NDR- Looking for aplace to do a multi day canoe or kayak trip in upstate NY or Pa

John L

John L

Well-known member
I'm looking to do a multi-day canoe / kayak camping trip thats off the beaten path.
I prefer some place that has some water flow to cut down on the need to paddle all day but don't mind having to paddle portions. I would also like to be able to set up camp where ever we choose and not have to hit camp grounds and of course do some target shooting along the way with the kids.
I'm trying to keep the drive under 4 or 5 hours from Long Island.
 
John: It would require some portages or shuttles around a few dams, but I think you could put together a multi-day trip on the Housatonic in MA/CT. I have stayed at a campground at Housatonic Meadows State Park in the CT section, and I bet you could find other places to stay. Expect a crowd on summer weekends.

Another area with lots of potential is the Delaware in NJ/PA/NY. It's totally undammed below the headwater reservoirs that feed New York. Multiple trips possible on the East and West Branches, the mainstem through the Delaware Water Gap, and tribs like the Beaverkill. Camping on the river may be difficult to find. I used to use these guys for shuttles and canoe rentals when I was exiled to Jersey: http://www.kittatinny.com/river/canoeing
Lots of information there on various trips, including some overnights.

If it were me doing either of those trips, I'd bring a fly rod. The Housy and the Delaware from the forks up (and a bit below, too) have great trout fishing, especially early in spring and early summer. Later in the summer or lower on the Delaware fishing will still be good, but smallies will outnumber trout.

Both rivers have some sections with rapids.
 
Here's more information from the National Park Service on canoe campsites within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

Looks like lots of opportunity, no reservations, and free!

http://www.nps.gov/dewa/planyourvisit/upload/River2012COLOR.pdf
 
We have been all over the Delaware and East and West Branches. I'm looking for something a bit more off the beaten path.
Fishing rods are SOP.
I may poke around the Oswego area when I go visit my daughter at SUNY Oswego. I make it a point to do a little hiking when ever I go up there and have found some nice places.
 
John... I have a friend who did a trip exactly like that this past summer. I will get in touch with details, then get back to you.
 
A friend suggests St. Regis canoe area in the Adirondacks.
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Tod suggested the same area. I have been checking it out on line and it looks very interesting. It's a bit farther than I wanted to go but it sounds like it is just what I'm looking for.
 
Unfortunately, I don't really have any recomendations for you John.

I will say, however, those kind of trips are PRICELESS! I grew up in NE Ohio and almost literally grew up taking trips like that all summer long. We used to go for several days. Packed our 17 foot Grumman canoe with camping gear, spare clothes, cooking utensils, fishing gear and a pair of lever action 22's. In the summer, we ate a lot of fresh-caught fish. In the fall, it would be fish and a few Bushytales that we would plink from the trees. Sometimes, if the weather would hold, we would even pack a scattergun and knock of a feww Woodies along the way. We knew where we could always find wild Blackberries and Raspberries in the summer, pears and apples in the fall. We even knew where there was a batch of wild leaks. All the above were tasty additions to any shore lunch.

I hope I didn't hijack your thread, I am a little envious of your plans. My Son is grown and moved away now. While we have taken quite a few fantastic and wonderful trips together, I recently realized that he and I never made such a trip.

Good luck and make sure to post LOTS of pictures!

Jon
 
Jon,

Those are the trips memories are made of. It sounds like you had a lot of fun.
I am planning this trip mainly for my youngest daughter. We have been talking about doing a trip like this. Right now it is in the planning stages.

She has grown up on the water and loves to camp, swim, dive and do anything on or in the water. About 4 years ago she developed epilepsy and has not been able to participate in a lot of our water activities due to her seizures. She has undergone two cranotomies last month and is scheduled to have another next week to have her right temporal lobe removed. We have been told that she will never be seizure free but this procedure should stop or reduce the worst of them so she can move on with her life.

I really can't wait to take this trip and enjoy some time together doing what we both love to do. It is giving us both something to look forward to and spending time together outside of the hospitals.

Thanks for everyones input.
 
St. Regis Canoe area is great, no flow though. Also check out the Northern Forest Canoe Trail. 740 miles from the ADK's to N. Maine! The beginning of it up here in the ADK's on the Raquette R. is real nice. You can actually get to the St. Regis Canoe area from it with a carry or two.
ADK Lakes and Trials Outfitter, in Saranac Lake, can help with shuttles and rentals and routes. PM me if you have any questions, I live in my canoe after ice-out for a month or so.
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Thanks Bill
My brother wants to come along with one of his kids so we will have two trucks. One to get us to our launch site to other we will leave at our final destination. Although I would like some moving water the St REgis area is sounding real nice.
 
John,

Sorry to hear about the trials with your daughters health. I went through that with my son about 15 years ago and thankfully things are much better now. Those four years were tough on everyone. I wish everyone well with the upcoming surgery.

I love to hear about trips like you are planning. I did many of them over the years, rarely missing a year. Unfortunately I can't help with suggestions as all my trips were in Northern Ontario.

Paul
 
Big Pine Creek from Galeton PA, down thru the Grand Canyon Of Pa, down to Waterville. Has designated places to camp, also good outfitters to rent all gear, plus drop off and pickup.
Pretty good trout, and SM Bass fishing. Good scenery, and plenty of wildlife. 40-50 miles of crushed stone bike path also. Many good trout streams, and some fly shops nearby.
Route 6 is named one of the most scenic drives in the USA........... If you do the trip in May, Spring turkey hunting, on the thousands of acres of Game Lands & State Forest will keep you busy!
 
There are lots of places up in the Adirondacks to choose from - St. Regis, 5 Ponds Wilderness area, Oswegatchie River, Upper reaches of the Hudson River, Lake Placid (and climb up the slide of Whiteface Mountain). I'd like to drag the kayaks or canoe up there this summer at some point too. Shoot me over a PM if you need some company...
 
Thanks Bill
My brother wants to come along with one of his kids so we will have two trucks. One to get us to our launch site to other we will leave at our final destination. Although I would like some moving water the St REgis area is sounding real nice.
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Hey John, The canoe area is literally in my front yard. If you do choose the northern lakes send me pm and i can help you out. Great choice depending on the time of year.
 
Thanks Bill
My brother wants to come along with one of his kids so we will have two trucks. One to get us to our launch site to other we will leave at our final destination. Although I would like some moving water the St REgis area is sounding real nice.
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I hear banjos!

Really though that sounds like a neat trip! Hope you and your family have a great time. We as a family did trips like that when we lived in Arkansas. We did strecthes of the Buffulo, Mulberry and White rivers.

I've heard Upper New york is Beautiful country. Hope to see some pictures.
 
Northern Forest Canoe Trail Trip Planner Map

John A friend dropped off a whole bunch of Canoe & Kayak magazines because they had references to sails on canoes which I was interested in. I ended up reading them. It has been a long time since I have taken a canoe trip but they were pleasant memories. The Northern Forest Canoe trail was mentioned and seems what you were looking for. Hey you could do the whole thing it would only take about 55 days or do it in shorter parts.
 
Thanks for all the replies. I have been putting all this information together so my daughetr and I can look at it together while she is in recovery. I'm not sure how long she will be in the hospital but it will be a nice way to pass some time while sitting there.
Thanks again and keep the info coming.
 
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