New Destination

Ok, I am getting old. I am looking for what will probably be one of my last new destinations. I am looking for a 5-9 day trip (in the lower 48) Nothing above class II. I like to paddle alone as much as possible.

Adirondacks
Have you paddled in the Adirondacks? The beauty of paddling up here is that there are many variable length loop trips.



Recommned Dave Cilley’s Adirondack Paddler’s guide book and companion Paddler’s Map: http://www.canoeoutfitters.com/store/maps-guidebooks



If you directly order from Dave, you’ll get the latest editions of both map and guide book.



This Fall, paddling has been and continues to be great up here in the Adirondacks.



I too paddle mostly solo - especially in the early Spring and in Fall into Winter.





Mike

look up

– Last Updated: Oct-23-12 8:46 AM EST –

on the top menu bar - "Go Paddling", drop down menu has Places to Paddle, and Water Trails, and other stuff. did you look there?


a bit of a problem is the "5 to 9 days" - you pretty much have to go to some place like adirondacks or BWCA for a longish 9 day trip, though there are other possibilities - The Allagash in Maine is one - add the St John if the water is high enough.

most of the western river trips tend to be 2 or 3 day trips and many have quotas, so by permit via lottery only; several river trips in Nebraska, but not for a 9 day trip - there's always the Missouri; Smith River in Montana (another permitted/lottery)?

kind of silly to recommend a "new" place for you to go when no one knows where you have already gone, aint it?

Do the Everglades 99 mile wilderness
waterway in Florida, from Everglades city to Flamingo if you have not already done it.



Guy

Stay off that one
there are far more interesting trips. The Paddlers Waterway in the Everglades is not the Wilderness Waterway though it intersects some where there are chickees.



I can suggest literally dozens of trips from the Green to the Ozarks to the Adirondacks to Maine to Florda.



What do you want to see?

Swamp Fox trail in SC is new
Here is a link to the info. You won’t find any info on “Go Paddling” as this is new.



http://www.swampfox50milepaddlecamptrail.com

Also some more southern options
You may like to try the Suwannee River in FL or the Okefenokee Swamp in GA. Both states have other river trails too.

To each his own
I for one love camping on a wilderness beach, seeing dolphins, gators, manatees, and being the master of my fate.

Make it an eight or nine day trip, and get off the beaten path. You can find some awesome wilderness where you’ll never see another paddler all day long.



You just follow the route, and don’t explore away from it



Guy

Lake Powell/Glen Canyon
Unbelievable red rock scenery (AZ/UT border)

I second the Suwannee too
Put in at Fargo, Georgia, and then go all the way to the coast through Florida.

The portion from Fargo to White Springs is mostly wilderness with beautiful white sand banks to camp on on almost every turn.

Also there are fairly new camping shelters at intervals along the rest of the way.



Guy

Flaming Gorge
On that note…



“Unbelievable red rock scenery”

Susquehanna Water Trail in PA

– Last Updated: Oct-25-12 11:23 AM EST –

Admittedly not as spectacular vistas as some of the above, but this central Pennsylvania Water Trail is a splendidly scenic 228 mile float with mixed wilderness (including deep canyons and a few stretches of class 1 and 2), rural and semi urban sections. Perhaps a bit safer for a solo paddler than some of the more remote choices. The Lumber Heritage association publishes a terrific Water Trail guide with every detail you could possibly imagine as far as access, campsites and other amenities, on durable waterproof stock.

http://www.lumberheritage.org/watertrailmap1.htm

Many of us who live and paddle along sections of it are hoping the West Branch can earn National Wild and Scenic River status (which might help protect it from the ravages of the gas mining industry along its corridor).

Get in touch with me if you ever decide to do this one -- we live right on the river and could provide you with a secluded campsite a few miles downstream from the Shawville dam put-in (map section 4).

National Geo likes the West Branch

– Last Updated: Oct-25-12 11:38 AM EST –

In looking for some photo sites to link for you, I discovered that the National Geographic ranked the West Branch Water Trail as one of their "Best Wilderness Destinations for 2012".

http://www.susquehannagreenway.org/national-geographic-highlights-west-branch

Might mention also that it has reliable moderate flow, little or no commercial or power boat traffic, and goes through many small towns where you could easily pull out at riverside parks and get a hot meal or re-provision your supplies.

Here's a good shot of the typical winding course of the river, through some of the oldest mountains on the continent, if not the world.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicholas_t/7993658068/