle back with a smile on my face. Paddling up to Spier Falls Dam can give you a little more exercise. Nice stretch of river! 4.5 mi. in 1.5 hrs. 

Oct 19,2009 - MOREAU LAKE STATE PARK paddle & hike.  Paddled Moreau Lake's clear green water - could see fish swimming; liftover under the footbridge to get to N lobe where I saw a small turtle swimming.  Hiked light blue trail <1 mile to the lookout - steep, fair view SE.  Good fall colors.  Bell Merlin II, a 15' solo canoe. 

Paddling: The Quieter and Wilder Side of Saratoga County

While I can think of many paddling destinations in Saratoga County, most are dominated by motorboats, have development along shorelines, and/or have busy roads nearby. So where can one go to find quieter and wilder waters in the Saratoga/Glens Falls region where you can get in a few miles of paddling? Two spots come to mind: the Hudson River on either side of the Spier Falls Dam, and the Kayaderosseras Creek along with Lake Lonely Outlet.  

Hudson River from Sherman Island Boat Launch. From NY Route 9 in South Glens Falls, drive west on Spier Falls Road (CR 24) for 3.4 miles and take a right into the gravel boat launch which is a part of Moreau Lake State Park. While motorboats are allowed on this section of the river, they are seldom seen, most likely because there are only 3.5 miles of river between dams.

Paddling downstream, to the right from the boat launch, one immediately notices how the river cuts through steep forested hills on both sides - the Palmertown Range rises on the right, and the Luzerne Mountains (including the West Mountain ski area) to the left. 

After paddling about 1.5 miles, the river bends to the right and passes by some rocky promontories, a rocky island, and hidden coves on the south shore – spend some time exploring this fascinating area. If it has been windy on the main river, you will have protection in the coves. The Sherman Island Dam is a short distance downstream, so turn around well short of it and head back – the current is usually mild. And, hopefully, you don't have a strong headwind coming from the southwest.

After passing by the boat launch, one can then paddle past islands for a little over a mile to the Spier Falls Dam – there will be some road noise from vehicles passing by on Spier Falls Road, but the dam is interesting in that at the time it was built in 1903 it was the fourth largest dam in the world. Head back to the boat launch for a round-trip of 6 to 7 miles.

For those who would like to combine a paddle with a hike, it is possible to walk across the road and hike up to the Western Ridge Trail via the Cottage Park Trail – there are several lookouts along the ridge where you can view the river below as well as gaze into the southern Adirondacks.

For those desiring more paddling, drive 2.7 miles further west on Spier Falls Road to the Spier Falls Boat Launch. The Moreau Lake State Park trail map MoreauLakeTrailMap.pdf (ny.gov) shows the river, boat launches, and hiking trails. 

Moreau Lake, in the main section of the state park, can be a pleasant non-motorized spot to paddle, especially if you would like to do some fishing, picnicking, or combine it with a swim at the beach. The pond is fairly small so you are not going to do any kind of mileage on it, and the beach will be crowded on most sunny summer days. However, the water is very clear and the pond can be attractive for a short rainy-day paddle.  

Hudson River from Spier Falls Boat Launch. Again, motorboats are allowed on this 5-mile section of the river, however, there is only room to park 5 or 6 vehicles with trailers so the river won't be overrun with motors.

Paddling downstream, soon passing an area of bedrock that seems to jut out into the river from the south shore, it is about a mile to the top of Spier Falls Dam.

Paddling upstream from the boat launch, one pulls away from civilization. The north shore is still part of the state park for a couple of miles and the forest consists mainly of deciduous trees, while the south shore is comprised of conifers.

After going about 3 miles, a smokestack and paper mill are seen on the south shore. You may then notice an increase in the current and that the water becomes somewhat squirrely as you approach the Palmer Falls Dam in Corinth – it is best to turn back here, if not sooner. On the return, the Palmertown Range dominates the scenery to the southeast, rising 700 feet above the river. 

In summer, many wildflowers can be seen dotting the shores and shallows of the river; look for cardinal flower (red), buttonbush (white), pickerelweed (purple), blue flag iris, closed gentian (blue), and more. If you are lucky, you may find some blueberries and huckleberries too. Watchable wildlife can include anything from dragonflies to whitetail deer to families of common mergansers.

Kayaderosseras Creek and Lake Lonely Outlet. The Kayaderosseras is a lovely meandering lowland stream. The 3-mile stretch between the Northway (I-87) and Saratoga Lake is often paddled, and a side trip up and down Lake Lonely Outlet can add another couple of miles.

A good access point is a small beach at Waterfront Park on Crescent Ave. This does require paddling along the north side of Saratoga Lake for a half mile to reach the mouth of the “K” - this may be undesirable on a windy day or during the height of the motorboating season. 

An alternate put-in, just upstream from the mouth of the creek, can be found at the Arrowhead Casino Archaeological Preserve at the end of Arrowhead Road, 0.7 miles from Crescent Ave. You will have to carry your boat along a trail for up to 200 yards and it is likely to be muddy, although possibly less so slightly downstream to the left.

For a fee, one can launch at the boat shop on Crescent Avenue where the road crosses over Lake Lonely Outlet. One can then paddle 0.9 miles downstream to meet with the Kayaderosseras at a point 1 mile from Saratoga Lake.

The above wilder and quieter paddles are all a short drive from the Capital District as well as the Saratoga/Glens Falls area. A good guidebook that covers Saratoga County and areas to the west, north, and east is Russell Dunn's A Kayaker's Guide to Lake George The Saratoga Region & Great Sacandaga Lake.

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