Remember the old game you played in Kindergarten, Duck, Duck, Goose? While paddling a kayak around sunset on Lake Flower this summer, this is what I thought of.
Immature Mallard?
Lake Flower can be accessed from the boat launch in the village of Saranac Lake, New York. I made this trip during the summer.
Female Mallard?
The ducks hung out with the geese. I am guessing they felt protected from the eagles by doing so. Maybe in their minds an eagle would go after a goose instead.
The geese seemed okay with me, although I know they have a reputation of being cantankerous.
All of these were taken with a zoom lens and heavily cropped. Enjoy what’s left of summer.
Saranac Lake has several lakes nearby. One you can see from the town itself is Lake Flower. Gauthier’s Saranac Lake Inn is a vintage hotel right on Lake Flower with updated rooms. They loan out to guests kayaks, canoes, and bikes. You can launch a kayak or canoe right from the hotel grounds. They are close to a marina, ice cream shop, and a short walk to shops. They have lovely views on Lake Flower from some of the rooms and from their grounds..
If you missed going up to the Adirondacks during peak leaf season this year, you should consider going next year. It is one of the prettiest areas of the state in autumn.
What lake can you access right in the town of Saranac Lake? This lake is connected to other bodies of water and has some really scenic views of the neighbouring mountains? It is Lake Flower. I highly recommend a paddle trip on this lake.
Solo kayakerSome parts of the lake are narrower than other parts.
This lake allows motor boats. It has a marina or two near the start of this trip. However, this lake is so big I think I only saw one or two other motor boats on this 80 degree day. I saw maybe 3-4 kayakers on this trip.
There were a lot of markers on this section. I am assuming it was a shallow areawith rocks sticking up. I did not paddle as far as I wanted to on this lake as another afternoon storm was approaching. I had hiked a mountain in the morning before it got hot. It seems there is less a chance of thunderstorms in the morning.
I made it as far as Oseetah Lake but I stopped taking pictures due to thunder. From Oseetah Lake you can paddle into Kiwasssa Lake I am told. I also was told you get get to Lower Saranac also by starting at Lake Flower. That is something for me to explore on another trip.
There did not appear to be a good area to stop to eat on this trip. I suggest taking food and drink with you in the section of the kayak you sit in and not a hatch for that reason. I took a lunch bag with ice packs in it to the kayak for easy accessibility. A lot of land up to Oseetah Lake is privately owned or not very accessible to pull over to take a break..
There appear to be no public campsites on Lake Flower, however there is one lean-to on Kiwassa Lake.
Dockside Ice Cream Stand
Mountain Mist Ice Cream can be visited by either pulling up and parking at their dock behind the ice cream stand or by pulling into the parking lot on Route .. They also have a boat ramp next to the dock and a covered area to sit under.This is close to the start. It is a good stop by water or land on the return.
Boat Launch
This is the boat launch you start off at. It is a two bay boat launch.They have a parking area to the right of this photo and bathrooms in the building directly behind the boat launch. There is someone on duty to check your boat to make sure you do not bring invasive plants from one body of water to another.
I really enjoyed the scenery. I would do this paddle again. I did see one loon where Lake Flower meets Oseetah Lake. That is always a plus in my mind. If you want a long trip or a short one with the possibility of an ice cream reward at the end, go to Lake Flower. It is stunning.
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