Sunday, May 16 – Connecticut River Setbacks, Hinsdale, NH (also known as Lake Wantastiquet – CT River Birding Trail, Southern Section)
Meet at 9:30AM in the Wal-Mart parking lot (Rte 119 in Hinsdale) for a peaceful paddle and picnic lunch in the setbacks of the Connecticut River (upstream from VT Yankee). This often overlooked wildlife area is home to hundreds of spring birds, and huge fish. Bring a bird book, water, lunch, snacks, a warm drink and something to sit on. We were snowed-out on this trip in May 2002, but it’s usually warm and beautiful. (See “What to bring”)
Wednesday, May 26 – Herricks Cove and Williams River Delta, Rockingham, VT (CT River Birding Trail, Southern Section)
Herricks Cove offers a pleasant day of paddling through extraordinary marshes, favorite areas for bird watchers, especially during spring and fall migrations. Expected sighting are muskrat, beaver, kingfisher osprey and songbirds filling the alder, dogwood and willow trees. If time permits, we may also explore Albees and/or Roundys Coves and the Great Meadow on the NH shore. We’ll meet at 9AM in Hannaford’s parking lot to car/boat pool. Paddlers coming from the north are welcome to meet us at the Herricks Cove boat ramp/picnic area (off Rte 5, near Exit 6, I-91) at 10AM. (See “What to bring”)
Wednesday, June 9 – Grafton Pond, Grafton, NH (CT River Birding Trail, Upper Valley Section)
Grafton Pond is one of the finest paddling destinations in New Hampshire. This will be our second trip to this quiet, well-protected, remote pond. Lots of islands and nooks and crannies to explore. Almost the entire 235-acre pond is protected by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. Since this will be a bit of a trek, we’ll meet at 8AM in Bickford’s parking lot, at the Putney Rd Rotary, to car and boat pool. Paddlers from the north are welcome to join out convoy as we drive north on I-91, or meet us at the put-in off Grafton Pond Rd, at the dam. (From Enfield Center, NH, take Route 4A South for 2.2 miles and turn left onto Bluejay Rd – may now be called Grafton Pond Rd. After 0.9 miles, bear right at the fork, onto Grafton Pond Rd. Go another 0.9 miles, turn right and you’ll end at the dam in 0.2 miles). (See “What to bring”)
Saturday, June 19 – Sunrise on Lake Whitingham (Harriman Reservoir), VT
This is out famous sunrise ‘paddle and nosh’ trip. We meet at 5AM at the Chelsea Royal Diner, West Brattleboro, or 5:30AM at the VIP Coffee Shop in Wilmington (Jct Rtes 9 and 100S). We’ll enjoy a potluck breakfast on a warm, sunny, secluded beach, before the motorboat crowd wakes up. Bring light breakfast snacks to share; OJ will be provided. Also bring whatever makes a picnic breakfast more enjoyable. We’ll be off the water by 11AM. (See “What to bring”)
Wednesday, June 23 – Nubanusit Lake and Spoonwood Pond, Hancock and Nelson, NH
Spoonwood Pond is the real gem; well protected, inaccessible by car and off-limits to motorboats. Nubanusit can be busy with motorboats on weekends, and windy anytime. Luckily we have a short, protected paddle from the Nubanusit put-in, to the easy carry, up to Spoonwood Pond. Here we’ll find a beautiful, quiet pond with crystal clear water, campsites and flat swimming/sunning rocks everywhere. The Harris Center for Conservation Education, with miles of hiking trails, is only a few minutes drive down Kings Hwy from the boat access. We meet at Hannaford’s parking lot at 8:30AM to car and boat pool. Paddlers coming from NH are welcome to meet us at the Nubanusit Lake boat ramp (off Rte 123, in Hancock, NH) around 10AM. (See “What to bring”)
Saturday & Sunday, August 28 & 29 – Connecticut River and North Hartland Lake, Hartland and Windsor, VT (Camping optional)
