Northeast Wild

  Paddling: Saratoga County Flatwater by Rich Macha Kayakers, canoeists, and paddleboarders can find quite a variety of waterbodies on which to paddle in Saratoga County. An overview of the county's streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes follows with, hopefully, just enough information for you to get out and explore and/or seek out more details on each of the bodies of water mentioned. Starting from the less-populated northwest corner of the county in the Adirondack Park, we will work our way east and south across the county, ending at the Hudson and Mohawk rivers which form the eastern and southern borders of the county.  The Great Sacandaga Lake is a large impoundment on the Sacandaga River. Its size and its many boat launches result in a very popular waterbody for motorboaters. Only the northeast arm of Great Sacandaga Lake is within Saratoga County. The 13-mile stretch between the Batchellerville Bridge and the Conklingville Dam can be accessed from a DEC boat launch on North S...

  In most years, you can find peak fall foliage in the higher elevations of the Adirondack Park around the end of September and in early October.  By Indigenous Peoples'/Columbus Day weekend, the bright red and orange leaves of the red and sugar maple trees will likely have dropped to the ground, but the yellows of the birches and the golds of the beeches may still be evident. Thanks to climate change, in recent years the best colors have been persisting through to the holiday which falls on October 14 this year - perhaps a little bit late for peak in higher elevations in the Adirondacks? After that date, the colors should pop in the lowlands and the Hudson River Valley. Although there are a multitude of great paddling spots in the northern and western parts of the Adirondacks, for this article I will limit the choices to the areas south and east of Indian Lake, and add some choices outside the Adirondack Park that are easily accessible from the greater Capital District. 14-mi...

  August 8, 2024 - NORTH BRANCH MOOSE RIVER paddling, from Carter Rd downstream to Green Bridge Rd in Old Forge. Set up a shuttle - a 9.5-mile drive between start & finish. Carter Rd put-in is on river R upstream of the bridge. Meandering stream with wild shores for ~10 miles. Sometimes steeper wooded shores (black spruce), sometimes shrubby (alders), sometimes grassy with Joe Pye Weed flowering. White meadowsweet was also flowering. Lots of sandy banks for breaks along the way. Went under the North St bridge at 5.7 miles (the trip could be shortened by taking out or putting in here but you would be missing some of the best parts). We took one shortcut. To me, the river looked like a cross between the Cedar River above the CRFlow & the rivers of the NJ Pine Barrens. Note that shores are private land - state land (Fulton Chain Wild Forest) is on river L further downstream. Signs warn of the upcoming carry around rapids. The 0.2-mile carry is on the L - barely wheelable, so i...

  August 4, 2024 - LAKE ABANAKEE paddling.  Put in at the E end of the causeway on Big Brook Rd. Headed under the Jerry Savarie Rd bridge & into the S lobe - saw 4 loons (2 growing chicks). Blowdown blocked the way to Round Pond Brook. Got up Big Brook a fair distance, up to a fork & 2 bridges. More loons N of the causeway. Ospreys (1 on nest). Joe Pye weed, cardinal flowers, goldenrod, lily pads. Mostly evergreen shores. Quite a few houses/camps. Motors allowed but mostly quiet. 4 miles, 2.1 hours. May 12, 2009 - LAKE ABANAKEE & ROUND POND BROOK.  Put-in E of causeway on Big Brook Rd.  Headed SW past camps & private shores & 2 loons to where Indian River rapids enter; took a short walk upstream to a pool.  Back on Abanakee & under Jerry Savarie Rd bridge into SE lobe.  Up Round Pond Brook, undeveloped & very nice, best part of this trip.  Portaged around a log jam (went over it on way back) & stopped at a small rapid wi...

  July 26, 2024 - MINERVA STREAM paddle, from the gazebo on CR 30 in Olmstedville. Elevation 1140'. Good water level. Mostly wild shores but hints of civilization here and there - mostly quiet & peaceful, pretty. Beaver dams about every half mile - had to get out & pull over for most going upstream but able to run or scooch over all but the one biggest on the way back downstream. Tempting backwaters along the way. Flowering: Joe Pye weed, cardinal flower, steeplebush, buttonbush, goldenrod, yellow pond lily, fragrant white lily, smartweed, purple loosestrife. Mostly grassy shores, when trees came close they were often cedars & white pines. Peaks in view: Moxham, Gore, Green, Snyder, Oliver, Hayes. Paddled under 2 road bridges: CR 30 (you can launch there too) & O'Neill Rd (you can put in at the transfer station). Saw 2 solo paddlers. No bad bugs. Temp rising thru the 70s, mostly sunny, breezy. 9.4 miles, 5.3 hours.     Moxham Point & Gore Mtn in t...