Lows Lake Crowds?

[michaelb]

I am thinking of taking my family over to go paddling next weekend. From the info on this forum and elsewhere, going up the bog river flow to lows lake seems like a great trip and something I have wanted to do for a while. I have been to Long Pond and to St. Regis Pond paddling before.

My main question is how crowded are weekends for paddling now and could that be a problem getting campsites out there? I might take Thurs off, so we could arrive that morning if coming out on Thurs would make a big difference vs Friday. My original plan was to drive up to La Verendrye, but now we are thinking of doing something closer.

This will be our first time canoe tripping all together as a family, so 2 kids and 2 adults, plus we have a puppy. I have 2 canoes and a sit on top kayak, and my current plan is to go somewhere with no portaging, other than drag overs, and take the kayak and 1 canoe (2 kids and me and the dog in the canoe, but I can't portage the SOT). Both kids can paddle pretty well now at ages 7 & 9. My understanding is that I can get up the bog river flow to lows without portaging, right?, and so I am hoping that is a good, not to difficult, choice for a first trip like this.

Thanks for any info or suggestions (including other suggestions of where to go).

[Seeker]

bog river to low's has 1 short portage at low's upper dam. it's either steep/ short (75 yards) if you go up the spillway or gentle incline/longer (200 yards) if you stop before you enter the spillway and walk up the road. i did it about a month ago with my daughter and a 45lb canoe... two short trips to carry baggage, and then a couple pick up/set down legs to carry the canoe. she's 13/90lbs, and did fine on the short/steep. plan on you/spouse doing most of the work and you'll be ok. we stayed at campsite 11. it had a privy, which was a nice surprise.

funny story... there were 2 fishermen in a canoe just below that little shallow stretch/rapids at the bottom of the spillway... they were REALLY focused on their fishing. i was paddling up behind them when a deer walked across that shallow part not 30 yards away, right out in the open. i asked my daughter if she saw it. one guy turned around in his seat and said "what"? neither one of them had seen it. but they'd caught a lot of fish...

[mwanner]

We camped at Hitchins Pond last week, coming out on Friday morning (photos here). There was still one campsite free on Hitchins, and the three sites on the lower Bog River Flow were all vacant. There's a lot of traffic through to Lows, but I would think on Thursday mornings, there would certainly be a site free somewhere on Lows, but some of the higher-numbered sites are a haul to get to, especially if it's windy. Of course, the better the weather forecast for the weekend, the earlier the sites are going to fill.

We saw one guy occupy a site on Hitchins on Wednesday afternoon, who left it set up but vacant Thursday night-- Friday morning he shows up again with 7 buddies. Who knows if he had a permit for more than 3 days.

In any case, it seems like the area needs more ranger coverage-- there were two guys who spent Wednesday and Thursday nights at the carry landing, and it looked like they were planning to spend the weekend there. I never saw a tent, maybe they were in bivys, but I never saw a ranger, either.

[michaelb]

Thanks for info. I think I can handle a 75 yard portage with the kayak if we go that route. Still sounds the best option for a quick family canoe trip in the daks (although still open to other suggestions, hints, and tips).

[yellowcanoe]

Its been about ten years since I went to Lows( and to further date me there wasnt a SOUL on the lake) but is there a board where you (on the honor system) select your campsite? Before going in.

Little Tupper-Rock Pond is another alternative..the rangers are visible there and I think there is a campsite sign in.

My advice might be a little less than helpful since I only have been to LTL off season and there were no fees and no ranger and just a registry book.

Yes people in the Daks do set up tents and not use them except on weekends. Thats why Mountain Pond is closed to camping..am sure there are others.

If you can get an early start Thursday I think you should be all set for Lows.

No I cant help you get your kids up! Hopefully they are excited.

[suescanal]

is there a board where you (on the honor system) select your campsite? Before going in.


No- It's first come first serve, but we spent the week July 19-26 , and it was quiet- RAIN is the great equalizer. Don't let the weather set you back. It's well worth the trip.

[daxs]

There is no sign in for Little Tupper. Its first come first served. If you want to camp on Rock Pond, there are several beaver dams you need to carry across in addition to a short carry to the pond itself.

[Beeblesticks]

I would echo what folks have said about campsite availability probably being OK if you get on the water Thursday morning. One point I would make is that if some of the closer sites are occupied, you may have a good paddle on your hands before you arrive at any accepatable sites. If you mentioned the ages of the kids I missed it, but If the kids are younger or new to paddleing you might want to take this into consideration. Keep in mind also the regular afternoon thunderstorms at this time of year. Low's is windy and choppy under usual conditions so try and minimize the big crossings, particularly in the afternoons. (However, I have some very fond memories of a mid summer trip I made up there about 10 years ago where each evening after dinner we would hang a candle lantern at the shore and paddle far out and just sit on the perfectkly calm evening water. Bat's doing fly bys, fish hitting the surface of the glass like lake, wonderfull).

All that said, Thursday morning with a nice early start and a rough idea of where you want to end up (with some "plan B" destnmations in case of weather or kids tuckering out) and you should be in for a fine trip.