Places to paddle on Seventh and Eighth Lake

[Crash]

Next Friday (August 18, 2006) I plan to take my family (wife and three boys 6,6 & 8) camping at Eighth Lake DEC Campground for a week. I've camped at many other DEC campgrounds, but never this one.

I hear that during rainier summers, one could paddle between Eighth and Seventh Lake. Is that true, and do you think this summer qualifies?

My family loves to paddle to places where we can get out of the canoe and the boys can run around, and take a dip. Usually, unoccupied wilderness campsites meet this criteria. I plan to go for maybe three or four paddles like this during my stay - all day trips.

Are there places to stop and swim that anybody can recommend? I heard that the island on Eighth Lake is a fun place to hang out for a bit.

I also don't mind using a different starting point in the area for my paddle - I heard that paddling up South Inlet (on nearby Raquette Lake) would be another nice place to paddle.

[Wldrns]

Next Friday (August 18, 2006) I plan to take my family (wife and three boys 6,6 & 8) camping at Eighth Lake DEC Campground for a week. I've camped at many other DEC campgrounds, but never this one.

I hear that during rainier summers, one could paddle between Eighth and Seventh Lake. Is that true, and do you think this summer qualifies?

My family loves to paddle to places where we can get out of the canoe and the boys can run around, and take a dip. Usually, unoccupied wilderness campsites meet this criteria. I plan to go for maybe three or four paddles like this during my stay - all day trips.

Are there places to stop and swim that anybody can recommend? I heard that the island on Eighth Lake is a fun place to hang out for a bit.

I also don't mind using a different starting point in the area for my paddle - I heard that paddling up South Inlet (on nearby Raquette Lake) would be another nice place to paddle.

That would be a tough mucky go if you could paddle through. Usually people just walk through the campground on the road. I've not seen the passage in really high water, but it is normally unappetizingly shallow and choked to get much above the footbridge at the north end of 7th. To be honest I've not tried it as usually I am powering through there during the 90 mile race and we take out at the dock for the carry. Eighth will appear more wildernessy to you than 7th. 8th is shallow and sandy on the north end at the trail take-out, looks nice quite a ways out from shore with very clear water. Seventh has a number of nice established campsites all along the northwest shore that you could swim from.

[Boreal Chickadee]

Yes, the inlet is a very nice paddle to a nice little waterfall. The boys would enjoy swiming there.

I also recommend the Marion River up to Utowana Lake. You can continue therough EAgle Lake to Blue MOuntain if the boys aren't bored. Access to Mrion River can be had from Raquette Lake.

Also from Raquette Lake you can go up the outlet from Brown's Tract. Very nice paddle. With a big canoe you'll probably have to stop beyond the abandoned bridge but it's a great paddle.