Ever since I got my lightweight canoe a few years ago, I’ve relished any opportunity to explore a new corner of the Adirondack paddling world. I live in Saranac Lake, New York, an epicenter of paddling for sure, but I wait for the days I can escape my local haunts for more far-flung adventures and Hamilton county has always been a favorite. The large undeveloped forests and quiet little towns that define this area of the Adirondacks make it a dream for kayakers and canoeists like me, looking for pristine ponds and streams away from the thrum of large motorboats.

This summer I’ve been focusing on the southern tip of the county around the communities of Indian Lake and Speculator. The Jessup River Wild Forest and West Canada Lakes Wilderness Area offer a ton of great paddling options and I’ve had the time to explore three so far, which would make for a great long weekend paddling adventure in our special corner of New York State, or just choose your favorite and make a day of it!   

I’ve outlined all three paddles below with links to more info, but you can also view this map for a more detailed representation. 

A note on distances and time. Unlike hiking, time and distance while paddling can vary significantly depending on weather, paddler ability, and how much you explore. Plan accordingly.

Lewey Lake and the Miami River, Indian Lake NY

• Distance: 5 miles (2-3 hours recommended)

• Start/End - Lewey Lake Campground (43.64735, -74.38881) or Indian Lake Island Boat Launch

Lewey Lake is home to the state-run Lewey Lake Campground. If you’re not staying here, the campground will charge a day-use fee to park and paddle, but if it’s nice out the sandy beach is worth the cost of admission for the easy launch and post-paddle swim. Otherwise you can park across the road at the Indian Lake Islands Boat Launch and start this paddle from there. This would be a great place to set up camp for the weekend if you’re planning on being in the area for a while. 

This paddle will take you across Lewey Lake, the shallow pond is mostly wild once you leave the campground and offers spectacular views of Snowy Mountain and its fire tower. The sandy shoreline and rocky island in the center beg for weary paddlers to stop and take a dip on their way back. Once you reach the southern shore of the pond you’re met with an expanse of reedy pickerelweed that is common here. It will take a little looking through the weeds, but you can find the mouth of the Miami River which feeds Lewey Lake. 

The Miami is a slow stream that will take you half a mile before you encounter a substantial beaver dam. Taking the time to pull your boat over this dam is worth the effort. The real joy of this paddle is in the flooded channels that exist upstream. The wildlife comes to life up here and if you are a birder, binoculars are a must. Have fun exploring the dead end channels up here or continue further up the river which will require more dam crossings. Once you’ve had your fill of these wild marshlands you can make your way back down the river to Lewey Lake and continue back across the pond to the campground. 

Cedar River Flow, Lake Pleasant NY

• Distance - 7 miles (3-5 hours recommended)

• Start/End - Wakely Dam (43.7262, -74.47264)

Located just 10 minutes from Lewey Lake, Cedar River Flow is one of the most scenic examples of a flow that I’ve paddled. These lake-like sections of river, usually caused by a man-made dam, create a unique waterbody that almost always offers an interesting mix of forested shoreline that gives way to marshlands before narrowing back to a river upstream of the ‘flow’. 

You’ll put in at Wakely Dam and paddle anywhere from 6-8 miles round-trip depending on how far you wish to go. The large open flow gives you stunning views of Wakely Mountain and other peaks in the region before it spreads into a large beautiful marshland at the southern end. You’ll have to hunt at the southeast corner to find where the river continues upstream for a short bit before meeting some rapids, but even if you can’t find it, the marshland provides another mile or more of large winding streams to explore, search for beavers and Great Blue Herons, and enjoy the sites and sounds of this quiet corner of the Adirondacks. 

Kunjamuk River, Speculator NY

• Distance - 10 miles (4-6 hours recommended)

• Start/End - Kunjamuk Bay (43.50103, -74.33629)

20 minutes in the other direction from Lewey Lake is the Kunjamuk River. If you looked up ‘meander’ in the dictionary, the Kunjamuk would be listed. The large lazy oxbows of this old river create a delightful zig zag route through deep Adirondack forests. The narrowness and wooded banks make for prime wildflower and wildlife viewing on each side with only the occasional signs of civilization marked by two small bridges you will paddle under. If you want to add a hike, Kunjamuk Cave can be reached via a short footpath from the river. The paddle ends at the scenic and remote Elm Lake where you can paddle the shoreline and take in views of nearby East and Dug Mountains.

As of summer 2024 the river was high enough that only 1 of 4 beaver dams that cross your paddle required getting out to pull over. The current on this river is not insignificant and your trip home will take about half the time as your trip upriver.  

Head into town!

Lewey Lake Campground or the primitive sites in the Moose River Plains area (near Cedar River Flow would make a great basecamp for an extended trip to the region, but this doesn't have to ben an all wilderness adventure. The nearby towns of Indian Lake, New York and Speculaor, New York both offer a slice of Adirondack small town charm. Grab a cold one at McSweeney's Irish Pub or breakfast at the Sunrise Diner. If craft beer is your thing the Lemon Tree Brewery in Speculator is crafting their own Adirondack brews. And if sleeping on the ground is not quite your style, you'll find cozy Adirondack Inns and Cabins like the Inn at Speculator, Snowy Mountain Inn, and Adirondack Lake Cabins to name a few!

Make the Northville Placid Trail part of your paddling weekend

In addition to offering great paddling, these slices of Adirondack forest are also home to some of the best sections of the Northville Placid Trail (NPT), celebrating its 100th anniversary this summer. Anywhere in this area would be a great place to meet up with friends hiking the NPT for a paddle break or incorporate a shorter section hike of the NPT into your weekend of paddling.