Take to the water as summer ends and fall soon begins. Paddling in quiet water is an excellent way to enjoy the next several weeks, as the world turns another shade of brilliance and winged ones take off for their cold weather homes.
Northern New Hampshire’s Umbagog Lake is a go-to spot.
“Lake Umbagog (is a) great place to kayak as it is in within the Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge,” New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism communications manager Kris Neilsen said in an email. “You could very well get an up close personal view of some pretty cool wildlife.”
Bald eagles, osprey, moose and more may be observed while floating on the 7,000-acre lake with its remote camp sites. A public boat launch on Route 26 in Cambridge is the Sargent Cove gateway into the large watery’s southern region. Following the southwest shore leads to Big Island and Thurston Cove with its cabins.
The 740-mile long Northern Forest Canoe Trail serves up fine spots in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. One of my favorite stretches is to paddle some 8-10 miles on the Magalloway River, onto Umbagog and to the Androscoggin River. I put in at the Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters on N.H. Route 16 North in Wentworth’s Location and taking out at Steamer Diamond Boat Launch in Errol or the Androscoggin River Boat Access above Errol Dam.
NFCT communications manager Sandy Tarburton suggests a meander on the Magalloway River through the heart of the Umbagog refuge, which is a known habitat for eagles, osprey and migrating geese. Pass by Floating Islands, a 750-acre floating heath bog that is a designated Natural National Landmark. Explore the labyrinth of wetlands and enter the 12-mile long Umbagog Lake. Stop at Molls Rock, named after Molly Molasses, who used the site in the late 1700s and early 1800s with her husband, Chief Metallak.
Another pleasant autumn paddle is a roughly 11-mile stretch of the Connecticut River between DeBainville Landing in Bloomfield, Vt., and Stratford-Maidstone Bridge in Stratford, N.H. Much of this section prohibits motorized crafts as vibrant maples and beech highlight the pastoral settings. A little more than a mile from DeBainville Landing, a sulfurous odor marks the overflow from nearby Brunswick (Vt.) Springs, which is sacred to the Abenaki Native American tribe for its healing properties. A good spot for lunch is at the Maine Central Railroad Trestle campsite before continuing south through the Fort Hill Wildlife Management Area.
In central New Hampshire, floating along the Contoocook River allows splendid views of both farm and forest. The Took is a north-flowing river, stretching some 70 miles between Jaffrey and Concord. Thought it does have its rapids, there’s flatwater too, especially when the water’s not too high.
From the Contoocook Village put-in in Hopkinton by the wooden covered railroad bridge, it’s a leisurely nine-mile paddle to the Contoocook River Canoe Company on Horse Hill Road in Concord (weekend shuttles are available through Sept. 25).
The river snakes through Mast Yard State Forest — where trees were floated down the Took to the Merrimack River for “His Majesty’s Royal Ships” in the early 1800s — as well as Concord’s Daisy Beach in Lehtinen Park.
Vermont’s State Parks also have some nice options. State Parks communications assistant Lucy Dartt recommends Green River Reservoir in Hyde Park, Southern Vermont’s Lowell Lake State Park, and Wilgus State Park on the Connecticut River in Weathersfield.
“Green River is quiet and very remote, Lowell Lake is small and rustic and free — no day use fees,” she emailed. “Wilgus is popular with boaters going down the Connecticut River, multi-day trips or just for the day.”
Green River is big, too, with nearly 20 miles of shoreline and myriad coves to explore. The northern arm of the reservoir has some nice paddling with a wild feeling that is found throughout the waterway’s hundreds of acres. The reservoir is also a fine jumping off place for canoe and kayaking camping. There are almost 30 remote campsites around the waterway accessed from Green River Dam Road off Vermont Route 15.
Londonderry’s Lowell Lake is a tiny treasure chest with rippling hills on the horizon and a couple of islands making it appear bigger than its 100 acres. The north side has some marshy acreage to explore. Get there from Lowell Lake Road off Route 11.
Wilgus State Park in Weathersfield offers lean-to camping and is launching pad for a nice and deep stretch of the Connecticut River that includes passing under the Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge. Also, the park has canoe and kayak rentals for those wanting to try paddling.
So give it a go.
Marty Basch can be reached at marty.basch@gmail.com.