With someone I met at a NFCT work weekend, we assembled at Cranberry Lake Campground Friday, for an Oswegatchie trip Saturday. Rain was predicted all weekend but held off till Sunday around 4:00 am, so lucked out. Campground showed nearly full on rec.gov but was maybe half full. Nice place.
Anyway put in at Inlet a 8:45. I had tried this once before but only got to Griffin Rapids (a misnomer in my 2 experienced). This trip we made it a half mile or so past site 22, where I think we too the wrong fork because it looked like much more water flowing. Think we were on The Plains River, and not on way to High Falls. Someone let me know if we should have gone right instead of left. Nearly 2:00, we decided to start back doen stream and true to form, about half the time. Got back to Inlet before 5:00. Tiring for 2 old men.
Were able to paddle over most beaver dams. 2 on way up bowman got out and pulled us through. One rocky area we both got out and lined canoe through rapids.
Very few others. One large boys camp group, 6 or 7 canoes, at the Buck Brook lean to. On return not far from Inlet passed 2 separate couples, apparently not camping.
All plant life was very lush. Current was steady but mostly slow.
This is a great paddle but I would not try a one day round trip Inlet to high falls. I'm sure some - more likely younger - can do it, but so many nice campsites. Another time I'd plan at least two nights, one on way up stream, and one at High Falls, and then an easy return on third day. Or enter from Lows Lake, substituting the ~3 mile portage for paddling upstream, and arrange a shuttle.
All in all, loved the trip!
Anyway put in at Inlet a 8:45. I had tried this once before but only got to Griffin Rapids (a misnomer in my 2 experienced). This trip we made it a half mile or so past site 22, where I think we too the wrong fork because it looked like much more water flowing. Think we were on The Plains River, and not on way to High Falls. Someone let me know if we should have gone right instead of left. Nearly 2:00, we decided to start back doen stream and true to form, about half the time. Got back to Inlet before 5:00. Tiring for 2 old men.
Were able to paddle over most beaver dams. 2 on way up bowman got out and pulled us through. One rocky area we both got out and lined canoe through rapids.
Very few others. One large boys camp group, 6 or 7 canoes, at the Buck Brook lean to. On return not far from Inlet passed 2 separate couples, apparently not camping.
All plant life was very lush. Current was steady but mostly slow.
This is a great paddle but I would not try a one day round trip Inlet to high falls. I'm sure some - more likely younger - can do it, but so many nice campsites. Another time I'd plan at least two nights, one on way up stream, and one at High Falls, and then an easy return on third day. Or enter from Lows Lake, substituting the ~3 mile portage for paddling upstream, and arrange a shuttle.
All in all, loved the trip!