An afternoon on Candlewood Lake, Connecticut

[Glenn MacGrady]

After resolving the Mystery of Rotated Images on this site, I went for quick paddle on nearby Candlewood Lake, which is the largest lake within 60 miles of New York City.

It has variety.

Launch from a beach that has other residents' canoes stacked up.



A few summer homes have the usual accoutrements in addition to a rack of canoes and kayaks.



But go around the corner and you encounter primitive whatnot . . . Stone Age sculptures?



And protecting the dam is a line of buoys with birds.



Enticingly, there are 11 Moore miles to travel down Candlewood (to be continued).

 

[yknpdlr]

It has variety.

My brother, a professsional hot air balloon pilot and racer, lived on that lake in the 1980's.

 

[Brightraven]

I live very close to that lake but have never paddled on it...I would love to see some more photos and hear further impressions, Glenn... I have stayed away for a reason! It doesn't conjure up images of a nature immersion experience for me. But maybe some nice images will entice me to give it a chance...(maybe at dawn on a chilly Tuesday in the Fall)...

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

Glenn... I have stayed away for a reason! It doesn't conjure up images of a nature immersion experience for me. But maybe some nice images will entice me to give it a chance...(maybe at dawn on a chilly Tuesday in the Fall)...

It's water. A lot of it. It's canoeable. I can't be too picky about nature immersion in the populated state we live in. The north end of the lake from the Sherman Town Park to the New Milford Town Park, or vice versa, would probably be a nice full day trip on a non-windy day.

 

[Ripple]

It has variety.

Glenn, i live just over the line in ny. is there public access to get a canoe on? I like the lake. And so do a lot of people with fast boats and jet skis. Possibly a few of us could meet at or around the lake. as it seems colser for a few of us? And it is a very nice lake.

 

[Chip]

I have stayed away for a reason! It doesn't conjure up images of a nature immersion experience for me.

Hah! I live in in the eastern megalopolis, and so do you. It can be a long way to an immersive nature experience.

My dad had my little brother and me out on his sailboat one hot summer day. Little brother asked for something to drink. My dad ducked below deck, came back, and handed little brother an unchilled Coke. Taking the drink, my brother said with disgust, “it’s hot.” Dad replied, so what, “it’s wet, and that’s what counts!” About Candlewood Lake, I would tell you the same thing: it’s wet. Water against your hull and on your paddle blade will feel the same as water on a remote lake. It’s great if you can get to a remote lake, but when you can’t, paddle what you have.

My most frequent paddling venues are lined with homes, marinas, shipyards, material depots and industry. It’s what we have around here. In Glen’s photos, Candlewood looks nice, much nicer than my local spots.

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

Glenn, i live just over the line in ny. is there public access to get a canoe on? I like the lake. And so do a lot of people with fast boats and jet skis. Possibly a few of us could meet at or around the lake. as it seems colser for a few of us? And it is a very nice lake.

Yes, there are two public boat launch ramps on the lake. Other launch spots are the six "town parks," which are only available to town residents who have bought a season pass. But the season pass is only required from Memorial to Labor Day. After that, launching is available from the town parks, as far as I know. Also after Labor Day, most of the power boats will be gone. And most of the marinas, in any event, are in the southern half of the lake. There are not many buildings along most of the north lake shoreline because there are no roads there.

So . . . I think a small group trip (for safety and support) on the northern half of the lake after Labor Day would be a very feasible idea. It could be from Sherman Town Park to New Milford Town Park (Lynn Deming Park). Or, somewhat shorter, would be from the public launch at Squantz Cove to New Milford Town Park.

Some other site members such as @Cheeseandbeans live reasonably close to the lake.

 

[Brightraven]

Hah! I live in in the eastern megalopolis, and so do you. It can be a long way to an immersive nature experience.

My dad had my little brother and me out on his sailboat one hot summer day. Little brother asked for something to drink. My dad ducked below deck, came back, and handed little brother an unchilled Coke. Taking the drink, my brother said with disgust, “it’s hot.” Dad replied, so what, “it’s wet, and that’s what counts!” About Candlewood Lake, I would tell you the same thing: it’s wet. Water against your hull and on your paddle blade will feel the same as water on a remote lake. It’s great if you can get to a remote lake, but when you can’t, paddle what you have.

My most frequent paddling venues are lined with homes, marinas, shipyards, material depots and industry. It’s what we have around here. In Glen’s photos, Candlewood looks nice, much nicer than my local spots.

Well said... Despite some past experiences on crowded, noisy, trash-laden lakes leading to some irritation and resentment, I do appreciate the change in perspective...I am grateful to have a canoe and water nearby in which to paddle it... Perhaps a group paddle on Candlewood would be fun actually...

 

[Cheeseandbeans]

Yes, Sherman is not too far away from me. I have never paddled Candlewood Lake, but have fished it many times. There is very little boat traffic on the north side after Labor Day. I always launched near Squantz Pond. Squantz may be an option for a group paddle if the wind is up on any pre-chosen date.

I’ll keep my eyes peeled for any suggested dates.

Bob