Paddle Floodwood 2

Paddling Floodwood - Post #2    Clearly Bob

There is a group of beautiful ponds just west of the northern end of Upper Saranac Lake that offer many options for an enjoyable day's paddle. This area is just south of the St Regis Canoe Area. Some of the ponds are rather large and some are small. Some interconnect by a navigable creek but most require portaging. The ability to portage opens up more options including traversing a loop. But if carrying a boat is not your definition of fun don't despair, there are good out and back choices. In any case, you really need a map.

 The best one is the Adirondack Paddlers Map available at St Regis Canoe Outfitters in Saranac Lake or at their pond side site on Floodwood Pond. (All the paddling trips I describe will be on this map.) I'll split trips in this area up into two posts - one describing non-portage out and back trips and the other loops with portages. This is the second post - got your light weight canoe ready ?

     Paddling a series of ponds in a loop is my favorite way to go. You get to see a variety of waters, you only need one car and you get out of the canoe and walk between the ponds so your legs get some exercise too. The start of every portage is marked with a white rectangular sign on a tree - "canoe carry to ...." whatever the next pond is. 

The whiteness of the signs stand out so they are pretty easy to spot from a distance as long as you know more or less where to look from your map. Here are a few loops you can paddle. Get out the map and follow along.    #1 - Start on Floodwood Pond by the canoe outfitters shop (previous blog has info on how to get there as well as other access points), paddle down Fish Creek to Little Square Pond, continue down the creek and find the 1/4 mile portage to Follensby Clear Pond, continue north on Follensby Clear and after going through the narrow gap go around the point on the left keeping the island (with the only leanto around) to your right and you'll see the start of the 100 foot portage to Horseshoe Pond, follow the shore to your right to the next short portage to Little Polliwog Pond, then portage to Polliwog Pond, paddle north and then around the point on your left and through the small passage to Polliwog's western appendage at the far end of which is the 4/10th mile carry to Middle Pond, continue 3/4 of the way down Middle and find the 1/2 mile portage back to Floodwood Pond where you started. You can also do this loop in the other direction and you can start and end your trip at Follensby, Middle or Polliwog Ponds. #2 - 

The start is the same as loop #1: Floodwood to Fish Creek to Little Square then continue on Fish Creek out of Little Square. But instead of going all the way to the portage to Follensby Clear, look for the small passage into Copperas Pond on the right about 10 minutes from Little Square. Paddle the length of Copperas to the 1/3 mile portage to Whey. The next portage, 200 yards to Rollins Pond, is at the far end of Whey. Now you are in the huge state campground with lots and lots of sites along Rollins's shoreline. Motor boats (with a horsepower limit) are allowed on Rollins. The bottom line is that I would not go here when the campground is open if you are looking for a quiet, uncrowded experience. I was there in late September this year and saw no one at all. The fall colors on this sunny day were beautiful. On the other hand, you could possibly score a cold beer if you struck up a conversation with one of the campers. Paddle the long length of Rollins and head into the small bay in the northeast corner. As you go along look to your left and you'll see the railroad track grade on and off.   It's the same line that goes past the Lodge.  There is a movement to turn this unused asset into a bike/walking/snowmobile trail. There is a narrow, rocky, water connection from Rollins to Floodwood and it may be navigable if the water level is high enough otherwise be safer and use the 2/10 mile portage back to Floodwood Pond and your starting point. #3 - Combine these two loops into one larger loop leaving out Little Square Pond and part of Fish Creek or make a figure 8 paddling some parts twice. Just look at the map and figure it out.

     These are just suggestions. There are other possible trips you can put together. Your best resource is frequently lauded paddler's map. Add a sense of adventure, some prudent precautions and have yourself some fun !