Tag: #MiddleSaranacLake

Paddling Middle Saranac Lake to the Weller Ponds

What is one place where you can paddle more than one body of water while not getting out of your boat, and it is close to the towns of Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake? Middle Saranac Lake is one of the options.

South Creek Boat Launch

One trip from Middle Saranac you can make is paddling to the Weller Ponds. Both of these are accessed by boat through passageways between the bodies of water. One way to get into Middle Saranac Lake is through the South Creek Boat Launch. It is right off Highway 3 going from Saranac Lake to Tupper.

There is a parking lot that can handle several cars. There is a privy/ outhouse closer to Highway 3 in the parking area. They have several barriers up. It is hard to walk a kayak through on wheels. It is easier if someone is there and you can ask them to be a second set of hands to carry it over the big rocks. Once you get it in the water it is a gradual descent into the water which is great for kayaks. People canoeing prefer the dock. I wish they would get rid of one of the big rocks, so people could easily get their kayak or canoe through.

South Creek Passage to Middle Saranac

Middle Saranac Lake

Hungry Bay

Hungry Bay is the northern end of Middle Saranac Lake directly north across the lake from the South Creek entrance to the lake.

Because of the wind and predicted threat of thunderstorms around the time I would try to get back to the parking lot, I skirted the edge of Hungry Bay to be safe.

Passage from Hungry Bay to the Weller Ponds

Weller Pond

The above is looking towards the entrance of Weller Pond. I did not take too many pictures on this pond because it looked like the campsites along it and on or near Tick and Tok Islands were occupied. There were also kids out on the lake in boats.

The above picture is looking towards the northern part of Weller Pond from the east side.

Little Weller Pond

If you are heading from Middle Saranac to Weller the passageway to Little Weller Pond is on the right before you get to Weller. This is the passageway leading into Little Weller Pond.

It is a smaller body of water, hence its name. There are no campsites along this body of water.

Passageway Back To Middle Saranac Lake

This is the passageway looking south and heading back towards Hungry Bay of Middle Saranac Lake.

Camping

There are camp sites along Middle Saranac Lake and Weller Pond. These sites have to be reserved through http://www.reserveamerica.com or through the reservation number at 1-800-456-CAMP. I have never seen all the sites on this lake occupied on my visits. Campsite 81, pictured above, has a lean-to. Only two other sites, one on the east side of the lake and one on the northwest side of Weller Pond have one. Most of them involve pitching your own tent. They come with a picnic table, a fire pit, and a privy/outhouse.

This was a group of boys and men who were heading for a campsite on the lake for the night. They took all their gear on their canoes with them. They traveled with several canoes. This canoe gave me permission to take their picture.

Wildlife

Every time I visit this lake I either see loons or hear them. I saw two together near the South Creek entrance to the lake. I also heard two and saw one in Hungry Bay. An eagle nest is on a nearby body of water, so you may see one circle looking for fish.

Middle Saranac Lake

This lake is a motor boat lake, although the times I have been here I have mostly seen people in canoes and kayaks either fishing or heading towards campsites along the lake. There are a few private houses as you get closer to the west side. I’m not sure if some of them are water access only or they are ones accessed through the private road, Bartlett Carry.

This visit it was a treat to watch a sailboat take advantage of the winds and circle around the lake.

As you can see from the above photos, one of the positives about paddling this lake are the Adirondack Mountain views.

Entrance to South Creek

I highly recommend paddling this lake and route. You get nice mountain views. I would recommend as always bring food and water. You never know when you might need to pull off for a passing thunderstorm or because you need a rest. The unoccupied campsites have great views and make great picnic spots.

Accessing Middle Saranac Lake Through South Creek

How do you access Middle Saranac Lake in the Adirondack Mountains of New York? One way is by the boat launch at South Creek. This boat launch is on Route 3 about halfway in between the towns of Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake. There are multiple options on where to paddle from this launch so it is a launch that may interest you.

This sign kind of confused me. There are camping spots accessible by boat along the shore and islands of the lake. I am guessing one would have to park in the parking lot northeast from this one that does not have a boat launch according to the map. Usually these campsites are open to first come first serve for three days. Websites say you have to reserve the campsites. I did not see anyone at the campsites I passed.
Boat launch

It was kind of a rough carry from my car in the parking lot to the launch. The gates were locked and to squeeze the kayak through the rocks along the side was no easy task. I use a kayak wheeled device to move my kayak to launch sites. Where you walk to carry when I went was rough with gulleys. The boat launch itself as you can see has a gradual descent that is great for kayakers while also providing a dock that individuals who canoe may like.

View in the opposite direction from the lake.

The view above is going in the opposite direction from the lake. The view on the bottom is going towards the lake. It looks like a long paddle to reach Middle Saranac Lake on the map, but it is really not that long.

Campsites

They provide a picnic table and fire pit, campfire area at these campsites.

This was the campsite on Shaw Island. As you can see these are primitive sites that are carry-in and carry-out. They are accessible by canoe or kayak.

This campsite had two outhouses.

Going towards the Bartlett Canoe Carry

Entering a narrow body of water on the western part of the lake.

On the southwestern side of the lake you enter a narrow body of water that goes in the direction of Upper Saranac Lake. This is one option for accessing other bodies of water. Another option is to paddle north from South Creeek and go through Hungry Bay and into Weller Pond. Another option is to go east to the Saranac River through the upper locks into the southern end of Lower Saranac Lake.

This sign marks the start of the Bartlett Canoe Carry.

The canoe carry was a gradual descent into the water, ideal for kayakers. You follow the path over land to Upper Saranac Lake. It looks far on the map for one person, so I did not attempt it even with a kayak carry device. I encountered a women’s kayak tour on another lake and the guide said the Canoe Carry on the Upper Saranac side is a good launch for kayakers. I will take her word for it.

Wildlife

Black duck and her young on a rock. They were in the same area as the eagle.

I always enjoy lakes where you can view wildlife. This one was no exception. I saw two groups of black ducks, although I was nervous for them. An eagle was on a tree very close by eyeing them. Eagles in the Adirondack Mountains travel from lake to lake. They do not always stay on one body of water all day long. I arrived in the morning on this lake and a saw some fishermen on kayak and motorboat. One man I talked to said he arrived at 5 a.m. He was pleased with the bass he caught.

I did see one adult eagle along the trip.

Heading East to the Boat Launch

Heading east on Middle Saranac
Some people heading out on the lake.
Heading into South Creek back towards the boat launch.
The Route 3 Bridge over South Creek.

The boat launch is on the other side of Route 3. You kayak under the bridge and the launch is on the left when you are coming back in.

Despite it being a little rough to get into the parking lot from the launch and into the water from the parking lot I would like to come to this access point again. I do hope they make improvements on it though as it could be a hazard. I recommend they remove a rock or two on the side to make is easier to bring your kayak to the water and fill in the gulleys made by erosion. Middle Saranac Lake is another beautiful Adirondack lake.