Thinking of paddling and staying a few nights on Stillwater. Was looking at the sites at eastern end like 25 or 26. Any recommendations?
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Stillwater Reservoir
- Thread starter billconner
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#25 is on a small peninsula with an open to the lake "frog pond" on the north side. Years ago (1970's ), Several times I would paddle the family in our Grumman to our favorite #25 for a few days with wife and 2 kids and a dog to catch frogs, son would terrorize his younger sister and I would spend a few hours bushwhacking to a circuit of several of the more interior remote ponds and small lakes to the north. Our next most favorite was #3, much closer if it was windy, and with the trail into Evergreen and beyond. Don't know about #26, but the west wind on Stillwater is legendary and it could be rough there. In following years, visiting those ponds and others of the region became my passion to hone my precision traditional map and compass skills.
Another time (among many) I soloed that Grumman into the Loon Lake bay on the south shore. Bull frogs kept me up all night and I made tasty breakfast from a few of them. The west wind was so strong that morning that I could not turn the canoe on the main lake or paddle into it without being blown across to the north shore. Luckily wife at home knew enough (from our and my previous experience and instruction) not to panic, surmising that I would have trouble getting out until the wind died down the next day. Stillwater was a lot like that with me. That Grumman taught me a lot about how to solo control a big canoe in weather conditions.
Make the hike on the Red Horse Trail to Clear Lake if you can. there may be a leaky boat there to use if you dare. Look for makeshift paddles in the woods if not in the boat. The water is spring fed and is absolutely swimming pool clear and cool, unlike most all normal brown tannin colored Adirondack lake water. You can see sunken logs and boulders with clarity 20 feet below. Well worth the trip.
Another time (among many) I soloed that Grumman into the Loon Lake bay on the south shore. Bull frogs kept me up all night and I made tasty breakfast from a few of them. The west wind was so strong that morning that I could not turn the canoe on the main lake or paddle into it without being blown across to the north shore. Luckily wife at home knew enough (from our and my previous experience and instruction) not to panic, surmising that I would have trouble getting out until the wind died down the next day. Stillwater was a lot like that with me. That Grumman taught me a lot about how to solo control a big canoe in weather conditions.
Make the hike on the Red Horse Trail to Clear Lake if you can. there may be a leaky boat there to use if you dare. Look for makeshift paddles in the woods if not in the boat. The water is spring fed and is absolutely swimming pool clear and cool, unlike most all normal brown tannin colored Adirondack lake water. You can see sunken logs and boulders with clarity 20 feet below. Well worth the trip.
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Only been there once, stayed at the lean to on Trout Pond.
We carried and paddled to Clear Lake, but I was more pleased with Witchhopple and the outlet which feeds Salmon Lake.
Be careful of the weather there, even light winds can whip up quite a froth...
We carried and paddled to Clear Lake, but I was more pleased with Witchhopple and the outlet which feeds Salmon Lake.
Be careful of the weather there, even light winds can whip up quite a froth...