This is the same trip we did in 2008, when we found ‘wild horses’ on a CT River island. Photos of this event are in the BOC/Paddling gallery. On Saturday we’ll meet at the Wilgus State Park entrance station parking lot, at 9AM. After the camping gear is taken care of, and car/boat pooling, we’ll drive to the put-in at Sumner Falls and paddle back downstream to Wilgus SP, stopping enroute for lunch/swim/hike/etc. Sunday we’ll again meet in the parking lot at 9AM for car/boat pooling before driving to North Hartland Lake. There we’ll paddle the length of the lake, up into the lower reaches of the Quechee Gorge. Bald eagle sightings are the norm for both trips this weekend. This is really two ‘day-trips‘, connected by a campout. Boaters may choose to paddle one, or both days, with or without camping. Campers must register by email only to: Lmacyak@yahoo.com, NLT Aug 21st. A non-refundable camping fee of $10 per person will confirm camping space for BOC members. Non-members need to register and pay the fee, to be placed on the wait-list. Non-members will be notified on Aug 22nd as to their final status. Camping information will be sent, as registrations are received. There is no cost for day-paddling. Wilgus State Park is located on Rte 5, south of Ascutney, VT (exit 8, I-91) (See “What to bring”)
Sunday, September 19 – Lake Sunapee, NH
This is our first trip to one of New Hampshire’s most beautiful paddling destinations. Since it’s a bit of a drive, we’ll meet at Bickford’s Restaurant, at the Putney Rd Rotary, at 8:30AM to car/boat pool. Paddlers coming from the north, or NH are welcome to meet us at the town of Sunapee boat ramp, at the east end of Main St, around 10AM. We’ll paddle north, along the lee shore, investigating some of the coves, inlets and bays , all the way to Gorges Mills. Our return to Sunapee will take us into the remaining coves, inlets and bays. Good food and refreshment await our return to Sunapee. (See “What to bring”)
Saturday, October 2 – Sommerset Reservoir, Sommerset, VT
This is our annual all-day, fall foliage paddle on a very special out-of-the-way, protected body of water, at a special time of the year. We chance to see loons, and migrating waterfowl, feel the crisp late season air and witness fantastic fall colors, on this favorite outing. Last year we were treated to two bald eagle sightings; one was of two eagles feasting on a kill. Bring snacks, lunch, water, and something warm to drink. We ate lunch in the warm sun last year, and a hardy few had their last swim of the season. We’ll meet at 9AM at the VIP Coffee Shop (Jct of Rtes 9 and 100S) in Wilmington. (See “What to bring”)
Paddling Trip Descriptions
Sunday, May 16 – Connecticut River Setbacks, Hinsdale, NH (also known as Lake Wantastiquet – CT River Birding Trail, Southern Section)
Meet at 9:30AM in the Wal-Mart parking lot (Rte 119 in Hinsdale) for a peaceful paddle and picnic lunch in the setbacks of the Connecticut River (upstream from VT Yankee). This often overlooked wildlife area is home to hundreds of spring birds, and huge fish. Bring a bird book, water, lunch, snacks, a warm drink and something to sit on. We were snowed-out on this trip in May 2002, but it’s usually warm and beautiful. (See “What to bring”)
Wednesday, May 26 – Herricks Cove and Williams River Delta, Rockingham, VT (CT River Birding Trail, Southern Section)
Herricks Cove offers a pleasant day of paddling through extraordinary marshes, favorite areas for bird watchers, especially during spring and fall migrations. Expected sighting are muskrat, beaver, kingfisher osprey and songbirds filling the alder, dogwood and willow trees. If time permits, we may also explore Albees and/or Roundys Coves and the Great Meadow on the NH shore. We’ll meet at 9AM in Hannaford’s parking lot to car/boat pool. Paddlers coming from the north are welcome to meet us at the Herricks Cove boat ramp/picnic area (off Rte 5, near Exit 6, I-91) at 10AM. (See “What to bring”)
Wednesday, June 9 – Grafton Pond, Grafton, NH (CT River Birding Trail, Upper Valley Section)
Grafton Pond is one of the finest paddling destinations in New Hampshire. This will be our second trip to this quiet, well-protected, remote pond. Lots of islands and nooks and crannies to explore. Almost the entire 235-acre pond is protected by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. Since this will be a bit of a trek, we’ll meet at 8AM in Bickford’s parking lot, at the Putney Rd Rotary, to car and boat pool. Paddlers from the north are welcome to join out convoy as we drive north on I-91, or meet us at the put-in off Grafton Pond Rd, at the dam. (From Enfield Center, NH, take Route 4A South for 2.2 miles and turn left onto Bluejay Rd – may now be called Grafton Pond Rd. After 0.9 miles, bear right at the fork, onto Grafton Pond Rd. Go another 0.9 miles, turn right and you’ll end at the dam in 0.2 miles). (See “What to bring”)
