Lows lake to Oswegatchie carry

[steveo]

Wondering how long and how difficult carry from Lows lake to Oswegatchie river is .Planning to canoe from Bog river to Lows then carry to OR then canoe
to Inlet.Canoes will probably be 16' Explorers 50 or so lbs,1 will carry canoe
the other pack.There will probably be 6 of us all firefighters from NYC so all
are physically fit.Also can any1 suggest best campsites along this route ,
trip is planned for late Sept to early Oct. Thx.

[Wldrns]

Wondering how long and how difficult carry from Lows lake to Oswegatchie river is .Planning to canoe from Bog river to Lows then carry to OR then canoe
to Inlet.Canoes will probably be 16' Explorers 50 or so lbs,1 will carry canoe
the other pack.There will probably be 6 of us all firefighters from NYC so all
are physically fit.Also can any1 suggest best campsites along this route ,
trip is planned for late Sept to early Oct. Thx.

Trail begins at the finger-like penninsula/tiny islands on the topo map, on the far western end of Low's (not the abandoned trail shown on the topo extending east to a small south bay). Roughly 3 miles to carry on well marked but sometimes rough trail, plenty of up and down. Your choice to single trip with full load, or triple trip 9 miles (all day) with 2 loads. Either way will take longer than you expected, but enjoy the wild scenery with spectaculary massive trees, a few still standing, many blown over in 1995. Wheels are not recommended as the trail is too rough and narrow, causing you to curse any wheeled cart.

Plenty of campsites on the Bog River/Lows, best to stay along the north shore when on the big lake. If in bad WX you can carry the short path on the neck of land protected by the first big penninsula, then hop over the road leading to the one and only private cabin. A couple of campsites in that area may be closed due to eagle nesting, but good into Grass Pond if the timing works out for you. No more campsites west of GP. The carry to Big Deer Pond has one small campsite right on the trail as you reach the pond's NE side, but it is anythiing but private.

It is a nice break to leave the trail at BDP campsite, paddle from there to the middle of the western shore (in the reeds with a muddy takeout) to pick up the trail again heading southwest at that point, saving a half mile carry. Watch for a curious mailbox on the trail with log containing plenty of $@*%!! comments to read. Beavers have dammed a creek midway, either gingerly walk on the dam or better to paddle the small beaver pond to the other side. No real established campsites along the trail beyond BDP until you get to the Oswegatchie. Cool your toes in a frigid bubbling spring right at the put-in in the river. Plenty of campsites from there to Inlet.

Thank you to the NYC Firefighters... I know you can handle it!

[chairrock]

Doing what wldrns said, you can continue down to Wanakena with a carry and onto Cranberry Lake and over to South Bay and Chairrock Creek,trail from there back to Grass Pond on Lows. A friend did this loop singlehanded with 40# canoe over 5 days,in shape,but not as much as one of NYS Bravest!Thanks you NYFD,NYPD,and PAPD!!

[steveo]

Thank you both for the advice ,sounds like our trip is going to be great .We
come up here every fall and either do a canoe trip or a couple of the High
peaks, the Adirondacks are amazing .Working and living in the city makes
us Flatlanders appreciate these trips that much more lol.

[alombard]

Parts of the trail (along side of deer pond) were flooded last summer. I'm sure they are dry this summer with the lack of rain. Plus you canoe that section anyway.

AL

[ccamper]

What's a good amount of time for this trip? Can you do it in three days/ two nights?

[Wldrns]

What's a good amount of time for this trip? Can you do it in three days/ two nights?

How fast can you paddle vs how casually are you willing to paddle/carry and take your time to enjoy the many wilderness features that are available. One member of this forum has frequently done this and a related complete loop (annually) trip in a single day. On the other end of the spectrum, there is enough to keep you occupied on interesting side trips, or fishing, or relaxing for an entire week or more. Your choice.

I know for a fact that a loaded Hornbeck can paddle from the launch at the lower dam to the western end of Lows in little more than 4 hours. But in doing so much is missed along the way.

But 3 days makes it a good trip for most people moving right along.

[ccamper]

Thanks. That's what I thought. I'm thinking about camping at lows night #1, portage over and then push to camp somewhere past high falls day #2, short paddle and relatively early take out day #3. Or maybe camp above high falls day #2 and have a longer paddle day #3. How long is it from High Falls to take out? Thanks!!!

[Wldrns]

Thanks. That's what I thought. I'm thinking about camping at lows night #1, portage over and then push to camp somewhere past high falls day #2, short paddle and relatively early take out day #3. Or maybe camp above high falls day #2 and have a longer paddle day #3. How long is it from High Falls to take out? Thanks!!!

It's somewhere around 10-11 miles from High Falls to Inlet. Only you can judge how fast and efficiently you can paddle with a 1-1.5 mph current, around sharp bends in the river with numerous log jams and beaver dams to cross. I wouldn't plan to camp at High Falls itself, as it is often occupied and the immediate area not always as pristine as you might like.

[Skinn]

Did this trip last year around the same time. We camped ad BDP the first night, next day did the carry and camped just above the falls at what we have always called camp Johnny. We were tired and had a couple of older guys with us, my father (61) and his friend (50). I would say 4 days 3 nights to enjoy it and 5 days 4 nights makes it a relaxing vacation, that is what we did. We left on Bog river around sunrise and easily made the camp site at Big deer pond that day. That left us that much closer the next morning, and Big deer pond at night is amazing, more wildlife sounds in one place than I have heard in a long time and more available firewood than I have ever seen in the ADKs.