1st timer

[cbgd21]

Hey Everyone,
I am about to purchase my first canoe next week and we're looking to do a short overnight from Sunday to Monday. I was thinking of Lows Dam / Bog River / Lows Lake area. Perhaps doing a loop since we only have one car. Is this possible? Can we put in at the lower dam and is it hard to paddle back up the river and portage Lows Upper Dam once we have gone down? I have never done this before. I am very new though I will be going w/ someone who has experience.

Or can anyone recommend a nice spot where we can get some river current as we don't want to be on a lake all day. We're looking to put in sunday in the afternoon, paddle, camp, paddle some on Monday ideally back to the car or relatively close. That is why I thought Bog River looked nice but I really don't know.

Any help would be great. Thanks in advance.

[chairrock]

That is great! Read up on canoe safety before you do anything. That said...

It is an easy paddle upstream from the Lower Dam to the upper.It usually takes us about an hour.The current is negligable. The portage around the Upper Dam easy, maybe 100 yards or so.'There are alot of campsites, but it can get crowded on summer weekends.
Above the upper dam is a floating bog that must be portaged as well,on the right side facing uplake,it is short depending on water levels, maybe 20 feet.
If you make it as far as Lows Lake proper, beware that wind can make for some big waves and difficult paddling in still COLD WATER.

Don't rush into paddling on fast moving rivers, get some experience in flat water first.Have fun!

Get Jamisons book on paddling in the ADKs.see. http://www.adkforum.com/showthread.php?t=7941

[Bill I.]

Lows Lake is long and tough. There is no river current, but as Chairrock mentioned the headwind more than makes up for it. But then, that's true of most large lakes.

For a first-time trip, Hitchins Pond might not be a bad option. A short distance to the south, Sabattis Road now offers three motorless lakes: Round Lake, Little Tupper Lake, and Lake Lila. Round is the newest (in terms of public access) and the easiest. Lila is crowded in the summer and Little Tupper can be windy at times.

Other possibilities include Cedar River Flow, Forked Lake (with a side trip up Brandreth Outlet), and Long Lake.

[cbgd21]

Back from the Bog

Just wanted to drop anyone and everyone a line and say what a great time I had this past weekend paddling up the Bog River and through Hitchins Pond. We put in at the lower dam, paddled upstream, carried over the upper dam and continued on for another mile or so eventually ending up at campsite #11 which turned out to be great!

The water was sparkling and the everything was terrific! As it turns out, the canoe I purchased had a keel which made for some shaky moments in the boat. It's only a 14' and with me and another person and our gear it seemed to be holding it's own ok but I didn't want to put anything else in there! It tracked nicely though through the river and lake and gave us no problems. The loon calls at night were amazing and waking up the next morning, packing up camp and heading out was simply wonderful! I can't wait to do it again.

Best,
Corey

[Seeker]

another addict is born!!! whooohoo!!!!

[chairrock]

Now you will have to get up lake more! Grass Pond is wonderful!

[Swamp Booger]

Glad you had such a great time!! Sounds like you can already identify with the phrase: "So many ADK places to paddle and explore...so little time!"

[stripperguy]

Congrats.
See... this is how it starts!!
My own list of places seen keeps growing, but my list of new places to visit grows even more! I've been paddling these waters for over 40 years and still haven't run out of new places to paddle. Heres to a healthy addiction.

[MADDOG]

Sabattis Road

This is the exact trip my wife and I have planned for the 21st. Does anyone know if one can get to Lows upper dam via Sabittas Road? I've never been that route. We are taking some newbies so I thought this may be the best route if we can get there.

p.s. Anyone have any luck with Bass in Hitchens? Not me!

Thank you.
maddog

[Wldrns]

Does anyone know if one can get to Lows upper dam via Sabittas Road? I've never been that route. We are taking some newbies so I thought this may be the best route if we can get there.

No, you cannot drive to the upper dam. There is a gate blocking the road where it becomes private at the old Sabattis railroad station. During Boy Scout summer camp season, if you have business at the scout camp you can drive through, but not for any non-scouting purpose of accessing Lows Lake.

Yes, there are definitely sizeable bass in Hitchins.

[Bill I.]

No, you cannot drive to the upper dam. There is a gate blocking the road where it becomes private at the old Sabattis railroad station. During Boy Scout summer camp season, if you have business at the scout camp you can drive through, but not for any non-scouting purpose of accessing Lows Lake.

You can't even WALK to the Upper Dam from Sabattis Road. No public access of any kind. The state did buy more land along the south shore of the lake recently, and very close to Sabattis, but by design it did not include any frontage along the public highway.

[MADDOG]

Thanks guys! I guess we'll head in off 421, which will also be a great trip!!

md