Saturday, June 19 – Sunrise on Lake Whitingham (Harriman Reservoir), VT
This is out famous sunrise ‘paddle and nosh’ trip. We meet at 5AM at the Chelsea Royal Diner, West Brattleboro, or 5:30AM at the VIP Coffee Shop in Wilmington (Jct Rtes 9 and 100S). We’ll enjoy a potluck breakfast on a warm, sunny, secluded beach, before the motorboat crowd wakes up. Bring light breakfast snacks to share; OJ will be provided. Also bring whatever makes a picnic breakfast more enjoyable. We’ll be off the water by 11AM. (See “What to bring”)
Wednesday, June 23 – Nubanusit Lake and Spoonwood Pond, Hancock and Nelson, NH
Spoonwood Pond is the real gem; well protected, inaccessible by car and off-limits to motorboats. Nubanusit can be busy with motorboats on weekends, and windy anytime. Luckily we have a short, protected paddle from the Nubanusit put-in, to the easy carry, up to Spoonwood Pond. Here we’ll find a beautiful, quiet pond with crystal clear water, campsites and flat swimming/sunning rocks everywhere. The Harris Center for Conservation Education, with miles of hiking trails, is only a few minutes drive down Kings Hwy from the boat access. We meet at Hannaford’s parking lot at 8:30AM to car and boat pool. Paddlers coming from NH are welcome to meet us at the Nubanusit Lake boat ramp (off Rte 123, in Hancock, NH) around 10AM. (See “What to bring”)
Saturday & Sunday, August 28 & 29 – Connecticut River and North Hartland Lake, Hartland and Windsor, VT (Camping optional)
This is the same trip we did in 2008, when we found ‘wild horses’ on a CT River island. Photos of this event are in the BOC/Paddling gallery. On Saturday we’ll meet at the Wilgus State Park entrance station parking lot, at 9AM. After the camping gear is taken care of, and car/boat pooling, we’ll drive to the put-in at Sumner Falls and paddle back downstream to Wilgus SP, stopping enroute for lunch/swim/hike/etc. Sunday we’ll again meet in the parking lot at 9AM for car/boat pooling before driving to North Hartland Lake. There we’ll paddle the length of the lake, up into the lower reaches of the Quechee Gorge. Bald eagle sightings are the norm for both trips this weekend. This is really two ‘day-trips‘, connected by a campout. Boaters may choose to paddle one, or both days, with or without camping. Campers must register by email only to: Lmacyak@yahoo.com, NLT Aug 21st. A non-refundable camping fee of $10 per person will confirm camping space for BOC members. Non-members need to register and pay the fee, to be placed on the wait-list. Non-members will be notified on Aug 22nd as to their final status. Camping information will be sent, as registrations are received. There is no cost for day-paddling. Wilgus State Park is located on Rte 5, south of Ascutney, VT (exit 8, I-91) (See “What to bring”)
Sunday, September 19 – Lake Sunapee, NH
This is our first trip to one of New Hampshire’s most beautiful paddling destinations. Since it’s a bit of a drive, we’ll meet at Bickford’s Restaurant, at the Putney Rd Rotary, at 8:30AM to car/boat pool. Paddlers coming from the north, or NH are welcome to meet us at the town of Sunapee boat ramp, at the east end of Main St, around 10AM. We’ll paddle north, along the lee shore, investigating some of the coves, inlets and bays , all the way to Gorges Mills. Our return to Sunapee will take us into the remaining coves, inlets and bays. Good food and refreshment await our return to Sunapee. (See “What to bring”)
Saturday, October 2 – Sommerset Reservoir, Sommerset, VT
This is our annual all-day, fall foliage paddle on a very special out-of-the-way, protected body of water, at a special time of the year. We chance to see loons, and migrating waterfowl, feel the crisp late season air and witness fantastic fall colors, on this favorite outing. Last year we were treated to two bald eagle sightings; one was of two eagles feasting on a kill. Bring snacks, lunch, water, and something warm to drink. We ate lunch in the warm sun last year, and a hardy few had their last swim of the season. We’ll meet at 9AM at the VIP Coffee Shop (Jct of Rtes 9 and 100S) in Wilmington. (See “What to bring”)