Northeast Wild

May 23-25, 2023 (Tue-Thu) The trip started on a high note. As we were driving in on the dirt section of Cedar River Rd we saw a moose in the road - unfortunately, it ran into the woods before I could get a pic. The plan was to car camp for 2 nights at a primitive (picnic table, fire pit, & outhouses) site near Wakely Dam & get in some paddling & possibly some hiking.                                                              Day 1 - After setting up camp, we paddled out onto the flow & headed S staying near the E shore. Passed 1 loon. Paddled up Buell Brook & turned around at a small beaver dam. Continued S - the usual grasses had not grown in yet so it was easy to locate where the river comes in. Soon came a beaver dam - there was an opening on the L but the current + a bit of a lift necessitated a short car...

Article - click here 1/28/21 - CEDAR RIVER, PASHLEY FALLS, ELM ISLAND from the end of Pelon Rd in the hamlet of Indian Lake. Blue Mountain Wild Forest. Bear L on snowmobile trail which soon turns L - we bear R on Cedar River Loop Trail following yellow xc ski markers. It does not take long to make one feel into the wilds. The Cedar is fairly flat here & was iced over. Reach scenic Pashley Falls at 1.4 miles which is more rapids than falls. The trail then heads SE thru balsam firs & drops to a 4-way junction at the 1.9-mile mark where we took a L on the Elm Island Trail, marked with blue xc ski markers. Uphill for a while then rolling, balsams transition to hardwoods. Sharp drop & an unofficial Elm Island sign is seen on the L - EI is actually a mile further at the end of the trail. Up over the shoulder of McGinn Mtn & a few sharp drops (the last was brushy) to where the Cedar makes a 90-degree turn to the W, at 4.5 miles. A small gorge is seen upstream, do...